an excellent poeme, vpon the longing of a blessed heart which loathing the world, doth long to be with christ. with an addition, vpon the definition of loue. compiled by nicholas breton, gentleman. breton, nicholas, ?- ? approx. kb of xml-encoded text transcribed from -bit group-iv tiff page images. text creation partnership, ann arbor, mi ; oxford (uk) : - (eebo-tcp phase ). a stc estc s this keyboarded and encoded edition of the work described above is co-owned by the institutions providing financial support to the early english books online text creation partnership. this phase i text is available for reuse, according to the terms of creative commons . universal . the text can be copied, modified, distributed and performed, even for commercial purposes, all without asking permission. early english books online. (eebo-tcp ; phase , no. a ) transcribed from: (early english books online ; image set ) images scanned from microfilm: (early english books, - ; : ) an excellent poeme, vpon the longing of a blessed heart which loathing the world, doth long to be with christ. with an addition, vpon the definition of loue. compiled by nicholas breton, gentleman. breton, nicholas, ?- ? [ ] p. [by r. bradock], for iohn browne, and iohn deane, imprinted at london : . in verse. printer's name from stc. signatures: a-f⁴. reproduction of the original in the henry e. huntington library and art gallery. created by converting tcp files to tei p using tcp tei.xsl, tei @ oxford. re-processed by university of nebraska-lincoln and northwestern, with changes to facilitate morpho-syntactic tagging. gap elements of known extent have been transformed into placeholder characters or elements to simplify the filling in of gaps by user contributors. eebo-tcp is a partnership between the universities of michigan and oxford and the publisher proquest to create accurately transcribed and encoded texts based on the image sets published by proquest via their early english books online (eebo) database (http://eebo.chadwyck.com). the general aim of eebo-tcp is to encode one copy (usually the first edition) of every monographic english-language title published between and available in eebo. eebo-tcp 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good, some errors will remain and some readable characters will be marked as illegible. users should bear in mind that in all likelihood such instances will never have been looked at by a tcp editor. the texts were encoded and linked to page images in accordance with level of the tei in libraries guidelines. copies of the texts have been issued variously as sgml (tcp schema; ascii text with mnemonic sdata character entities); displayable xml (tcp schema; characters represented either as utf- unicode or text strings within braces); or lossless xml (tei p , characters represented either as utf- unicode or tei g elements). keying and markup guidelines are available at the text creation partnership web site . eng - tcp assigned for keying and markup - apex covantage keyed and coded from proquest page images - judith siefring sampled and proofread - judith siefring text and markup reviewed and edited - pfs batch review (qc) and xml conversion an excellent poeme , vpon the longing of a blessed heart : which loathing the world , doth long to be with christ. with an addition , vpon the definition of loue . compiled by nicholas breton , gentleman . cupio dissolui , & esse cum christo. imprinted at london , for iohn browne , and iohn deane , . to the right honourable , my singular good lord , the fauourer of all good studies , and louer of all vertues , the lord north , nicholas breton wisheth encrease of honour , continuance of health , and eternall happinesse . right honourable , knowing the nature of men so different , that it is hard for one to speak of all ; & the delightes of the most part of the world so farre from longing after heauen , that if the mercie of god were not the greater , the diuell woulde make too great a haruest on the earth : sorrie to see the dispositions of the wicked , and wishing the number of the vertuous were encreased ( among the which , if i might without flatterie speake a truth , i should note your honor , for a kinde of phoenix among men ) i haue , vpon my knowledge of your worthynesse , in the good regard of all well disposed spirits , presumed , out of the humble meditations of no worldly minde , to present your honour , with a little volume of the vaine delightes of the worldly , and the better longinges of the godly . in which , i am perswaded , when your honour , hath noted , what is loue , and what is worth the louing , you wil loue me nothing the worse , for my loues longing . but leauing to your honourable discretion , the liking of my soules labour , and commaundement of my hearts loue : in the humilitie of affectionate seruice , i rest your honours , in all humble and bounden duetie , nicholas breton . to the reader . if you loue your selfe , or like to bee loued , it were good , you did first know what loue is ; where it is to be sought ; and how to be had : which in this little lesson following , you may happe to hit on . for if you mistake the matter , as many haue done , that set their wittes a woll-gathering , vpon the backe of a woodcocke , in thinking loue to be either nothing , or at least as little worth ; or such a kinde of riddle as is scarcely worth the reading : you may happe either neuer finde what it is , repent the seeking , or not care for the hauing of it ; or standing in your owne light , be but little beloued for your lost labour . but , if with the eye of a carefull heart , you will looke into the loue of the soule , there i would be glad to see you longing , and wish you ( hauing not to trouble you with more words then matter ) the loue of god , you to loue me as i doe you , and god to loue vs all : and so i end . yours , in the loue of charitie , nicholas breton . two hopefull twinnes , ioynt issues of one braine , a rauisht soule , and longing spirit sends into your bosomes high and heauenly traine , that are wits kinsemen , and the muses friends . embrace them , loue them , and with iudgements view eye them . beleeue me , reader , thou shalt finde their limmes well measur'd , and proportions true ; no part dissenting from their perfect kinde . onely the fashion sits not on their clothes , to make them sightly to fantasticke eyes . pallas , not venus , did the worke dispose , cutting their garments from angellicke skies . plaine is their habite , yet diuine and sweete : fit for the wise , but for the wisest meete . h. t. gent. ad librum . goe booke , and balke those eyes , that loue but shadowes sightes : and let them gape for flyes , that make but buzzards flights . and tell the humble heart , that longes in better loue , to him thou wilt impart thy spirits turtle doue . whose flesh , the soule doth feed , with that eternall sweet , wherein hearts eies may reed , how life and loue doe meet , to make the blessed see the loue , that longeth best : and what those longinges bee , vvhose loue is neuer blest . that loue not misconceiu'd in thought , may neuer longe for that is nought . bretons longing . what life hath he that neuer thinkes of loue ? and what such loue , but hath a special liking ? and , what such liking , but wil seeke to proue ? the best to find , the comfort of his seeking ? but , while fond thoughts in follies packe are peeking , better conceited wittes may easely finde the truest wealth that may enrich the minde . but , since the difference twixt the good , and bad , is easely seene in notes of their delightes : and that those notes are needefull to be had , to see whose eyes are of the clearest sights : whose are the dayes , and whose may be the nightes : from the poore crowch , vnto the princely crowne , i will the difference , as i finde , set downe . the worldly prince longes to encrease his state , to conquer kingdomes , and to weare their crownes , a foraine power , by forces to abate , to make but foot-stooles , of their fairest townes , and , hates the spirits of those home-made clownes , that will not venter life for victorie , but yet , forgets that god should haue the glorie . the worldly councellour doth beat his braines , how to aduise his soueraigne for the best , and in his place , doth take continuall paines , to keepe his prince in such a pleasing rest , that he may still be leaning on his breast , thinking his happe vnto a heauen so wrought : but yet perhaps , god is not in his thought . the souldier , he delighteth all in armes , to see his colours in the field display'd , and longes to see the yssue of those harmes , that may reueale an enemie dismay'd , a fort defeated , or a towne betray'd , and still to be in action , day and night : but little thinkes on god in all the fight . the worldly scholler loues a world of bookes , and spends his life in many an idle line : meane while his heart , to heauen but little lookes , nor loues to thinke vpon a thought diuine : these thoughtes of ours ( alas ) so lowe encline , vve seeke to know , what nature can effect : but vnto god , haue small , or no respect . the poet , with his fictions , and his fancies , pleaseth himselfe with humorous inuentions : vvhich well considered , are a kinde of franzies , that carie little truth in their intentions : while wit and reason , falling at contentions , make wisedome finde , that follies strong illusion bringes wit and senses wholly to confusion . the worldly lawyer studyeth right and wronge : but how he iudgeth , there the question lyes . for , if you looke for what his loue doth long , it is the profite of his plea doth rise , there is the worldly lawyers paradise : he neither longes , the right , nor wrong , to see : but to be fingring of the golden fee. the cosmographer doth the world suruey , the hils , and dales , the nookes and little crookes , the woods , the plaines , the high , and the by-way , the seas , the riuers , and the little brookes : all these he findes within his compast bookes ; and with his needle , makes his measure euen : but , all this whlie he doth not thinke of heauen . th'astronomer standes staring on the skie , and will not haue a thought beneath a starre : but , by his speculation doth espie a world of woonder , comming from afarre ; and tels of times , and natures , peace and warre : of mars his sword , and mercury his rod : but all this while , he little thinkes on god. the worldly marchant ventreth farre and neere ? and shunnes nor land , nor sea to make a gaine , thinkes neither trauaile , care , nor cost too deere , if that his profite counteruaile his paine , while so his minde is on the getting vaine , that if his shippe , doe safely come on shore , gold is his god , and he desires no more . the worldly courtier learnes to crouch and creepe , speake faire , waite close , obserue his time and place , and wake , and watch and scarcely catch a sleepe , till he haue got into some fauours grace , and will all cunning in his course embrace , that may vnto authoritie aduance : but if he thinke of god , it is a chaunce . the worldly farmer fils his barnes with corne , and ploughes , and sowes , and digges , and delues , & hedges , lookes to his cattell , will not lose a horne , fels downe his woods , and fals vnto his wedges , and grindes his axes , and doth mend their edges , and deerely sels , that he good cheape hath bought : but , all the while god is not in his thought . the sayler , he doth by his compasse stand , and weies his anchors , and doth hoyse his sayles , and longes for nothing , but to get on land , vvhile many a storme his starting spirite quailes , and feare of pirats , his poore heart assayles : but once on shore , carowse and casts off feare , yet scarcely thinkes on god that set him there . the worldly preacher talkes of sacrifice , of sacraments , and holy mysteries : meane while , hee longes but for the benefice , that should preserue his purse from beggeries , because hee loues no worldly miseries . for many a preacher , that gods word hath taught , shewes by his life , god liues not in his thought . the worlds phisitian , that in sicknesse tries the nature of the hearbes and minerals : and , in his simples , and his compounds spies , which way to make the patients funerals , or profite by his cures in generals , longes but to see how long they may endure : but scarcely thinkes on god in all the cure. the worlds musitian , that doth tune his voice , vnto such notes as musiques skill hath set : whose heart doth in the harmonie reioyce , where pleasing consorts are most kindely met : but still perhaps his spirit doth forget , in all his himnes , and songes , and sweetest layes , to thinke of god , or of his worthy prayse . the polititian hath a world of plots , in which his spirit hath his speciall spyes , ties , and vnties a thousand sundrie knots , in which the substance of his studie lyes : and many trickes his close experience tryes , how to deceiue the world with many a wile : but neuer thinkes on god in all the while . the trauailer delighteth in the view of change and choise of sundrie kinde of creatures : to marke the habites , and to note the hew of farre borne people , and their sundrie natures , their shapes , their speech , their gates , their lookes , their features , and longes abroade to make his lifes abode : yet happ'ly neuer longes to be with god. the painter in his colours takes delight , and neere the life , to make the liuelyhood : while onely shadowes doe deceiue the sight , that take such pleasure in a peece of wood : but doth not long for that same liuing food , which neither eye hath seene , nor heart conceiu'd , the god of truth , that neuer soule deceiu'd . the louer , he , but on his ladie thinketh , and how to catch her in a kinde content , and lookes , and leeres , and trowles the eie , and winketh , and seekes how thoughtes in silence may bee sent , and longes to see the end of his intent , and thinkes himselfe a king , to get a kisse : but where is god , in all these thoughtes of his ? th' artificer that hath a worke to doe , and bringes his hand vnto his heads deuise , longes till he see , what it will come vnto , and how his paines haue profite in the price , and hauing cast it ouer twise or thrice , ioyes in his heart : but scarcely hath a thought , to thanke his god , that him the cunning taught . the churle , that sits and champes vpon his chaffe , and will not stirre a foote from his barne floure , except it be , among his bagges to laugh , he can the poore so with his purse deuoure , longes but to vse the poyson of his power , t' enrich himselfe , to bringe a world to naught , shewes , that god neuer dwels within his thought . as for those beggerly conditions of basest trades , that like to miry hogges , doe shewe their spirites dispositions , in digging with their noses vnder logges , for slime and wormes : or like to rauening dogges , longe but for that , which doth the belly fill , most of them thinke on god against their will. these are the worldlinges , and their worlds delightes , whose longing , god knowes , is not worth the louing : these are the obiects of those euill sights , that vertue hath from her faire eyes remoouing . these are the passions of corruptions proouing : but , they that loue , and long for god his sight , in worldly trifles neuer take delight . the prince annointed with the oyle of grace , who sits with mercie , in the seate of peace , will long to see his sauiour in the face , and , all his right into his handes release , ( whose onely sight would make all sorrow cease ) and lay both crowne , and kingdome at his feete , but of his presence to enioy the sweete . the councellour with heauenly grace inspir'd , where wisdome guides the lineaments of wit , although he hath to honours place aspir'd , his heart doth shew , it longes not after it : his loue desires , a higher marke to hitte : for while he leaneth on his princes breast , his longing is , but with his god to rest . the courtier , that is once in god his grace , what euer countenance in the court he beares , his heart aspireth to a better place : which humble loue doth long for with those teares , which all too naught , the pride of pleasure weares , and neuer rests vntill his god he see , with whome his soule in loue doth long to be . the souldier , that hath fought the spirits fight , will put off warre , and long to liue in peace , and not in discord , but concord delight , vvhere gracious kindenesse , makes all quarrels cease , vvhile patience , doth all passions so appease , that , he shall finde that souldiour onely blest , whose faith , in god , doth set his soule at rest . the lawyer , that hath read the lawes of god , and in his heart is touched with his loue : and knowes the smart of the supernall rod , will one day worke , for silly soules behoue . who haue their comfort in the heauens aboue , vvill leaue all golden fees , to see the grace , that mercies iustice shewes in iesus face . the scholler , that beginnes with christ his crosse , and seekes good speede , but in the holy ghost , findes by his booke , that siluer is but drosse , and all his labour , in his studie lost , where faith , of mercie , cannot sweetly boast , and loue doth long for any other blisse , then , what in god , and in his grace is . and such a poet as the psalmist was , vvho had no minde , but on his maisters loue : vvhose muses did the world in musique passe , that onely soong but of the soules behoue , in giuing glorie to the god aboue , would all worldes fictions wholly laye aside , and onely long , but with the lord to bide . the cosmographer , that by rules of grace , surueys the citie of the heauenly saintes , will neuer long for any earthly place , that either penne prescribes , or painter paints : but in the faith , that neuer failes , nor faints , will long to see in heauens ierusalem , the gratious god of glories diadem . the true astronomer , that sees the sunne , and knowes that god , from whome it takes his light , and in the course , the moone and starres doe runne , findes the true guider of the day and night , longes but to see his onely blessed sight , who sunne , and moone , and stars their brightnes giues , and , in whose face , all brightnesse glorie liues . the mariner , that oft hath past the seas , and in his perils , seene the power of god , whose onely mercie doth the stormes appease , and bringes the shippe vnto his wished road , will neuer longe , on earth to make abode : but in the heauens , to see that blessed hande , that , at his becke , so rules both sea and land. the marchant , that hath cast within his minde , how much the spirits gaine the flesh surmounts , and by his faith , in mercies loue doth finde the ioyfull summe of such a soules accounts , as to saluation of the whole amounts , will leaue the world , but on christes face to looke , vvhich all the faithfull make their liuing booke . the farmer , that hath felt his neighbours neede , and found , how god , and charitie are one : and knowes there is a better kinde of feede , then grasse , or corne , or flesh , or bloud , or bone , vvill wish himselfe from his worlds treasure gone , vpon those ioyes to feede in mercies blisse , vvhere christ his presence is heauens paradise . the true phisitian that doth knowe the natures , and dispositions of each element , and knowes that god created hath all creatures beneath , and eke aboue the firmament , and ouer all , hath onely gouernment , vvill onely long that glorious god to know , that giues the sicknesse and doth cure it so . the soules musitian , that doth finde the ground , of truest musique , but in god his grace , vvill thinke all singing , but an idle sound , vvhere god his praise hath not the highest place , and onely longes to see that blessed face , vvhich makes the virgins , saints , and angels sing , an halleluiah , to their heauenly king. the preacher , that doth in his soule beleeue the word of god , which to the world he teacheth , and in his spirit inwardly doth greeue , he cannot liue so heauenly as he preacheth , vvhile faith no further then to mercie reacheth , vvould wish in soule , to leaue his benefice , to make himselfe to christ a sacrifice . the politician , that hath plotted much , in worldly matters greatly to his gaine , will finde , if god doe once his spirit tuch , zacheus heart will haue another vaine , to clime aloft , and to come downe againe , and leaue all plots , to come but to that place , where he might see sweete iesus in the face . th' artificer , that hath a worke in hand , and feeles the grace of god within his heart : and by the same , doth surely vnderstand , how god alone perfecteth euerie part , and onely is the giuer of all art , will gladly leaue his worke , and longe to be , where he might christ his soules worke-maister see . the painter , that doth paint a daintie image , so neere the life as may be to the same , and makes an asse vnto an owle doe homage , while shadowes bringe the senses out of frame , if god his heart , once with his loue enflame , his pictures all will vnder foote be trod , and he will longe , but for the liuing god. the trauailer , that walkes the world about , and sees the glorious workes of god on high , if god his grace once kindly finde him out , and vnto heauen doe lift his humble eye , his soule in faith , will such perfections spie , that leauing all , that he on earth can see , his loue will long , but with the lord to be . the churle , that neuer chaunc't vpon a thought of charitie , nor what belonges thereto , if god his grace , haue once his spirit brought , to feele what good the faithfull almers doe , the loue of christ will so his spirit wooe , that he will leaue barnes corne , and bagges of coine , and land and life , with iesus loue to ioyne . thus , from the prince , vnto the poorest state , who seemes to liue , as voide of reasons sense , if god once come , who neuer comes too late , and touch the soule , with his sweet quintessence of mercies gratious glorious patience : his soule will leaue what euer it doth loue , and long to liue , but with the lord aboue . now , to the tenure of that longing time , that louing spirits thinke too long will last , the maide new maried , in her pregnant prime , longes till the time of fortie weekes be past , and blameth time , he makes no greater hast , till in her armes , she sweetly haue receiu'd , her comfortes fruite within her wombe conceiu'd . thus fortie weekes , she labours all in loue , and at the last doth trauaile all in paine : but , shortly after doth such comfort prooue , as glads her heart , and makes all whole againe : so , in her infants pretty smiling vaine , pleasing her selfe , that all her greefe is gone , vvhen she may haue her babe to looke vpon . penelope , at her deere loues departing , in sober kindnesse did conceale her care : though in her heart she had that inward smarting , that times continuance after did declare : vvhere constant loue did shew , without compare , a perfect passion of true vertues vaine , longing but for vlisses home againe . how many yeeres , the storie doth set downe , in which she felt , the gall of absence greefe : when constant faith , on foule effects did frowne , which sought to be to charitie a theefe , of natures beautie , the true honour cheefe : long languishing in absence cruell hell : but , when she saw his presence all is well . but , if i may in holy lines beginne , to speake of ioseph ▪ and his longing loue vnto his brethren , but to beniamin to note the passion , nature did approoue , which did such teares in his affection mooue , that well from thence , the prouetbe sweet might spring , the loue of brethren is a blessed thing . well may i see the notes of natures griefe , in absence of the obiect of affection : and longing for the substance of reliefe , in presence finde the life of loues perfection , while eie , and heart , are led by one direction . yet all this while , i doe not truely prooue the blessed longing of the spirits loue . when mary magdalene , so full of sinne , as made her heart a harbour of ill thought , felt once the grace of god to enter in , and driue them out that her destruction sought : her soule was then to iesus loue so wrought , as that with teares in true affect did proue the pleasing longing of the spirits loue . in griefe she went all weeping to his graue , longing to see him , or aliue or dead : and would not cease vntill her loue might haue her longed fruite on which her spirit fed : one blessed crumme of that sweet heauenly bread of angels food , but of her lord a sight ; whose heauenly presence prou'd her soules delight . midas did long for nothing els bur gold , and he was kindely choaked for his choyce : such longing loue doeth with too many hold , which onely doe in worldly drosse reioyce . but did they hearken to the heauenly voyce , their diamondes should not so for drosse be sold , and they would long for god , and not for gold . zacheus , too long , longed for such drosse , till iesus came , his spirits further ioye ; and then he found his gaine did yeeld but losse , while sinne in conscience bred the soules annoye , and vnto heauen the world was but a toye : he left it all and climed vp a tree , to shew his longing , how but christ to see . and well he longd that so his loue receiued ; who sweetly saw , and kindly call'd him downe : his stature low ; but his loue high conceiued : who so was grac't by mercies glories crowne , as , hauing cause vpon his sinnes to frowne , forgaue the workes that did deserue damnation , and fill'd his house with glory of saluation . a blessed longing of a blessed loue. would so all soules did loue , and so did long : and in their longing might so sweetly prooue the gratious ground of such a glorious songe , as kils all sinne , that doth the spirit wrong : and sing with simeon at his sauiours sight , oh now my soule depart in peace delight . oh blessed simeon , blessed was thy loue , and thy loues longing for thy sauiour so : who wrought so sweetly for thy soules behoue , as , from thy prayers would not let thee goe , till to thy loue , he did his presence showe : which made thee sing , when sorrowes all did cease ; lord , let thy seruant now depart , in peace . for i , according to thy word , haue seene the glorious substance of my soules saluation : thy word , in whome my trust hath euer beene , and now hath found my comforts confirmation , thus did he make a ioyfull declaration of that sweete sight of his sweet sauiours face , that was the glorie of his spirits grace . how many yeeres , he all in prayer spent , for the beholding of his blessed loue : what was the yssue of his hopes euent , and how his prayers did preuaile aboue , that so his god did vnto mercie moue , as to his armes , to send his onely sonne , the storie doth all th'apostles runne . he was well call'd , good simeon , for that grace , that god had giuen the spirite of his loue : that loue that long'd , but in his sauiours face , to see the blessing of his soules behoue : and blessed prayer , that did truely proue , a blessed soule , that could not prayer cease , till christ his presence came to giue it peace . so should all soules , their loues chiefe longing haue , all soules i meane , of euerie christian hart , that seeke or hope , both heart and soule to saue , from hell , damnation , and supernall smart : this is the loue , that in the liuing part , of mercies power , shall finde that blessednesse , that is the spirits onely happinesse . nor can loue looke to limit out a time , but now , and then , and euermore attende : for he shall neuer to that comfort clime , that will not all his life in prayer spend , vntill he see his sauiour in the end : in whose sweet face , doeth all and onely rest the heauenly ioy , that makes the spirit blest . blest be the spirit , that so longs and loues as did zacheus and good simeon : and , from his faithfull prayer neuer mooues , vntill he find his life to looke vpon : and , in such loue is all so ouer gon , that , in such ioy his heart and spirit dwels , as , hauing christ , it cares for nothing els . oh blessed christ , the essence of all blisse , all blessed soules loues longings chiefe delight : what heart can thinke , how that soule blessed is , that euer hath his sauiou●r in his sight ? the sunny day that neuer hath a night . oh that my spirit might so euer pray , that i might liue to see that blessed day . the day that onely springeth from on high , that high day light , wherein the heauens doe liue : the life that loues , but to behold that eye , which doeth the glory of all brightnesse giue , and from th'enlightned , doth all darkenesse driue : where saints doe see , and angels know to be a brighter light , then saints or angels see . in this lights loue , oh , let me euer liue , and let my soule haue neuer other loue , but , all the pleasures of the world to giue , the smallest sparke of such a ioy to proue , and euer pray vnto my god aboue , to grant my humble soule good simeons grace , in loue to see my sauiour in the face . o face more faire , then fairenesse can containe : o eye more bright then brightnesse can declare : o light more pure , then passion can explaine : o life more blest , then may with blisse compare : o heauen of heauens , where such perfections are , let my soule liue to loue , to long , to bee euer in prayer , but to looke on thee . but , oh vnworthy eye of such a sight : and all vnworthy heart of such a loue : vnworthy loue , to long for such a light : vnworthy longing such a life to prooue : vnworthy life , so high a suit to mooue . thus , all vnworthy of so high a grace , how shall i see my sauiour in the face . all by the prayer of true penitence , where faith in teares attendeth graces time , my soule doth hope in mercies patience , my heart all cleansed from my sinfull crime , to see the springing of auroras prime , in those bright beames of that sweete blessed sunne of my deere god , in whome all blisse begunne . and that my soule may such a blessing see , let my heart pray , and praying neuer cease , till heart and soule may both together be : blest in thy sight all sorrowes doth release : and with good simeon then depart in peace . oh then ; but then , and onely euer then , blest be my soule , sweete iesus say amen . gloria in excelsis deo. vvhat is loue. men talke of loue , that know not what it is . for could we know what loue may be indeede , we would not haue our mindes so led amisse , with idle toyes , that wanton humours feede : but , in the rules of higher reason read what loue may be , so from the world conceal'd : yet , all too plainely , to the world reueal'd . some one doth faine , loue is a blinded god , his blindnesse , him more halfe a diuell showes . for loue , with blindnesse , neuer made abode : which all the power of wit and reason knowes : and from whose grace , the ground of knowledge growes : but such blinde eyes , that can no better see , shall neuer liue to come , where loue may be . some onely thinke it onely is a thought , bred in the eye , and buzzeth in the braine , and breakes the heart , vntill the minde be brought , to feede the senses , with a sortie vaine , till wits once gone , come neuer home againe : and then too late , in mad conceit doe prooue , fantasticke wits are euer voide of loue . some thinke it is a babe of beauties getting , nurst vp by nature , and times onely breeding : a pretty worke , to set the wits a whetting , vpon a fancy of an humours feeding ; where reason findes but little sense in reeding . no , no : i see , children must goe to schoole ; philosophie is not for euery foole . and , some againe thinke there is no such thing ▪ but in conceit , a kinde of coyned iest : which onely doth of idle humors spring , like to a bird within a phoenix nest ; where neuer yet did any yong one rest . but let such fooles take heed of blasphemie : for loue is high in his diuinitie . but to be short , to learne to finde him out , t is not in beauties eyes , nor babyes harts : he must goe beat another world about , and seeke for loue , but in those liuing parts of reasons light , that is the life of arts ; that will perceiue , though he can neuer see the perfect essence whereof loue may be . it is too cleare a brightnesse for mans eye : too high a wisedom for his wits to finde : too deepe a secret for his sense to trie : and , all too heauenly , for his earthly minde ▪ it is a grace of such a glorious kinde , as giues the soule , a secret power to know it . but giues no heart , nor spirit power to show it . it is of heauen and earth the highest beautie , the powerfull hand of heauens and earths creation ▪ the due commander of all spirits duety , the deitie of angels adoration : the glorious substance of the soules saluation : the light of truthe , that all perfection trieth , and life that giues the life that neuer dieth . it is the height of god , and hate of ill , tryumph of trueth , and falshoods ouerthrow : the onely worker of the highest will ; and onely knowledge , that doeth knowledge know : and onely ground where it doeth onely growe : it is in summe the substance of all blisse , without whose blessing all thing nothing is . but in it selfe , it selfe , it all containeth : and from it selfe , but of it selfe it giueth : it nothing loseth , and it nothing gaineth , but in the glorie of it selfe , it liueth : a ioy , which soone away all sorrow driueth : the prooued truth , of all perfections storie , our god incomprehensible in glorie . thus , is it not a riddle to be read : and yet , a secret to be found in reading : but , when the heart ioynes yssue with the head , in settled faith to seeke the spirits feeding , while in the woundes that euer fresh are bleeding , in christ his side , the faithfull soule may see , in perfect life , what perfect loue may be . no further seeke , then for to finde out loue , then in the liues of euerliuing blisse , where carefull conscience may in comfort prooue , in sacred loue , that heauenly substance is , that neuer guides the gracious minde amisse : but makes the soule , to finde in lifes behoue , what thing indeed , end nothing else is loue ? then make no doubt of either good or bad , if this or that , in substance , or in thought : and by what meanes , it may be sought or had : whereof it is , and how it may be wrought : let it suffice the word of truth hath taught , it is the grace , but of the liuing god , before beginning , that with him abode . it brought forth power to worke , wisedome to will , iustice to iudge , mercie to execute , vertue to plant , charitie to fill , time to direct , truth falshood to confute , pitie to pleade , in pemtences suite , patience to bide , and peace to giue the rest , to prooue how loue doth make the spirit blest . and this is god , and this same god is loue . for god , and loue in charitie are one : and charitie is that same god aboue , in whome doth liue that onely loue alone , vvithout whose grace , true loue is neuer none . then seeke no further , what is loue to finde ? but onely carie god within thy minde . leaue in the world to looke for any loue : for on the earth is little faith to finde ; and faithlesse hearts , in too much trueth doe proue loue doth not liue , where care is so vnkinde : men in their natures differ from their kinde . sinne fils the world so full of secret euils : men should be gods to men , but they are deuils . christ lou'd to death , yet loue did neuer die . for , loue , by death , did worke the death of death . oh liuing loue , oh heauenly mystery , to great a glory , for this world beneath ; the blessed breathing , of the highest breathe , blest are they borne , that onely finde in thee , oh blessed god , what blessed loue : nay be . let then the poets leaue their idle humours , that write of loue where there is no such thing : and let the world not hearken to those rumours , that speake of loue , or whence that life doeth spring : except it be in this our blessed king , and lord of life , in whom our foules may proue the onely life of euerliuing loue . let wantons weepe , that laughing sought for loue , vvithin the gems of their mistaken ioyes : and turne with teares , that perfect path to proue , that leades the spirit , from the worlds annoyes , vnto that treasure , that admits no toyes : but in the riches of the soule doeth proue the heauenly life of blessed spirits loue . and , let the wise ( if any such there be , as god forbid , but there were many such , that in their soules by secret wisedome see , in the true triall of true vertues touch , the worth that faith can not affect too much ) confesse , they finde , in trueths effects alone , that god is loue , without whom there is none . amidde the skie , there is one onely sunne , amidde the ayre , one onely phoenix flies : one only time , by which all houres doe runne : one onely life , that liues and neuer dies : one onely eye , that euerie thought descries : one onely light , that shewes one onely loue : one onely loue , and that is god aboue . to say yet further , what this loue may be , it is a holy heauenly excellence , aboue the power of any eye to see , or wit to finde by worlds experience : it is the spirit of lifes quintessence : vvhose rare effects , may partly be perceiued : but to the full , can neuer be conceiued . it is repentance sweete restoratiue , the rosa solis , the ficke soule reuiueth , it is the faithfull hearts preseruatiue : it is the hauen , where happie grace arriueth ; it is the life , that death of power depriueth : it is in summe , the euerlasting blisse , vvhere , god alone in all his glorie is . it is a ioy that neuer comes in iest : a comfort , that doth cut off euerie care ; a rule , wherein the life of life doth rest , vvhere all the faithfull finde their happie fare , a good , that doth but onely god declare . a line , that his right hand doth drawe so euen , as leads the soule , the high waye vnto heauen . if then henceforth you aske what thing is loue : in light , in life , in grace , in god , goe looke it : and if in these you doe not truely prooue , how , in your hearts , you may for euer booke it ; vnhappy thinke yourselues , you haue mistooke it . for why the life that death hath ouer-trod , is but the loue of grace : and that is god. all kinde of loue but this , is but mistaken : and all conceit but this , is misconceiued : all kinde of loue but this must be forsaken : all trust , but in this trueth may be deceiued : all in this loue , all trueth may be perceiued : all hearts beliefe , and all soules seale vnto it , all what is good , this loue doeth onely doe it . what shall i say ? but t is beyond my saying , to tell you all may of this loue be sayd : and yet , that trueth be free from all betraying , that hath no more , then what she knowes , bewray'd , let me but stay , but where as shee hath staid , and say but this as i haue said before , that loue is god , and i can say no more . solus amor deus . solus in toto laudandus deus . oh blessed loue , the life of blessednesse , if euer thou diddest ●elpe a sinners heart , behold my teares , and in thy holynesse , assist my spirit with thy sacred art , that al the world may ioy to heare me sing the holy praises of my heauenly king. inspire me with that vnderstanding power , which may conceiue , and by desert commend the toppe of truth on that triumphant tower , where graces dwell , and glories neuer end : let some such angell helpe me in deuising , as speakes of praise in glories euer rising . oh loue , how gratious is that beautie held , that giues the world but shadowes to behold ! but , oh what glorie maist thou iustly yeeld , vnto that life , which doth thy life vnfold ! and while all shadowes fade , and fall away , is euer bright , and neuer can decay . in natures beautie , all the best can be are shadowing colours to deceiue the eye : but in this beautie , may our spirits see a light wherein we liue , and cannot die ; a light whereby we see that most auailes vs , the comfort of our faith , that neuer failes vs. how bountifull is that faire hand accounted , that of his store , a little stinte bestoweth ! but , how in bountie hath that hand surmounted , that euer giuing , asking ouer-goeth : and for no gift , shall in true grace be scanting , doth giue it selfe , to see no comfort wanting . how wise is he , that teacheth how to wielde the world at will , by wicked wits deuise ! but wiser much that findes that wit beguil'd , that neuer seekes the way to paradise : oh blessed loue , none but thy lord of light doth giue the soule that perfect heauenly light . how kinde is he , that doth his friend relieue , in time of need , of worldly mindes reputed ? but he that helpes the heart , that him doth grieue , to such a minde , what praise may bee imputed ! how kinde is then our christ , let his death trie , who hated sinne , yet did for sinners die . how valiant is hee held , that can subdue , by force of hand , the furie of his foe ! but , in whose hand such valour euer grewe , as gaue both death and hell their ouerthrow ? none but thy lord my loue , that god of light , who makes all powers to tremble at his sight . how patient is that poore conceit esteem'd , that can put vp a wrong , or crosse , or two ? but , how more patient may our christ be deem'd , that bare all wrongs that all the world could doe ! oh , peerelesse paterne of true patience power , that conquerd death , in passions dying houre ! how iust is he , who as the law doth beare , the likeliest trueth his iudgement doth pronounce ! but , how more iuste , whom neither hope nor feare could euer mooue to challenge or denounce ! sweet iesus christ , who neuer caesar wrongeth , and giues to god , that vnto god belongeth . how gracious is that creature to be thought , that doeth repent him of his wickednesse ! but , how more gracious , in whom god hath wrought the perfect height of graces holinesse ! it is thy life , my loue , our lord and god , who by his grace , all sinne hath ouer-trod . how comfortable is esteemd that hand , that heales the sicke , although not neere to death ! but , what more comfort in that power doeth stand , then to the dead can giue a liuing breath ! my loue thou knowest that lazarus can tell , when maries teares did please our master well . what should i in particulars proceed ? when all and summe , that heauen and earth can show ▪ are short to finde how farre he doeth exceede the praise of prayse , where highest prayses goe . but , worship him in whom all graces liue , worthy more glory then the world can giue . and since my god and euerliuing lord , all in himselfe , all height of glory holdeth : and to the faithfull onely doeth affoord no more to know , them mercies care vnfoldeth : let my soules loue but humbly fall before him , in admiration , wholly to adore him . for beauty , bounty , wisedome , valour , kindnesse , grace , patience , comfort , iustice , trueth , perfection : in whom all these doe liue , what reasons blindnesse can thinke to reach in prayses due perfection ? vvhere in the height , to haue all glory sounded , both heau'ns and earth , and angels are confounded . and since farre more then most that can be thought , liues in the light of his incomprehension : which neuer sense , that euer proudly sought , but perisht in the instant of intention : ler my soule sing , when all hearts strings are broken , his prayse is more , then can in praise be spoken . gloria in excelsis deo. when the angels all are singing , all of glorie euer springing , in the ground of high heauens graces , where all vertues haue their places : oh that my poore soule were neere them , with an humble heart to heare them . then should faith in loues submission , ioying but in mercies blessing , where that sinnes are in remission , sing the ioyfull soules confessing , of her comforts high commending , all in glorie , neuer ending . but , ah wretched sinfull creature , how should the corrupted nature of this wicked heart of mine , thinke vpon that loue diuine , that doth tune the angels voices , while the hoast of heauen reioyces ! no , the songe of deadly sorrowe , in the night , that hath no morrow , and their paines are neuer ended , that haue heauenly powers offended , is more fitting to the merite , of my foule infected spirite . yet while mercie is remoouing all the sorrowes of the louing , how can faith be full of blindnesse ? to despaire of mercies kindnesse , while the hand of heauen is giuing , comfort from the euerliuing . no , my soule be no more sorie : looke vnto that life of glorie , which the grace of faith regardeth , and the teares of loue rewardeth : where the soule the comfort getteth , that the aungels musique setteth . there when thou art well conducted , and by heauenly grace instructed , how the faithfull thoughtes to fashion of a rauisht louers passion : sing with sainctes , to aungels nighest , halleluiah , in the highest . gloria in excelsis deo. olde mad-cappes new gally-mawfrey made into a merrie messe of minglemangle, out of these three idle-conceited humours following. i will not. oh, the merrie time. out vpon money. breton, nicholas, ?- ? approx. kb of xml-encoded text transcribed from -bit group-iv tiff page images. text creation partnership, ann arbor, mi ; oxford (uk) : - (eebo-tcp phase ). a stc estc s this keyboarded and encoded edition of the work described above is co-owned by the institutions providing financial support to the early english books online text creation partnership. this phase i text is available for reuse, according to the terms of creative commons . universal . the text can be copied, modified, distributed and performed, even for commercial purposes, all without asking permission. early english books online. (eebo-tcp ; phase , no. a ) transcribed from: (early english books online ; image set ) images scanned from microfilm: (early english books, - ; : ) olde mad-cappes new gally-mawfrey made into a merrie messe of minglemangle, out of these three idle-conceited humours following. i will not. oh, the merrie time. out vpon money. breton, nicholas, ?- ? [ ] p. printed [by w. white] for richard iohnes, neere st. andrewes church in holborne, at london : . dedication signed: nich. breton. printer's name from stc. signatures: a² b-e⁴ f² . running title reads: olde mad-caps new gally-mawfrey. some quires have vertical chain lines. reproduction of the original in the henry e. huntington library and art gallery. created by converting tcp files to tei p using tcp tei.xsl, tei @ oxford. re-processed by university of nebraska-lincoln and northwestern, with changes to facilitate morpho-syntactic tagging. gap elements of known extent have been transformed into placeholder characters or elements to simplify the filling in of gaps by user contributors. eebo-tcp is a partnership between the universities of michigan and oxford and the publisher proquest to create accurately transcribed and encoded texts based on the image sets published by proquest via their early english books online (eebo) database (http://eebo.chadwyck.com). the general aim of 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olivia bottum text and markup reviewed and edited - pfs batch review (qc) and xml conversion olde mad-cappes new gally-mawfrey . made into a merrie messe of minglemangle , out of these three idle-conceited humours following . i will not . oh , the merrie time . out vpon money . at london printed for richard iohnes , neere st. andrewes church holborne . . to the trve tovch of witte , in the spirit of the best vnderstanding in a gentlewoman ( worthie of much honour ) mistris anne breton , of little catthorpe in leicestershire , nicho. breton wisheth all eternall happines . the much good that i know in you , and the good that in your goodnesse i haue receiued from you , makes me willing to remember you , with this small token of greater seruice that i owe you : wherein , though there be nothing worthy the accepting ; yet vpon good consideration , it may be you shall finde some thing , almost worthy the reading . the humors in it are variable , but the intent aymeth at one marke ; which is , the nature of the best minde : in which , as neare as i can , i haue played the merry verser , i dare not say , the poet. but as it is ; let me intreate you , in your kindnesse to accept it , in your good thoughts to grace it , at your idle leysure to reade it , and in no wise to commende it : but , to remooue a melancholie , to looke vpon its ; and when you haue done , to laugh at it : so , in thankes for your vndeserued good fauours , leauing my verses to your good patience , and my better vertues to your commaundement , i rest . yous in better seruice : nich. breton , to the reader . yov that haue good stomackes to disgest any thing , may happen to make away with this dish of gally-mawfrey ; where , if euery morsell be not minced so fine , as may be swallowed without chewing , beare with haste in the dressing , and the 〈◊〉 will do well ynough : to tell you what it is heere you haue tasted it may happen to make you the worse willing to middle with it to be short , pe●er can but bite and heat the mouth , and yet it may 〈◊〉 the collicke so some hearbes may be bitter , and yet holsome ; and so some line may better be me 〈◊〉 , then taken : but all is one , commende it or discommende it , i will not but referre it to the worlde , to like it or leaue it : and so in the humor of i will not , ( i meane , be tedius ) i ende . your friend , n. b. old mad-caps new gally-mawfrey . . mad-caps i will not . my wretched thoughts , ye wretched thoughts of mine , how shall my soule your secret essence see , that thus with passions makes my hart to pine , with sorrowes force , too forcible for me ! but let me tell ye , whatsoe're ye be , i will haue helpe for all mine agony , and tread vpon ye in your tyranny . i will not care for beauties clearest light , but shut mine eyes at such an idle looke , nor midas treasure shall bewitch my sight : i will not be with gold , for god mistooke , this worlds best wisdome is a wicked booke , whose greatest blisse shal neuer come aboord me , nor will i care , for what it can affoord me . youth , i will hold a posting kind of time , age , when it comes , a care that will not tary , honor , too high for quiet hearts to clime , loue , but a bond of them that liue to marry , power but a charge for conscience to carry , time , but a course that neuer can be stayd , and death , a bug-beare to make fooles afrayd . what can i wish for may be worth my wishing , but i were ( almost ) better be without it ? what can i fish for may be worth my fishing , when i haue lost both hooke and line about it ? if ought auayle i greatly doubt it : what should i worke for , when in fine i know , my selfe and all , vnto the graue must goe ? no , no , my thoughts , content your selues awhile ; i know too well the tricks of all your trust : ye shall no more my beaten brayne beguile , with seeking diamonds in the sea-coale dust , the canker take the treasure that will rust . i haue no mind to any of your toyes , that , in trueths iudgements , are mistaken ioyes . i will not learne to tell a shamefull lye , because the deuill is their damned sire . i will not vse my tongue to blasphemy , for feare my soule doe find it in hell fire : i will no place of wicked pride aspire , for feare when i am at the height of all , a slipping foote doe breed a break-neck fall . i will not weare a nose-gay in my hat , a picktooth in my mouth , flowres in mine eare , nor hunt the otter , nor the water-rat , nor haue an ape sit nitting of my heare , nor runne betwixt the beareward and the beare , the bull-dogge , ban-dogge , nor the puppits play : none of these thoughts shall throw my wittes away . nor will i learne to cogge and foyst a dye , nor pull all day at a primero card : nor see a cocke , to strike his spurre awry . from all these thoughts i am by reason bar'd . to follow play , i find the time too hard . no , let me sit alone and keepe my stake , while winners laugh , and losers hearts do ake . i take no pleasure in your sweete perfumes . the open ayre is healthfull vnto nature , which liueth long , while stuffed sence consumes both mind and body into many a creature : nor doe i loue a forced colour'd feature , but playne and pure milke-white and cherry-red : these are the colours that are best in bed . i loue no leere , nor winke , nor wily looke , but straight fore-right , a penny in my face : i loue to read in no vngodly booke , for feare instruction breed me but disgrace : i loue to plead in no vnhonest case : no , no , the world such wickednesse doth breede , i know not ( almost ) what to loue indeede . what doe i care to see a swasher swagger , with frounst mustachios , and a staring eye ? alas the day , i neuer saw a bragger , but hardly scapes the begger e're he dye , if that the hang-man put not out his eye . no , no , i loue the ciuill kinde of iesture , right on and plaine , both in my looke and vesture . what care i at a countrey wake to see a fidler fumble on a wicked note ? or in a play , what can it pleasure mee , to seeking pippin in a paynted coate , or heare a fellow tell a tale by roate , or see a boy to play a wenches part ? i cannot laugh at such an idle arte. what if i chaunce to see a wench so paynted , that not a plastrer in the towne can mend it ? and if perhaps , her tutch withall be taynted , let them that be her secret friends , defend it : i neither will defend it , nor offend it : no , let her goe along with her disgrace , i loue not her that weares not her owne face . and if i see a miser munching chuffe furd with a forest round about his face , clinging his clunsh-fist in a calueskin cuffe , and lace his ierkin with a letherne lace , within a church , to take a chauncels place ; let him goe sleep out all the sermon while , what doe i care for such a iohn a stile ? and if i see a crue of cunning knaues , laying of plots to coozen single wittes , let them alone , and come not neere the slaues , they wil be met with one day for their fits , when that the hangman by the halter sits . let them not touch my pocket , nor my purse , and , let them hang , i neuer wish them worse . what if i meet with mistris fiddle-strings , that maketh twenty faces in a day ? i will not meddle with her aperne strings : my dare is out for plucking flowres in may , such idle humours i must throw away , and say vnto my selfe , but what i see , such prick me dainties are to proud for me . and if i meet a finicall fine youth , that weares his best clothes on a worky day , and makes a legge with yea forsooth , in truth , and learnes to lispe and looke the tother way , and knowes not well vpon what ground to stay : alas poore fellow let the foole alone : what should i care for eyther iohn or ione ? and if i meet a mistris wide-mouth'd malkes , and see her slauer like a filthy slut , and marke her when with iohn a nods she walkes into the wood , to learne to crack a nut , i will not teach a sparrow to keepe cut. let them goe tumble till their bones be weary : why should i trouble them vvhen they are merry ? away with all vnprofitable humours , your huffe and snuffe , and swagger , sweare and swill , the fruites whereof are but vngracious rumours , that hatefull wit condemnes of heedlesse will , which hunteth after nothing else but ill . fye , fye vpon them all , i care not for them , and blest are they , that in their hearts abhorre them . what , shall a blessed beautious virgins face beget a wicked humour in mine eye ? shall reason so much runne into disgrace , as so to yeelde to natures villany ? if she be faire , must i be foule thereby ? no , no , my thoughts , i 'le quickly turne the case , i 'le haue as fayre a soule , as she a face . come not to me with an odde coyned iest , or prittle prattle of a puddings skinne : for iests are stale , and iesters at the best , vnto the beggars are too neere a kinne , and idle prates i haue no pleasure in : tell me of somewhat that may doe me good , and neuer hide your heads within my hood . speake you of newes ? t is oddes they be not true ; and if they be , pray god they be not ill : but good or ill , if that they be too newe , i pray you in your silence keepe them still . for too much speach doth prooue to little skill : but for all newes , vntil the truth be knowne , rather heare twenty , then report of one . is there a wench within your idle walke ? well , let her walke , i will not heare of her : i doe not like of such ill humour'd talke : i can your silence to such talke preferre : and my conceit to better cares referre . mine eyes grow dimme , eares deafe , and sences dull , i care not for a sheepe without her wooll . tell not me of a horse , nor of a hound , the iades will kicke , and dogs wil sizzle all : nor tell me of a song , nor of a ground , i haue no humour to bee musicall ; nor tell me of a vaine poeticall : verses are growne so common & so course , they bring but small reuennue to the purse . tell me not of a coate of cloth of gold , or silke and siluer , pearle and precious stone , t is ten to one the fashion will not hold , besides , a prince should by such robes be knowne : and though the world to a mad passe be growne , i will content me with good home-made cloth , that hath no harme , but onely by the moth . tell not me of a dainty dish of meate , when poyson may be stolne into the broth , nor in my napry how to be too neate , i can content me with cleane lynnen cloth , and take my drinke , and blow away the froth , looke in my purse to answere my expence , and make a vertue of experience . tell not me of a pleasant cup of wine , and suger to it : what is that to me ? that drinking smack shal touch no tongue of mine . wine , beere or ale , i care not which it be : i loue the dyet that fits my degree : if it wil wet , and coole and quench my thirst , i care not who be last , so i be first . it may be , yee will thinke i loue a pie of spice and plummes , but truly t is not so , my diet stands not vpon spicerie . to beefe and mutton can good stomacks go . hunger is the best sauce that i do knowe . t is good for yong fine wiues that be a lust , to long for plummes , and pies , and pasticrust . a tit-mouce rosted , and a sparrowe stewde , is meate for such as eate for fashion sake . and beere or ale , of running water brewde , is good for them that feare the belly-ake , and crustie bread , or a hard bisket cake , these are trimme victuals for some stomacks feeding , but such fine diet is not for my breeding . tell me not of a fine and daynty booke , a spanish slipper , or an irish spurre : giue me a shooe that well may fit my foot , i care not for a buskin made of furre , t is good for those that euer feare the murre : giue me a shooe or boote to keepe me dry , i care for no fantasticke foolery . tell not me of a new-found peece of stuffe , that scarce will last a minute of an houre , nor of a strange conceited muffe nor ruffe , that may be seeme a swashers paramoure . i do not care to sit in venus boure . cost is but lost that is so ill bestowd , and had i wist , is but a foole beshrowd . bid mee not keepe my money in my purse , and pay no debts , let beggers lye and starue : i doe not meane to get my selfe a curse , with scraping for that may the present serue : i will not so from honest reason swarue : let carelesse mindes their conscience forget , i thinke it is a hell to be in debt . yet will i neuer count of coyne but drosse , and wish it but for necessary vse , to answere fortune in a froward crosse , and to auoyd the cunning of excuse , when lacke of faith might fall into abuse : for in respect of loue , i care not for it : and as for auarice , i doe abhorre it , . mad-caps oh the merrie time . oh where is now that goodly golden time , when gold was counted but a needfull drosse , and reason sought but by desert to clime , while few or none that feared gayne or losse , when patience bare the brunt of euery crosse , and no man lou'd his neighbour to an end , but once and euer , say and hold a friend : when one might haue a hundred egges a groate , and for three halfepence , halfe a strike of rye , and for a shilling make himselfe a coate , to keepe him warme , & many a winter dry : and for a farthing , a good pudding pie , a good olde drawing iade for halfe a crowne , and forty pence the best cow in a towne : when youth would serue for meat & drinke and cloth , and weare their best clothes but on holydayes : and in a yeere you should not heare an othe : when tut and stoole-ball were the summer playes , and buffets made no sword and buckler frayes . no puntos nor stoccados were not knowne , when iohn had nought to doe but with his ione . when fine maid marian in a moris daunce , could bride it like a millers ambling mare , and euery blew-cote by his cognisance , made all the countrey know whose cloth hee ware ? and euery farmer kept good houshold fare , and not a rich man would a begger rate , but he would giue him almes at his gate : when pride did teach no princocks to goe gay , nor pricke me daintie , picke her fingers ends , nor lust could take the virgines loue away , nor heedelesse wits were carelesse of their friends , nor blessed spirits fear'd accursed fiends . but honest wits so neere to wisedome came , that nothing almost could be out of frame : vvhen mistris fubs that fiddle faddle fusse , no colours knew to mend her coorse complexion , nor prancking parnel like an idle pusse , could gull a nimph with an imperfection , but euerie schole-boy knowes his interiection , and had by heart a better part of speech , then make a full point only in a breech : when swearing swopskin could not swash it so , but euerie mule could point him for an asse , nor munching miser could so closely goe , but men could note him for an owliglasse , and make him hatefull wheresoe're he was . and not a whore , but is so woe begone her , that all the countrie would crie out vpon her : when faith and truth was found in yea and nay , and words of wisedome had their worthy weight , when sunne-shine beames did make the blessed day , and euerie stalke did beare her flower full streight , and such as saw them , ioy'd to see their height , and euerie bird was bush't within the spring , when all were husht , when philomen did sing : when all the day , the connies kept their burrowes , and not a lambe was troubled with a worme : the fearefull hare was squat amid the furrowes , till feare or hunger made her leaue her forme , and season'd shepheards neuer fear'd a storme : and youth and beauty liu'd like turtle dones , vvhen age would not be angry at their loues : when nymphs and muses sweetly kept the woods , and olde hob-goblin kept within the caues : the farmer sought not for his neighbours goods . but sam and simkin were the merry slaues , that danced trenchmoore on their graundsirs graues : and su and sib would trip it on the toe , as if they knew not on what ground to goe : when curds and creame were such a dainty dish , as made the louers licke their lips for ioy : and youth as mery as their hearts could wish , when cupid was so kinde a hearted boy , as neuer wrought a blessed thought annoy , but gracious spirits were so well agreed , that truth was faire on euery face to reed : when ale , and beere was once olde english wine , and beefe , and mutton was good countrie cheere , and bread and cheese would make the miller dine : when that an honest neighbour might come neere , and welcome : hoh maide , fill a pot of beere , and drinke it soundly in a woodden dish , when wagges were merrie as their harts could wish : when not a pedler walk't without his packe , and not a tinker , but did sound his panne , and euerie trades-man , by what do you lacke ? and euery tapster , by his woodden canne : and by his dealing euerie honest man : and euerie wife , was by her husband knowne , and then it was a blessed world alone . when susan sowre-face , that would sit and powt , for all the parish , was a pointing stocke : and lazy lobkin , like an idle lowte , was made no better then a washing blocke : while the good husbands , that maintaynde the stock , and laide vp closely for a raynie day , were they , that kindly bare the bell away : when no man kept a dogge but for an vse , the mastife chiefly , for to hunt a hogge , the hound to hunt the hare out of her mewse , and for a piece , a fetching water-dogge , or for to beate a foule out of a bogge . a horse to beare as easie as a cradle , and not to kicke , nor fling out of the saddle : when maidens wink 't to see a hen a tredding , and carefull widdowes caried honest mindes , and brides would blush to heare but of their bedding , and humours would not alter with the windes , but loue was it , that faith for euer bindes , and pitch , and pay , and take , and trie , and trust : when hearts were hatefull that were found vniust : the word of connicatching vvas not heard , the practise vvas so seld or ne're in vse , and vertues grace , vvas chiefly in regard , when iustice gaue redresse for all abuse , vvhile care of conscience suffered no excuse . but iudgement cut off vvicked vvilfulnesse , or mercy vvrought repentance happinesse : then honest husbands had the merrie liues , that saw their children well brought vp at schoole , and ioy in heart to see their honest wiues , seldome or neuer , from their spinning stoole , when none was idle , but was held a foole . and he , nor she , could iustly be offended , when all amisse could quickly be amended : when vsurers were counted but as iewes , and parasites did goe in painted coates , and whores and drabs were kept but in the slewes , and cuckowes might be sounded by their notes : while farmers mixt no rie among their otes , but euerie eare could shew what corne was sowne , and euerie wife was by her husband knowne : when huswiues lou'd to talke of home-made cloth , the fine euen threed , and of the kindly whiting , and how to kill the canker and the moth , and of my childrens reading and their writing , and of mine vncles eldest sonnes inditing , as well in prose , as pleasing countrie-rime , and chat , and worke , for feare of losing time : when men would meet on sundayes at the church , with true deuotion , not for fashion sake : when cunning wit would giue no foole the lurch , but in each cause , a kinde of conscience make , and with indifferent hand both giue and take : while all things were so common among friends , that good beginnings made as blessed ends : when maidens sate and neately milkt their cowes , and lambs and rabbits skipped vp and downe : and little children marched with their bowghes in a may morning to a market towne : and batchelers gaue wenches a greene gowne : and smouching yonkers gaue the gyrle a kisse , when all was wel , where nothing was amisse : when cake and pudding was no simple feast , and dealt about in bittes like holy bread , and ripe yong rooks were taken in the neast , while ruth and rachel did the rye loafe knead : when kit would smile to see cocke sparrowes tread , and pipe and taber made as merry glee , as at a may-pole one would wish to see : when bride-cups with their dainty gay bride-laces , the bachelers with such a grace would carry , and maidens follow with such mincing faces , as would allure a man halfe madde to marry : and not a wagge nor wench without rosemary , a nose-gay , napkin ▪ and a paire of gloues , these were the orders of the ancient loues : when the olde folkes went mannerly before , and the young people kindely followed after , the parents held the bason at the dore , t'one for my sonne , the other for my daughter : when all the churchyard might beful of laughter , and seruice done , the youth on euery side , would runne to meet the bridegroome with the bride . when going home , in order as they went , the fidlers played before them all the way : and not a maide that had her aperne rent , her face cleane washt , and had not a cleane stay , her shooes well blackt , was held a slut that day . when plummes and pies would fill the belly full , and nappy ale made many an addle skull : when many a lad would lift the leaden heele , and daunce vntill he swet , and dropt againe , and winde his wench about him like an eele , and tosse and turne her like a lustie swaine , while harmeles hearts were in a merrie vaine : and then a posset , and a spiced cup , and so good-night , to make the matter vp : when sheepes-eies winking first began the wooing , and hearts and hands did set on faith and troth , and then the matter was not long a dooing , when it was needelesse to deuise an oth , and for apparrell , good plaine home-made cloth . shee in her haire , and he in that he had , thus was the lasse contented with the lad. he had his fathers harrowe , and his plowe , a yong gray fillie , and a curtold mare , shee had her mothers blessing and a cow , a milke-paile , and some woodden dayrie-ware , a slitch of bacon for good houshold fare . he had a cottage and a faire backe-side : and so did liue the bridegrome and his bride : when scarce they had beene maried fifteene houres , but he would to his worke , she to her wheele , and then looke what 's my neighbours , what is ours , and carde , and spinne , and wind vpon the reele , and mixe the iron kindly with the steele , and keepe some corne to fill the emptie sacke , for feare the begger catch them by the backe : worke all the weeke for a good sundayes dinner , and then as merrie as the day was long , when they might well afford their drinke the thinner , if that the meate did make the porridge strong , and all was right , where nothing did go wrong . but sim and sib so louingly agreed , that then it was a louing world indeed . when hunger was the sauce for euerie meate , vvhile early rising did good stomacks make , and labour was the bath to make men sweate , one with a forke , another with a rake : when tom would worke a vie for susans sake . and he that sung and whistled at the cart , with hay , and ho , did beare the merrie heart : when honest mindes would neuer beat their braines to fetch out wordes a mile aboue the moone : nor frame their wittes to loose a worlde of paines , to make a morning of an after noone : nor wayte too long , nor yet to wish too soone : but worke their willes and wittes togither so , as met the winde where euer it could blow . strange wordes were riddles vnto simple eares , new fashions , follies vnto wisedomes eyes : and faythfull hartes , were voyde of idle feares , while true plaine meaning sought no pollicies : for till the poets figures did deuise to make men studie till their braines were mad , trueth was much more in estimation had . oh when mens hartes lay bare vpon their brestes , while wordes and deedes were all one in effect . and wicked humours were not turn'de to iestes , when honor had to simple trueth respect , and wisedome would vngratious thoughtes reiect , and loue was loue for loue , and not for gaine , then was the worlde in a true golden vaine . then was not borne that wicked machauile , whose rules haue metaphormol'de many a minde . nor trueth would stande to study out a stile that were too high for honest wittes to finde . nor cunning trickes , the carefull eye would blinde : but when the toung did speak , the hart would prooue trueth was the substaunce of the speech of looue . then was ( in deede ) that true nobilitie , that had respect to nothing but it selfe : when no infection in gentilitie could gull the minde with greedines of pelfe : nor suffer cupid play the peeuish elfe , nor venus pride , to match with vulcans croome , nor wicked midas steppe in mars his roome . then , was the sheepe knowen easely by his brand , cow by her lowe : and by his barke the dogge : the neighbour iustly measur'de out his land , and helpt to pull his horse out of the bogge : no titles tride about a timber-logge , but rather loose it , then to goe to law , to spende a sheafe of corne about a straw . and then was law the onely rule of loue , where many hartes agreed all in one : and carefull conscience did in concord proue the blessed life of such an vnion : when grace with pride could not be ouergon , but humble , milde , and modest smiling eyes , made the worlde seeme a kinde of paradise . but some will say , all those good dayes are past : well , let them goe ; as good may come againe : time goes apace : but runne hee nere so fast , he may be ouertaken in the plaine . such as haue golde , are in the golden vaine , while that the poore must champe vpon the bit , and fooles must fret , because they haue no wit. hee that hath money , may do many thinges , yet all , as good as nothing , in the ende . and he that wantes , knowes what the spirit wringes , that goes to heau'ne , to seeke to finde a friende , while all in vaine , doth hee his spirit spende , that thinkes on earth is any daintie hony , but that which arte distilleth out of mony . mad-caps out vpon money . oh money , money , t is a monarch such , as makes men know not what thēselues may bee : it makes the churle his neighbors good to grutch and felles the plant before it be a tree . and makes the miller through a mil-stone see more cunning , towling in a strike of rie , then can be found out by the farmers eie . it makes a wench as tawnie as a moore , to seeme as faire , as shee were red and whighte . it makes a rich men make him selfe as poore as hee that were not scarcely worth a mighte : it makes a cowarde quarrell with a knight : yea , and sometime , to giue him such a blow , as all his strength doth wholly ouerthrow . it makes a rascall in his rogish pride , to thrust his nose at tandom in the winde : and bringes a groome a wooing to a bride , that scarce would wish to let him looke behinde , nor take a trencher , till her dogge had dinde : and yet that subiect of all thoughts disgrace , shall put a handsome stripling out of place . why ? money puts a foole into some wit , and makes a wise man wary of his will : and puts on roast-meate on the beggers spit : and makes a bungler learne a better skill , then take a trade , and liue by losses still . why , money such a power in mallice beares , as sets a worlde togither by the eares . but , what of this ? be money what it can , t is but a kinde of purified drosse : the ouerthrow of many an honest man , that hath not patience to endure a crosse , while one mans game , doth breed an others losse : and therefore let them loue it that haue store , i would but haue to vse it , and no more . is there no god , but golde ? nor good , but gaine ? all siluer sainctes ; that must high worship haue ? is there no grace , but in the golden vaine ? where , either be a king , or be a slaue ? no , t is for fooles , which fortune so to shaue : t is vertue onely bringes the truest wealth , though money may do well , to maintaine health . what reason is there beautie should haue blame , for getting money out of follies handes ? or why should money haue so ill a name , to lappe a spend-thrift in vnthriftie bandes ? why , money is a monarch ouer landes , and must be sued too , when a man doth lacke , or els perhaps be put into a sacke . alas poore money , how hee is misus'de : and yet i see not who can be without him : i neuer came yet where hee was refus'de , but cappe and curtsey , all that came about him : and hee that wantes him , all the world wil flout him : and though some haply finde him idle talke , yet if hee haue no money , hee must walke . yet be it fit for neuer so good vses , heede must be taken in the getting of it : for , against law , there can be no excuses , when iustice doth in sacred iudgement sit , and knowes what is for all offences fit : and therefore better t is for to abhorre it , then come before a iudge to answeare for it . no , let no minde that meanes to liue at rest , goe further for his good , then law will guide him : but , in the meane , to thinke that musique best , that doth not let too high straines ouer-stride him , least true musitians happen to deride him : vpon ynough , it is ynough to looke , and what is more , is quite beside the booke . profite doth well , but honestie is better : but , both doth well , and parted much amisse : each sence is not according to the letter , the trueth in deede in the construction is , where wit may finde , that will not walke amisse , in the true iudgement of discretions eyes , a man may be both wealthy , kinde , and wise . but , since it is so hard a thing to doo , to gather wealth with perfect honestie : it is to strange a thing to come vntoo , with men of onely worldes capacitie : let me but labour for necessitie , feede , cloathe , and keepe the begger from the dore , pay that i owe , and i desire no more . for , let the greedy-minde gape after pelfe , hee may be choaked when his throat is null : the shippe may tunne vnhapply on a shelfe , that little doubted , when it lay at hull : what is the sheepe that neuer lost his wooll ? or what is hee , that must not leaue his golde , how deere soeuer hee his treasure holde ? vngodly drosse , why should it so be witch the mindes of men , to take away their mindes , as in too many that are too too rich ? where catching-spirites auarice so blindes , as in their bagges , their begger comfort bindes : oh hatefull coyne , that can inuent such euill , as so from god , to sende men to the deuill . but yet i thinke , i haue my selfe mistaken , t is but the vse , that makes it good or ill : in an ill sence it ought to be forsaken ; but in a good , it helpes a forward will : then as i sayd , it is a blessed skill , so to conceiue , perceiue , to take and vse it , that wit may haue no reason to refuse it . for he that lookes vpon a world of wealth , may hap be subiect to this bagidge drosse : and when he thinkes on that vngodly stealth , that makes a gaine of many a thousandes losse : it may be to his comfort such a crosse , that he would wish for iob his pouertie , rather then diues superfluitie . but let each conscience commune with it selfe , and put off passions with discretions care : i leaue the scraper to his scratching pelfe , and , wish the honest wealthy all wellfare : and , to my selfe but an indifferent share , that when good fortunes lots doe kindly fall , i might haue some , although my some be small . but wishers , wise-men say , are idle woulders , and wish and would , is worth but little ware : and they , that are no better knowne housholders , doe oft at dinner , keepe their table bare , where emptie dishes giue but hungry fate : and therefore let them wish for wealth that list , i 'le play the foole no more with had-i-wist . what i can get , or keepe , or kindly saue , that 's vp with fiue ; well got , and well spent : a little spade will make a great mans graue : and , hee liues happie , that can die content : and , hee accursed , that is passion rent with griefe , and feare to loose their comfortes heere , and lacke the ioyes that to the soule are deere . but , let it goe ; for t is a perlous thing for many a man almost to meddle withall : it makes some daunce within a wicked ring , when that the theefe doth from the gallows fall , and doth the wittes of many a minde enstall : so that in fine , since such it is i see , let them that list , gape after golde for mee . and seeke the treasure of the spirites wealth , where no corruption enters with infection : but holy-loue maintaines the truest health , and keepes the sences in their best perfection : while - fayth is fed , but with the soules affection : and in that treasure to repose my trust , which can not fayle , not with the canker rust . finis . imprinted at london for richard iohnes . . the figure of foure, or a handfull of sweet flowers gathered out of diuers good grounds, and set together in this little garden within the figure of foure. figure of foure. part breton, nicholas, ?- ? approx. kb of xml-encoded text transcribed from -bit group-iv tiff page images. text creation partnership, ann arbor, mi ; oxford (uk) : - (eebo-tcp phase ). a stc estc s this keyboarded and encoded edition of the work described above is co-owned by the institutions providing financial support to the early english books online text creation partnership. this phase i text is available for reuse, according to the terms of creative commons . universal . the text can be copied, modified, distributed and performed, even for commercial purposes, all without asking permission. early english books online. (eebo-tcp ; phase , no. a ) transcribed from: (early english books online ; image set ) images scanned from microfilm: (early english books, - ; : ) the figure of foure, or a handfull of sweet flowers gathered out of diuers good grounds, and set together in this little garden within the figure of foure. figure of foure. part breton, nicholas, ?- ? [ ] p. printed [by eliot's court press] for iohn wright, london : . dedication signed: n. breton. printer identified by stc. signatures: a b⁴. the last leaf is blank. reproduction of the original in the henry e. huntington library and art gallery. created by converting tcp files to tei p using tcp tei.xsl, tei @ oxford. re-processed by university of nebraska-lincoln and northwestern, with changes to facilitate morpho-syntactic tagging. gap elements of known extent have been transformed into placeholder characters or elements to simplify the filling in of gaps by user contributors. eebo-tcp is a partnership between the universities of michigan and oxford and the publisher proquest to create accurately transcribed and encoded texts based on the image sets published by proquest via their early english books online (eebo) database (http://eebo.chadwyck.com). the general aim of eebo-tcp is to encode one copy (usually the first edition) of every monographic english-language title published between and available in eebo. eebo-tcp aimed to produce large quantities of textual data within the usual project restraints of time and funding, and therefore chose to create diplomatic transcriptions (as opposed to critical editions) with light-touch, mainly structural encoding based on the text encoding initiative (http://www.tei-c.org). the eebo-tcp project was divided into two phases. the , texts created during phase of the project have been released into the public domain as of january . anyone can now take and use these texts for their own purposes, but we respectfully request that due credit and attribution is given to their original source. users should be aware of the process of creating the tcp texts, and therefore of any assumptions that can be made about the data. text selection was based on the new cambridge bibliography of english literature (ncbel). if an author (or for an anonymous work, the title) appears in ncbel, then their works are eligible for inclusion. selection was intended to range over a wide variety of subject areas, to reflect the true nature of the print record of the period. in general, first editions of a works in english were prioritized, although there are a number of works in other languages, notably latin and welsh, included and sometimes a second or later edition of a work was chosen if there was a compelling reason to do so. image sets were sent to external keying companies for transcription and basic encoding. quality assurance was then carried out by editorial teams in oxford and michigan. % (or pages, whichever is the greater) of each text was proofread for accuracy and those which did not meet qa standards were returned to the keyers to be redone. after proofreading, the encoding was enhanced and/or corrected and characters marked as illegible were corrected where possible up to a limit of instances per text. any remaining illegibles were encoded as <gap>s. understanding these processes should make clear that, while the overall quality of tcp data is very good, some errors will remain and some readable characters will be marked as illegible. users should bear in mind that in all likelihood such instances will never have been looked at by a tcp editor. the texts were encoded and linked to page images in accordance with level of the tei in libraries guidelines. copies of the texts have been issued variously as sgml (tcp schema; ascii text with mnemonic sdata character entities); displayable xml (tcp schema; characters represented either as utf- unicode or text strings within braces); or lossless xml (tei p , characters represented either as utf- unicode or tei g elements). keying and markup guidelines are available at the text creation partnership web site . eng - tcp assigned for keying and markup - apex covantage keyed and coded from proquest page images - andrew kuster sampled and proofread - andrew kuster text and markup reviewed and edited - pfs batch review (qc) and xml conversion the figvre of fovre , or a handfvll of sweet flowers : gathered out of diuers good grounds , and set together in this little garden within the figure of foure . london , ¶ printed for iohn wright . . to the worshipfull his very good friend , the fauourer of learning , and louer of vertue , master thomas gardner , of boram in essex , n. breton wisheth much happinesse . sir , the care of my affection , in regard of your kindnesse , hath made me ( of late , walking thorow the garden of many good writers ) togather a few flowers , which i here present to the good fauour of your discretion : they are but few , the sooner looked ouer , but perhaps of such vertue as may ( wel considered ) be nothing to your dislike . such as they bee , i leaue them to the perusing of your good leisure , and their vse to your best liking : which , with my selfe , i wish to bee happie in your good fauour . and so leauing ceremonious eloquence , i rest in more affection than protestation , yours assured to command , n. breton . the figure of foure , or a handfull of sweet flowers . fovre things aboue all things , most excellent to be thought vpon : god , & his word , man , & his soule . foure excellent notes in diuinitie to be remembred : the feare of god is the beginning of wisdome , the loue of god is the ioy of the soule , the mercie of god the comfort of the heart , the grace of god the blessing of the spirit . foure other notes verie necessarie to bee had in continuall memorie : faith taketh hold of mercie , hope taketh hold of comfort , wisdome taketh hold of grace , and humilitie taketh hold of loue. foure other notes necessarie for the spirits obseruation : the essence of god incomprehensible , his power inuincible , his wisdome insearchable , and goodnesse vnspeakable . foure notes vpon the names of the beloued of god. moses , to whom god gaue the law ; dauid , whom he chose after his owne heart ; lazarus , whom he raised from dead ; and iohn the euangelist , that leaned in his bosome . foure chiefe fooles aboue all other to be noted : adam , that lost paradise for a bit of an apple ; esau , that sold his birth-right for a messe of porrage ; lots wife , that lost her life for a looke ; and iudas , tha : sold his soule for thirtie pence . the bible diuided chiefly into foure parts : the law , the prophets , the gospell , and the reuelation . foure speciall notes out of these : the wisdome , the power , the mercie , and the glorie of god. foure notes vpon these : the creation by the power of god , the gouernment by the wisdome of god , the redemption by the mercie of god , and saluation by the glorie of god. the foure seasons of the yeare : the spring , the summer , the haruest , the winter . the nature of the foure elements : the fire , the water , the aire , and the earth . to apply them to the body , the foure complexions : the fire , choler ; the aire , bloud ; the water , flegme ▪ and the earth , melancholy . foure other notes : quantitie , qualitie , the pouertie , and effect . foure chiefe creatures to bee noted in nature : man , beast , fish , fowle . foure things to bee noted in the nature of man : constitution , disposition , corruption , and confirmation . foure notes of a good eye : to see quick ▪ to see farre , to see cleare , to see long. foure notes of a strong body : to trauell well , to feed well , to digest well , and to sleepe well . foure chiefe notes of a good spirit : wisdome in speech , valour in action , mercie in wrath , and bountie in reward . four great blessings in nature : to speake well , to write well , to ride well , and to swim well . foure chiefe passions of the minde : loue , hate , ioy , and sorrow . foure chiefe gouernours of the passion : reason , patience , time , and experience . foure chiefe bridles of nature : want , authoritie , hope , and feare . foure kindes of gouernments : the turkish , the christian , the protestant , and the papist . foure kindes of wars : forraine , ciuill , combat , and in the conscience . foure chiefe gouernours vnder the prince : the counsellor , the judge , the bishop , and maior . foure chiefe members in a common-wealth : the souldier , the courtier , the lawyer , and the merchant . foure chiefe vpholders of the common-wealth : the plough-man , the grazier , the clothier , and the fisher-men . foure chiefe sciences to be studied : arithmeticke for the merchant , geometrie for the traueller , astronomie for the mariner , and diuinitie for the scholler . foure thoughts to bee excluded the minde : the secrets of the heauens , the wonders of the world , the wickednesse of sinne , and the madnesse of fooles . foure chiefe persons to bee regarded : an honourable master , a louing wife , a faithfull friend , and a trustie seruant . foure kindes of women not to be loued : a wife full of words , a maid full of sleepe , a widdow proud , and an old woman wanton . foure men to bee excluded all good company : a parasite , a pandar , a theefe , and a lyar. foure ill shewes in a house : a table without meat , a stable without horse , a chamber without furniture , and a purse without money . foure things not to bee medled with : meat when it is fire-hot , friendship when it is stone-cold , fish when it is too drie , and herbs when they are too moist . foure things not to bee numbred : the sands of the sea , the drops of the raine , the stars in the heauens , nor the moats in the sun. foure things to be eschewed : idolatrie for feare of the deuill , treacherie for feare of hanging , the euerie for feare of the jayle , and lecherie for feare of infection . foure chiefe kindes of sicknesse : the griefe of the minde , the ach of the heart , the consumption of the purse , and the disquiet of the soule . foure chiefe contentments : a quiet wife , a chiefe friend , an obedient childe , and an honest neighbour . foure great treasures , a rich possession , a faire house , a healthfull body , and a quiet minde . foure necessaries to a faire house : a faire garden , a fruitfull orchard , a pure spring , and a rich wood. foure things to bee much made of : a horse that will trauell well , a hawke that will flie well , a seruant that will wait well , and a knife that will cut well . foure true notes of a foole : much talke , often laughter , pide-coats , and lauish expence . foure other notes of a lewd person : a leering eye , a fleering looke , a flattering tongue , and creeping courtesie . foure ill peeces of musicke : the wawling of a cat , the brawling of a scold , the scraping of a kettle , and the squeaking of a cart-wheele . foure terrible sounds to the eare : thunder from heauen , the threat of a prince , the shot of a canon , and the roaring of a lion. foure chiefe necessarie wares in a citie , cloth , leather , linnen , and iron . foure ill things in a house : a mouse in a cheese , a cat in a creame-pot , a dog in the larder , and a theefe in the chest . foure chiefe persons in a market : the meale man , the butcher , the butter-man , and the fish-wife . foure chiefe countrey victuals : butter , cheese , egges , and apples . foure lasing victuals in a house : bacon , ling , butter , and cheese . foure things necessarie in a house , oyle , salt , vinegar , and pepper . foure necessarie herbs in a garden : rue , rosemarie , thyme , and parsley . foure good physick herbs in a garden : mercurie , spurge , pionell , and tobacco . foure kindes of graine most necessarie for the citie : wheat , rye , barley , & oats . foure best kinds of prouender for horses : beanes , pease , oats , and veches . foure necessarie things for a good horse : sweet hay , drie oats , cleere water , and cleane straw . foure chiefe furnitures in an armorie : a good sword , a good pike , a good corselet , and a good peece . foure good things at sea : a sound ship , a skilfull pilot , a good wind , and faire weather . foure chiefe beasts of state : the lion , the vnicorne , the horse , and the stag. foure chiefe stately birds : the eagle , the estridge , the goshawke , and the crane . foure chiefe fruits of commoditie in a garden : the cabage , the artiehoke , the carret , and the parsnip . foure chiefe fruits for dainties in an orchard : the apricocke , the peach , the quince , and the warden . foure chiefe seruices at a table , beefe , mutton , capon , and ▪ rabbet . foure chiefe sallets in the spring : lettice , rocket , taragon , and spinage . foure kindes of poore mens physicke , onions , garlike , ale , and graines . foure dangerous things in a high way : an adder , a slough , a theefe , & a madman . the earth diuided into foure parts : the pasture , the plough-land , the medow , and the wood-ground . the realme diuided into foure parts : the court , the vniuersitie , the citie , and the countrey . foure diuisions of the yeares of man : his infancie , his child-hood , his manhood , his age. foure things alwayes necessarie to be remembred : to serue god , to despise the world , to prouide for necessaries , and remember to die . foure things to be taken heed of , not to fall into : not to creepe to a dog , to consult with a wolfe , to trust to a fox , nor to come in the clawes of a lion. foure things verie dangerous : to looke too long vpon beautie , is dangerous for the eye ; to hearken to treason , is dangerous for the eare ; to cut a purse is dangerous for the hand ; and to delight in surfeting is dangerous for the bodie . foure old english games : trumpe , one and thirtie , doublers , and be-you-pleased . foure old english prouerbs : the hart loues the high-wood , the hare loues the hill , the gentleman his sword , and the yeoman his bill . foure toyling pastimes : foot-ball , wrastling , tumbling , and dancing . foure chiefe horrible sinnes to take heed of : pride , lecherie , murther , and drunkennesse . foure chiefe weapons of the soule : faith , prayer , hope , and patience . foure things to bee hated of all men : a faithlesse friend , a malicious woman , a proud beggar , and a miserable rich man. the foure diuisions of time : the yeare , the moneth , the day , the houre . foure diseases incurable : the falling-sicknesse , the gout , the frenzie , the gangreene . foure excellent medicines for all diseases : patience in the minde , peace in the soule , the fruits of the earth , and the ioyes of heauen . hee that would doe hurt , and dare not , hath more malice than valour ; and he that can doe hurt and will not , hath more taste of heauen than of the world . hee that is full of sorrow , hath no joy in the world ; and hee that feareth death , hath a weake faith . dauid was holy , and yet sinned grieuously ; salomon was wise , and yet committed idolatrie ; peter denied christ , but after wept bitterly ; and marie magdalen was a great sinner , and yet loued christ iesus entirely . feare not to doe well , for the threat of a frowne ; nor bee enticed to doe euill , by promise of reward . haue an eye to thy purse , and an care to thy doore , a doore to thy lips , and a care ouer thy soule . pharaohs pride was drowned in the sea , alexanders greatnesse lieth in the graue , sampsons strength fell into dalila's lap , and dines riches kept reckoning in hell . plato was a diuine philosopher , aristotle a perfect logician , virgil an excellent poet , and diogenes adogged companion . hee that will follow a multitude , may dance at a may-pole , and he that loues solitarinesse , may dwell in a cupboard . hee that spends more in one yeare , than he gets in two , may fret out his heart , when he hath no mony in his purse . he that vseth quarrell , had need be followed with a chirurgion & he that is giuen to drinking , may make his will in a surfet . a gracious prince is a blessing to the realme , and a foolish master is a griefe to his seruant . meet not a lion alone in the woods , creep not into a caue to rob a bear of her whelps , trust not a wolfe too neere behinde thee , and lose not thy time to play with an ape . a faire citie without people , a faire stable without horse , a faire pasture without cattell , and a faire ship without mariners , are foure pitifull sights to behold . a little ground well tilled , a little house well filled , and a little wife well willed , would make him liue that were halfe killed . words are alluring winds , visions are vaine thoughts , hopes deceiuing humours , and loue is a prettie morris-dance . hee that gapes after flies , may bee cho●●● with a gnat ; and hee that trusteth to dreames may bee afraid of his owne shadow : he that keepeth company with fooles , loseth the benefit of time : and hee that loueth to walke in the darke , may breake his shins for his labour . hee that mournes for euerie trifle , is worthy of trouble , and hee that conceales his sorrow , refuseth comfort . early rising is wholesome for the body , spare diet maintaineth a good stomacke , moderate exercise preserueth health , and a good purse makes a merrie heart . delaying of time is the losse of occasion ▪ and late repentance doth argue indiscretion . love vertue as thy life , it gets thee fame after death , and she sinne as a serpent , lest it sting like a deuill . ignorance and sensualitie , presumption , and despaire , are the foure chiefe snares the deuill layeth for the soule . the summer hath her flies , and the winter her worme ; so hath pride , folly , miserie , and sorrow . loue is sweet , so it bee gouerned with reason ; and friendship is comfortable , when it comes vnlooked for . vertue is the beauty of wit , and honor the ioy of reason , loue is the life of nature , and grace is the glory of wisdome . time is the plotter of experience , and obseruation is the instrument of knowledge . who reueales his secrets to his friends , hath his head vnder anothers girdle , and he that scorneth the counsell of the wise , may shake hands with a foole . let the world know thine honesty , thy friend thy kindnesse , thy wife thy loue , and thine heire thy wealth . releeue the distressed , it will be a fame to thy name : aduance the vertuous , it will be an honor to thy spirit : fauour the learned , it may benefit thy knowledge : and loue the religious , it may be a blessing to thy soule . who heares much and sayes little , who gets much and loseth little , who hath much and spends little , may ioy much and sorrow little . marry not with age , lest it dislike thee ; nor beauty , least it deceiue thee ; nor wealth , lest it corrupt thee ; nor pouertie , lest it empouerish thee . be not a peacocke in thy apparel , a parrot in thy speech , a gander in thy gate , nor a herne in thy feed . be a niggard to a foole , and take heed of a close wit , reward the vertuous in secresie , and discard the idle as needlesse . vse musicke for recreation , play but for company , labour for exercise , and study but for knowledge . an angrie spirit , and a weake body , doe but trouble time , and make ready for the graue . a true heart and an honest minde , with a good tongue , make an happie creature . loue a prince for vertue , a magistrate for wit , a judge for conscience , and a diuine for zeale . pay truly that thou owest ▪ keepe warily what thou enioyest , giue frankly that thou giuest , and god will blesse what thou hast . grieue not an afflicted spirit , nor boast of thine owne happinesse , trouble not a wounded conscience , and bee patient in thine owne misfortune . follow the noble , obserue the wise , accompanie the honest , and loue the godly . be not subiect to any humour , nor obstinate in any errour , nor absolute in thine owne opinion , nor resolute without good aduice . learne varietie of languages for conference with strangers , varietie of studies for knowledge of arts , varietie of gouernments to manage thy trauels , and varietie of knowledge to content the humour of thy spirit . scoffe not a wise speech in a meane man , scorne not vertue in a poore habit , refuse not good wine in a woodden cup , nor deny not to take currant money out of a course canuasse bag . wearie not your wits with study , your body with labour , your friend with intreatie , nor your seruants with rebuke . make not religion the cloke of an ill minde , nor a smooth countenance a couer for a subtill meaning , nor a faire word a shadow of an euill deed , nor a gilded pill the couer of poyson . in a towne of warre , marke fortifications : in a royall campe , marke the gouernment ; in an honourable march , note the order of the leaders ; and in the day of battell , marke the fight . striue not with thy betters , for feare of authoritie ; quarrell not vvith thine inferiour , for feare of disgrace : but shoulder with thine equall , to maintaine thy reputation ; and take the right on thy side , for feare of the law. loue not a tale of robin hood and his bow , beat not thy braines about the reading of a riddle , listen to no ballads of the fox and the crow , nor giue credit to newes till they be halfe a yeare old . tell no newes , and write fewer , play not vpon a stranger , and abuse not a friend . chuse a good aire for thy seat , a warme chamber for thy lodging , a faire way to trauell , and an honest man for thine host. better is one good horse than many jades , one good dog than many curs , one good seruant than many slouens , and one true friend than many flatterers . there bee foure miserable plagues vnto man : sicknesse , want , imprisonment , and wrong . there be foure plagues to a good mind : to serue a foole , to marrie a slut , to be beholding to a churle , and not to requite a friend . learne by a flie , not to play with the fire : learne by a fish , not to snatch at a bait : learne by a bird , not to fall in a snare : and learne by a mouse , not to creepe into a trap . keepe thy pocket from the cut-purse , thy stable from the theefe , thy body from a harlot , and thy hand from a bond. follow the warres for honour , the court for fauour , the law for gaine , and the countrey for health . laus & gloria deo. wonders worth the hearing vvhich being read or heard in a winters euening, by a good fire, or a summers morning, in the greene fields: may serue both to purge melancholy from the minde, & grosse humours from the body. pleasant for youth, recreatiue for age, profitable for all, and not hurtfull to any. breton, nicholas, ?- ? approx. kb of xml-encoded text transcribed from -bit group-iv tiff page images. text creation partnership, ann arbor, mi ; oxford (uk) : - (eebo-tcp phase ). a stc estc s this keyboarded and encoded edition of the work described above is co-owned by the institutions providing financial support to the early english books online text creation partnership. this phase i text is available for reuse, according to the terms of creative commons . universal . the text can be copied, modified, distributed and performed, even for commercial purposes, all without asking permission. early english books online. (eebo-tcp ; phase , no. a ) transcribed from: (early english books online ; image set ) images scanned from microfilm: (early english books, - ; : ) wonders worth the hearing vvhich being read or heard in a winters euening, by a good fire, or a summers morning, in the greene fields: may serue both to purge melancholy from the minde, & grosse humours from the body. pleasant for youth, recreatiue for age, profitable for all, and not hurtfull to any. breton, nicholas, ?- ? [ ] p. printed [by e. allde] for iohn tappe, and are to be solde at his shop on tower hill neere the bulwarke gate, london : . dedication signed: nich. breton. printer's name from stc. running title reads: merry wonders. signatures: a-d⁴. some pages marked. reproduction of the original in the british library. created by converting tcp files to tei p using tcp tei.xsl, tei @ oxford. re-processed by university of nebraska-lincoln and northwestern, with changes to facilitate morpho-syntactic tagging. gap elements of known extent have been transformed into placeholder characters or elements to simplify the filling in of gaps by user contributors. eebo-tcp is a partnership between the universities of michigan and oxford and the publisher proquest to create accurately transcribed and encoded texts based on the image sets published by proquest via their early english books online (eebo) database (http://eebo.chadwyck.com). the general aim of eebo-tcp is to encode one copy (usually the first edition) of every monographic english-language title published between and available in eebo. eebo-tcp aimed to produce large quantities of textual data within the usual project restraints of time and funding, and therefore chose to create diplomatic transcriptions (as opposed to critical editions) with light-touch, mainly structural encoding based on the text encoding initiative (http://www.tei-c.org). the eebo-tcp project was divided into two phases. the , texts created during phase of the project have been released into the public domain as of january . anyone can now take and use these texts for their own purposes, but we respectfully request that due credit and attribution is given to their original source. users should be aware of the process of creating the tcp texts, and therefore of any assumptions that can be made about the data. text selection was based on the new cambridge bibliography of english literature (ncbel). if an author (or for an anonymous work, the title) appears in ncbel, then their works are eligible for inclusion. selection was intended to range over a wide variety of subject areas, to reflect the true nature of the print record of the period. in general, first editions of a works in english were prioritized, although there are a number of works in other languages, notably latin and welsh, included and sometimes a second or later edition of a work was chosen if there was a compelling reason to do so. image sets were sent to external keying companies for transcription and basic encoding. quality assurance was then carried out by editorial teams in oxford and michigan. % (or pages, whichever is the greater) of each text was proofread for accuracy and those which did not meet qa standards were returned to the keyers to be redone. after proofreading, the encoding was enhanced and/or corrected and characters marked as illegible were corrected where possible up to a limit of instances per text. any remaining illegibles were encoded as <gap>s. understanding these processes should make clear that, while the overall quality of tcp data is very good, some errors will remain and some readable characters will be marked as illegible. users should bear in mind that in all likelihood such instances will never have been looked at by a tcp editor. the texts were encoded and linked to page images in accordance with level of the tei in libraries guidelines. copies of the texts have been issued variously as sgml (tcp schema; ascii text with mnemonic sdata character entities); displayable xml (tcp schema; characters represented either as utf- unicode or text strings within braces); or lossless xml (tei p , characters represented either as utf- unicode or tei g elements). keying and markup guidelines are available at the text creation partnership web site . eng curiosities and wonders -- england -- early works to . english literature -- miscellanea -- early works to . - tcp assigned for keying and markup - spi global keyed and coded from proquest page images - olivia bottum sampled and proofread - olivia bottum text and markup reviewed and edited - pfs batch review (qc) and xml conversion vvonders vvorth the hearing . vvhich being read or heard in a winters euening , by a good fire , or a summers morning , in the greene fields ▪ may serue both to purge melancholy from the minde , & grosse humours from the body . pleasant for youth , recreatiue for age , profitable for all , and not hurtfull to any . london , printed for iohn tappe , and are to be solde at his shop on tower hill neere the bulwarke gate to my honest and kinde louing friend , ma. iohn cradocke cutler , at his house without temple barre : health , hearts-ease and eternall happines . your affection to all good spirits , and mine the worst of many , hath made me preferre your knowne kindne● , before the shadow of idle showes● a scholler i holde you none ; but i know you vnderstand english , and can conceipt an honest meaning , better then a braine full of more busines : and therefore in my loue , haue giuen you this fruite of my thoughts labours : in which , since diuinitie is too deepe , vertue will not ●ell ; law is cost●ie , and poetrie is too common ; histories are tedious , state matters are too high , and loue is growne a laughing iest ▪ ● haue thought good ( leauing all idle humours ) to ●all on●ly vpon a few wonders : in the discourse whereof ( i doubt not ) but you shall finde a little glimmering of the light of my better loue : to the assurance whereof , without fraude or further delay , i haue heere unto set downe my name , thi● . of december . your affectionate poore friend . ni●h ▪ breton . to the reader . i wonder with what tytle to fit you gentle , wise , or fonde and scoffing reader , but in hope of the best , i w●ll begin , with ; gentle reader , let me intreate you not to wonder at me for writing of wonders , for there is nothing common , that is currant , but money , and that is growne so scant with a number , that many a one wonder what kinde of thing it is : but , because i haue little to doe with it , i will speak● little of it , and onely tel you that it was my hap to light on a few odde wonders , that being vnhappily set downe , might passe away a little idle time to looke on . now , hoping that some mad-head in the world , might haue as much ley sure to read as i haue had to write : i haue thought good , to those good people , to co●mit the perusing of this little wonderfull peice of worke : wherein , if they finde nothing that may please them , i shall wonder at my wit : if any thing doth like them , i shall wonder what i● is , and thinke the bet●er of it when i know it . in the meane time , least you wonder too much at me , to make such a doe about nothing : i will leaue my wonders to your coni●ctures , and my loue to your kinde fauours : and so rest as i haue reason . your friend , n. b. merry vvonders . gréene rushes m. francisco , it is a wonder to sée you héere in this country : why , i was afraide that you had been so out of charity with your enemyes , that you had beenalmost out of loue with your frends : but i am glad , that hauing wished for you so long , i shall yet enioy you at last . fran. master lorillo , i doe wonder at your wondring , for though i am contented to be helde a man , yet i would be loath to be worse natured then a dogge : for i am in charity with al the world , though i am not in loue with mine owne shadowe : but to your purpose , can you eyther fell what loue or a friends is ? lor. indeed they are two wonders in this world , for men are so full of malice , and women haue so little faith , that a friend is like a phoenix , and a faithfull woman like a blacke swanne . fran. now fie man , you are too much to blame , to make a wonder of nothing , for friendship is the grace of reason , and loue is the ioy of life : and therefore rather wonder at reasons disgrace , in the breath of friendship , and at the nature of life without loue , then to see a true friend or a faithfull louer . lor. but , is it not then a wonder to thinke what should be , and s●e what is , for loue is become a riddle , and friendship a dreame , where hee may wonder at his fortune , who findes that he lookes for . fran. well , i perceiue it were a wonder to remooue you from your wondring at these wonders : but is there nothing to be wondred at , but loue and friendship ? lor. nay , would you not rather say , that i wonder to heare of so much , and finde so little ▪ but leauing to trouble our selues longer with these toyes , which are become such wonders , as are too s●ldome to be seene : let me intreate you a little to discourse of such wonders as you haue met withall , in your last trauaile abroad : and what i haue seene at home ( that may be wor●h the hearing ) i will tell you . fran. content is pleased and therefore not to burne day-light , you shal heare : at my first arriuall in a certaine count●y ( which for some causes , i will omit to name ) it was my hap to come into a very faire towne ▪ or rather citty , where i saw the houses strong and beautifull , the shops richly furnished , handsome men , and faire women , well apparelled and well countenaunced , so that there was almost nothing wanting that might seeme to make a happy state : but ●t is wonderfull to thinke , what a world of vnhappines liued within the walles of this citty : for wealth , which should haue made men bountifull and charitable , made them so proude and miserable , that the poore wretches were merrier with a crust , then the rich with a world of treasure : the faire , which promised much grace , were so enuious , so proude , and so vitious , that i wonder how so great a beauty to the body , should breed so foule a blot to the soule ? lor. alas , nature is subien to weaknesse , and therefore beare with a little i●●e●●ertion : age will tea●h repentance , and sorrow is a sa●ue for sinne : and therefore pray rather for the correction of reason , then wonder at the corruption of nature : but o●wa●●s with the rest of your wonders . fran. oh sir , excuse is no satisfaction , though contrition be gratious , the sinne of you●h makes the shame of age , and he that is bountifull at his death , is better in the graue then in the world : but i will leaue to argue further vpon the case , & goe onward with my course . when i had wondred a whi●e at particular points , in particular persons , i began to wonder at the state of the gouernment : for so farre as i could ●euill at it with the eye of my s●mple iudgement , the ●hiefest matters were wonderfully well ●uled , lawes were executed according to the estate of the offenders : if he were poore , hee was made an example : if rich , hee was made a profit , a profit to the common wealth , to take away the riches of one that might haue been hurt to many : and the poore , an example to the poore , to take warning rather to worke then to want , for feare by such offen●e to r●ceiue the like punishment of like presumption : but w●en i considered of the conscience that was charged with the burthen of bloud , i wondred how the hang man could sleep for feare of the deuill at his elbow : an● againe , i wonder not a little at the folly of the wilful , to bring their wittes to such confusion , that neither reason nor obseruation could take more place in their apprehention ? lor. oh master fraunces the misery of this time is great , and lawes had need of exe●uti●n , for else the begger with his ●ré●ping , and the ●hu●le with his bribing , w●uld so cousen pitty with cunning , that iustice should become a iest , and common wealths would be ouerthrowne ▪ and since penury to the rich , is as great a plague , as death is to the poore , let the churle whine and the begger hang , or both learne to be honest men : but to the purpose , if you haue not borne office your selfe , speake not of a magistrate , least your wonder prooue a triflle , when the secret is well considered . fran. true , but who would not wonder to sée wise men so foolish , the wealthy so mad , and the poore so desperate , that the false god of gold should so bewitch the hart of man , as to make the sentence of law to cut off the lyne of life ? but to confesse a troth , i thinke god hath his working in all things , and therefore it is but a folly to wonder at any thing : and therefore leaue all thinges to his will , who doth all things to his glory , and to goe on with my wonders , i will tell you : it was my happe to trauaile into a country towne , or pretty village , where i lodged in an inne , at the signe of the wilde goose : where , walking in the backe side , i saw a dozen of pretty fine chickins , when looking well vpon them , an vnhappy boy ( meaning to play the knaue kindely with me ) tolde mée , that in the morning all those chickins would be lambes : goe to boy quoth i , doe not lye i pray thée : in truth sir ( quoth he ) it is true : at the first ( a little concealing my displeasure conceiued against the boy ) i wondred at his spéech , but in the morning i found it true : and was not this a wonder ? lor. no mary sir , it is no wonder that the goodman of the house being called lambe , but the chickins should be all lambes : but since you are entr●d into merry wonders to beguile you● friends with a iest , let mee se●l you a littl● of some of my home wonders . fran. with all my heart : the more the better , ●ne for an other . lor. in the towne where i dwell , we haue a pretty corporation , where among many poore officers , m. constable is no meane man , especially vpon a festiual day , when he hath his tipstaff in his hād , & the stockes at his doore : now , it fell out one day that the chiefe of the parish hauing a meeting at the church , this honest man ( at least , so reputed of the simple sort ) putting on his best countenance , and taking his place amongst the best of his neighbours : it fell out , that in hearing of a controuers●e betweene two sorrye fellowes , about the pounding of a white mare , whither by law it might be done or not , one giuing his opinion vpon the one side , and the other vpon the other : at last the constable giuing a sore spéech against the poore men ▪ that the one for his cruelty , in that he had almost starued the mare in the pound , and the other for his folly , to let her stray into his neighbors ground , should be set in the stockes , and the●e to stay till they were made friendes , without farther trying of the law : had no sooner ended his spéech , but from a man became a hog : and was not this a wonder ? fran. a great one , but that lawrence hogge , if it b● he that i take it you speake of , who was the last yéere constable of your hundreth , was euer a good ryder , and therefore had euer more pitty on one good paced mare , then two roaned curtalles : but if your trenchmore bee done , let mee heare if you haue such another daunce ? lor. nay by your leaue sir , i will first heare you as good as your word , one for an other till the sunne goe downe , and then put vp . fran. content , wel remembred , then let me tell you : in a certain port towne , where it was my hap to lodge for some fewe dayes , it was my chaunce diuers times to méete with a strange creature , in the shap● of a man , of whome one day standing at a doore all alone , i tooke good notice : of stature , hee was neyther aboue the moone , nor beneath the earth , but in the middle region of the proportion of man , mary for his face it was made like one of the foure windes in a mappe , that should blowe ouer the stoutest may-pole in a country : a payre of staring eyes , that would looke three myle beyond mount noddy , and a mouth hell wide , that would sweare like a deuill : but for that he would not be troubled with too much hayre , hee had forsworne a beard : of complection , like rusty bacon , and nosed like the s●oute of an olde beare : necked like a bull , shouldred like a miller , and legged like the mill-poast : and for an arme , had it not beene iniur●d with a rewine ( that he tooke with a hot seruice in a moorish country ) hee had beene able with a little helpe , to haue throwne a lowse ouer his shoulder : apparelled he was like a decayed souldier , and yet kept a march in the streete , as though hee had ledde more then ment to follow him : now this lus●y gallant , that gaue the wall to no man , but vpon condition of a quarrell , nor put off his cap to any man , but of whome hee ment to borrow money : hauing passed a fewe dayes in such a pride , as fewe of good fashion could away withall , wanting meanes to supply his wantes , fell in hand ( after many shiftes ) to try the trade of the high way : where hauing made so many happy purchases , as would haue paide for ● good coppy-holde , would not giue ouer his ●h●se till hee was taken napping in his hunting : it fell out , that being ouer taken in his match , or ouer-matched in his taking , hee was taken holde of by the officer and brought before a iustice for a fellon , from whome to the prison , and so by degrees to the gallowes : now , where before that time he● was helde for a gallant fellow , and a proper man , hee no sooner came to execution , but hee became presently a wolfe : and was not this a great wonder ? lor. true , if it had not béene haukin wolfe , th● swaggering rascall of hempe alley , but i wonder hee liued so long vnhanged , who had deserued it so often : but t is no matter , let him goe , i am sure you are lyke to heare as good a morris daunce from my pype , and therefore haue at you : in the citty where i vse to make my housholde prouision for the yeare , it was my happe in the inne where i lay , to bee lodged next wall to a minikin girle , broder betwixt the eyes then the héeles : this dainty come-to-it , thinking her brasse good siluer , in an humour ( twenty yeeres short of her age ) would forsooth ( to continue or encrease her beautye ) vse all the arte , that eyther the phisition or the paynter could helpe her for her auayle : and to note the variety of the countenaunces , shee would in a glasse , teach her ill fauoured face to put on ( it was a wonder to thinke vpon ) one while she would looke as demurely , as a rabbet that had newly washed her face in a deawy morning : by and by shee would drawe the great lippes of a wyde mouth so neere together , that it was very much like the necke of an oxes bladder , and yet with that face would shee so simper it , as though shee would put the millers mare quite out of countenance : by and by , she wold leere a side like a beare whelp , and with a trice she would frowne , as though she were sicke of the frets : turne her head , and she would laugh , as if she had béen tickled in the lower ribbes : but after many of these faces , she would at last stand a tip-toe , and vaunt it like the quéene of spades : but if she tried to mak a curtsie , why maid● marian in a maurice daunce , would put her downe for a fiddle faddle : this mistris needens ( as i said before ) nothing faire , but faced very ill fauouredly , wickedly witty , but nothing wise , s●w at her window a gentlewoman sitting at her doore , with a white sparrow pearching on her finger , which birde skipped from thence vpon the ruffe of a fine yong gentleman that sate by her , and there tooke bread out of his mouth : now what humour this wicked creature had , héerupon to be transformed , i know not , but wishing that she might be in this sparrows place , shee no sooner came out of her house , but she became a sparrow indéed : and was not this a wonder ? fran. yes , and that no small one , but that i thinke meg sparrow of kent-stréete , was the gentle mistris that you made your wonder of : but to quit you with the like strange matter , you shall heare : in a certayne thorough faire towne , where it was my hap to lodge for a night or two , at a strange signe , mine hoast of the house being a bailiffe of the hundreth : lor. oh then he was like to be an honest man. fran ▪ yea , and so he was i may t●ll you , for he played the honest man many a time , to he●pe many an honest man to his money , that many a knaue would haue run away with , if he had not béen , and help● many a wen●h to a father for her childe , that could not else haue tolde how to haue done for the kéeping of it : but to goe on with my tale , this gallant sir , being for his capacity able to iudge betwixt blacke and white , horse or cowe , whosoeuer were the owner : and for his person ; as good a picture as might haue serued for a néed , to haue hanged at his signe poast , standing commonly in his doore like a bearard , that was acquainted with all the dogs of the parish , standing as i say with a sarazins face , his nose too long for his lips , his chéekes like the iawes of a horse , his eyes like a smithes forge , and his haire all besprinckled with a whore frost , this s. christopher shouldred swad , that fed on nothing but browes , and ●appy ale , hauing more cappes of poore men , then eyther crownes or pence to relieue them , fell ( sauing your reuerence ) in loue , with such a péece of horse-flesh as you spake of , & notwithstanding that he had a pretty pincke to his own wedded wife , that could answere her guests at all weapons , and at all houres , yet he● as a wicked ramme that would follow a s●abbed shéep , fell in hand with this rotten ewe ; whome ( his wife being at the market ) he got into his garden , where néere vnder my window i might sée him sloute her in such sort , and wiping his driueled beard , clapt her on y ● lips so stoutely , as if the deuill and his damme had met vpon a close hellish bargaine : now , after a hobby horse turne or two , in they came into the house , where he conuayed his welfauoured mistris into a place of priuate conference , where long he had not tarryed , but in commeth my hostesse , who knowing by her ouen where cakes had been a baking , méeting her gooseman with this his pretty ducke in his hand , began with a note aboue ela to sing them such a solfa , that what with knaue and whore , and a great deale more , had not i and some other of her kind guests perswaded her to patience : iealousse wold haue made her nailes to haue bin indited of bloodshed , but as it fell out when she had chid her selfe blacke in the mouth , and at the last with a little little patience sat her downe , with , out of my house whoore , & by cockes stones , bones i would haue said , i will not beare it : after shee had cryed a little for curst heart , and wipte her nose of a little rewme , with these woordes shee made an ende : oh thou olde mangy , fiery faced , bottle nose , horse lipped , oxe iawed rascall , thou towne bull , and common bore , that seruest for all the s●ine in the parrish , a poxe take thee , doost thou thinke to make me take the leauinges of thy trulles ? thou shalt bee hanged first , goe hang thy selfe , get thee to them where thou wilt , for thou shalt not make my hous● a stewes , nor me a bawde any longer i warrant thée . i haue heard that in olde time men haue beene turned into beastes , i would thou wert so too : and truely it is a sore matter that may fall out vpon an euill tongu● , especially an euill womans , for you shall see what fell out vppon this wicked creatures curse : the man amazed at her madnesse , and not able ( for all his office ) to take order with her tongue , glad ( after he had shipped away hi● ware ) to bee got himselfe out of her sight : no sooner turned his backe to goe out of doore , but hee became presently a great bull : and was not this a strange wonder ? lor. not a whit so long as i know thomas bull of the rammes horne at the nether end of the market place , as you ride through cuckoldes ende , a myle from twattoxbury : but if you will giue mee leaue a little , i will quit you with as good a tale . it was my happe in an odde village , where for a few daies , i ment to recreate my self with my go●d friends , to come forsooth to a country wedding : which being vpon a poore saints day , for eyther it was a poore saint , that they meant so poor● an honour to , or the parish was very poore , that the people had no better cloathes to put on : for sauing that it was whole and cleane that little that they had , there was neyther waste of stuffe , nor finenesse to be found fault withall : yet as it was , let me tell you : the manner was worth the marking : for first and formost went the bride , for fleshe and bloud as fowle a creature as might fit the inuention of an inuectiue against beauty : who though she were squinte eyed , swine s●outed , wry bodyed , and splay footed , yet had shee such a garlicke b●●ath , that they had néede enough of rosemary , that ledde such a weede by the wrist : but let her passe , she with her hayre about her shoulders , drawne out like a horse tayle with a mane-combe , in a home-spun russet petticoate , that should serue her many a fayre day , with a payre of strong calue-skinne gloues , that her good man had drest for the purpose , holding out her chinne and dra●ing in her mouth ( lyke malkins olde mare ) went simpring betwixt two olde constables : and after the rowte of such a fight of rascals , as one would ●ake hell for such a rabblement , followes the groome my young colt of a cart bréed , led betwixt twoo girles for the purpose , the one as like an owle , the other as like an vrchin , as if they had béene spitte out of the mouthes of them : nowe thys sweete youth , sauing that hee had the shape of a man , there could bee little sayd in his commendation : for as he was headed like a gian● , so was h● faced like an olde ape , stumpe footed , and wry legged , and withall , his lower limbe● of such sma●nesse , that he went in great daunger of the winde : mary for his breath , his bride and hee were both rabbets of one laier : yet being in this disgrace of nature , these well matched hog minions , it was a sport to sée the weake iudgement of their poore wits , who were content to perswade themselues , there was matter in them of sufficiency : for she , if one saluted her with faire maide , shee would looke downe vpon her new shooes , with such a smile as would mak a horse laugh to see hércountenance : and if hee were but called lusty lobkin , hee would fetch you such a friskall , that a dog woul● not lye downe to looke vpon him : now as i tell you , to a blind chappell in stéede of a church , went these couple to their merry méeting : where , how they agréed vpon the match i know not , but they no sooner came out of the church hand in hand , but of a handsome youth and a pretty damsell , they became both buzzards : and was not this a pittifull wonder ? fran. not at all , for hodge buzzard and his best beloued , at the blew crowe and the red owle can ●el you the meaning of this riddle : but now to quit you againe haue with you . it was my hap in a market towne neere vnto the crosse , to méete with a coarse , carried vpon mens shoulders in a coffiin , no great solemnity there was to be noted , for there was not a herald of armes , nor any mention made of him more then that he was dead ; and was carried to bee buried : for more then that men wore blacke in good cloakes for him , i saw no signe of sorrow to be thought on : yet for that there w●re many that accompanied the coarse , i demaunded of some that i durst be bolde with , what hee was ▪ h●s name , his state , his condition , and his death ? now o● all that i asked , or of all that i spake to , i could not heere so much as a good word spoken of him , his name was di●es , hee was a rich man , his condition wicked and malicious , his quallity ledge●●●●●aine , with which hee would coozen a whole country ▪ his state mightie by his purse , his life like a hog , and his death like a dog , but that hee scape● hanging , which hee deserued too often : hee was beloued of fewe , and hated of many : vndid a number in his life , and now onely bestowed a little charitably at his death : many did curse him , and fewe that prayed for him , more then that they might heere no more of him , and all that i could heere or see written of him , was an ●pi●●ph that some conceited friend did bestowe vpon him ▪ the wordes whereof we●e these : heere lie● one that was borne and cried : hee l●ued threescore year●s , and then fell sicke and died . now séeing no more matter to be considered , but down right dog , with his head in the po● , and yet such a deale of a doo in carring hm to church , i thought i would see him throwne into the earth , but when the carkasse came to bee laide in the g●aue , hee that in his life was said to be a iolly square fellow and indifferent handsome man , became a most vgly beare , and was not this a wonder ? fran. no , not any wonder at all , when barnabye beare of bul end by hogge downe was the most rauening wolfe , and deuouring wretch of his neig●bours goods that liued in a whole countrie : but if hee be gon , no doubt hee hath left heires , and so let him goe : and now let me tell you of another wonder : in a certaine cittie where it was my chaunce to make aboade for some few monthes , i espied one day among a company of cittizens , a little remote from the company , a couple that for serious c●●se of conference had single● them selues together , where walking néer vnto a bench where i sat , i might heare a little of their discourses : of which , before i spe●ke any thing , let me a little describe you the persons : first , the young man , being about the age of some two and twenty , a handsome man of reasonable good shape , smooth faced , and demure countenanced , his apparell most silke and veluet , his cloake and his hat well brushed , his ruffes well set , his stockings wel gartered and his shooes wel blacked , a sprinke youth , that as farre as his mon●y would serue him , did pricke toward the marchant : the other somewhat more stept in yeares , and faced somewhat like a bull , sauing that hee would léere like a lyme-hound , his apparell nothing costly● , nor very comel● , cloath and fustian , and that of ●is wiues spinning , his daughers ●a●ding , and his cousens weauing , his hat well worne and vnlyned , his ruffe but a length of home linnen , his shooes the best of the hyde , as well for warmth as wearing , his girdle of buffe leather , a dagger with a dudgion haste , a greasie ●ouch with a ru●ty ring , his st●●kings of exce●ding course wooll , and his shooes soundly cobbled : this was all that i could note in his outside , now for his inside , let me tell you , there was shrewde matter to muse vpon as you shall heare : for th●se two ( age and youth ) thus pacing the stréete with a close measu●e , i followed till they came to a tauerne doore , wh●re going into a priuate roome , with the doore shut to them , i clapt mee into an odd● seate neere vnto them , where calling for a pinte of wine , leauing an idle errand at the barre , that if iohn a sul●●came to aske for tom a hedge , hee should bee presently brought to me , sitting munching vpon a crust , and sipping ●ow and then of a cup of wine , i heard all their confe●ence , which was as ●olloweth . the olde 〈◊〉 it séemed ) thicke o● hearing ● b●cause ●e would be 〈◊〉 spoken to , spake very lowde vnto thi● youth ▪ when the first that i coul● heare was this ▪ well sonne , you would hau● money , and i could well part with it , if i sawe ●eason to perswade me● ▪ how eyther ●o benefit my selfe or you by it : for it is a birde that flyeth fast forward , but ●t sildome comes so fast home againe : and if you chaunge him into an other shape then his owne , hee doth often loose much of his vertue : if you put him into any thin● hee may happen turne to nothing . for ( let mee see ) you would haue foure hundreth p●undes , let mee heare to what profitable vse you would imploy them ? the young man ( with as soft voyce as could serue his thicke eare● ) mad● him this answere . si● , i would put one hundreth pound in cloath , which i will aduenture beyond the seas , or fell at home , to my great aduantage . stay quoth the olde man , cloth is good ware , so i● be wel ma●e , & wel bought , but if you haue no skill in wool● , you may be cousoned in your cloth : besides , if it be good , and you aduenture it ( mark me wel ) the sea is no brooke , & windes are wauering , stormes are perilous , rockes and sandes are mischieuous , pirats are villanous , and what ship but may catch a leake ? but say that winde , weather , ship & saile , were as prosperous as heart could wish , to make a happy voiage , yet the goods on shore , the charge of custome , the time of vent , the expence of carriage , may make the commodity so little , as without the better stocke , may quickly kill a yong marchant : and againe , if y ● creditor prooue banckrout , or the factor a s●endthrift , then summa totalis makes but a sorrowful reckoning : now at home , if they be stretched vpon y ● tentor-hooks , burnt in y ● dying , spoil'd in y ● dressing , or any other false matter fall vpon thē , & you sell thē for good , y ● buyer is cousoned , and your conscience is touched , and ●od will one day haue it answ●red , and therefore i doubt you will doe little good with it in cloat● : with that the young man replyed : oh sir , nothing v●●ter nothing haue , therè is no fishing to the sea , the gaine of one voyage wil beare the losse of many , and a factor ▪ of credit will neuer trust but vpon assuraunce : and therefore the vndoing of one man must not be the hindrance of a hundreth : if i liue among men i must doe as men doe : & for home sale , if all things be not as they should be , they must bee as they may be : euery one mus● line by his trade , for in these daies he that stands vpō conscience may looke after commodity , & c●me not néere it by an armes length : why quoth the old man , do you get so much by meating ? thē you do not meane to go to heauen for you measure : alas sir quoth the youth , in the church perhaps wee heare of heauen , but in ●ur shops wee haue so much of the world to looke to , that wee haue almost no leasure to thinke of heauen nor hell : but yet i hope so long as wée pitch and pay , and follow the trade or occupation we were brought vp in , wee shall not goe to hell for a a small matter . no quoth the olde man , but for a great matter you may , and you that should loue your neighbour , to betray him as a ●udas , how euer you thinke of it , i feare it will fall foule with you one day : but since i sée you are giuen to thriue , though i would be loath to take part with you in your course , i care notif i deale with you for one hundreth poundes , to bee imployed in cloath : but what say you to the second ? to what vse wil you put t●e other hundreth ? the other hundreth quoth the young man , i would put in wines , an excellent commodity , and ready money , and quick returne . alas quoth the olde man , it is pitty the returne is so quicke , for i thinke there is more money wasted in drinking to healthes , till all health be turned to sicknes , then is employed in many necessary good occasions : but let euery man answere for his owne sinne ▪ my sorrow can helpe little : and therefore if you be sure of good wines ▪ spéedy vent and good chapmen , i thinke it be not the worst ware that you can deale withall : but if your wines be small hedge wines , or haue taken salt water , and you ●ither by brewing them with milke water , or other trumperies , or by mingling one with another , and so marre both to help one , and yet get money into your hands , giue day , and protest friendship , and all to cheate a simple man , whose taste and his wit , are both a like for his bargaine : oh how can you drinke wine , but you must thinke of your wickednes ? and then howe it goes downe god knowes , and i feare some of yée feele too well . well sir quoth the young man , i tell you as i tolde you before , euery man must looke to himself , and therefore if you will deale with onely men of conscience , you may kéep your money long enough ere it will doe you any good : and therefore since it is an ill winde that bloweth no man to good , let the drunkard make himselfe poore , and the uintiler rich , and the marchant vent his commodity , as hee may continue his traffique : i cannot stand vpon ●e●nies , for your money you shall haue securi●y , which if you like not , let me be without . nay soft quoth the olde man , for kindreds , ●akerou●en , i would not sticke with you vpon your owne bond , but that we are all mortall , and if you dye , your suer●y may be the more carefull of your discharge and his owne to : and therefore cousen , i pray you in kindenesse tell me for your third hundreth ▪ howe you will imploy it ? sir quoth he , at your request i am content to tell you , in an office : an office quoth the old mā , in the name of god mā what may it be ? why sir quoth he , the kéeping of a iayle or prison : for if i liue but a fewe yeares , i will make mine irons , and my tap-house , quickly put my money in my purse , with aduantage : and besides my ordinary gaines of my dyet , my fées allowed , besides priuy commodities , will soone multiply my hundreth to a greater summe then i will speake of : oh but cousen quoth the olde man , when you see the misery of the poore , and thinke on the sorrows of the distressed , how can you sleepe in your bed , to thinke of the day that is to bee looked for ? oh cousen , be sure this world is but a picture , where pleasure or paine , is but as a shadow of that which is to come ● remember my good cousen what will be spoken at the latter day , when you may well say you haue visited the sicke , for you see your prisoners for your owne safety : but how you haue fed the hungry , or cloathed the naked , i pray god your conscience doe not come against you : in briefe , cousen i had rather giue thee a hundreth pounds to leaue it , then lend thée a penny to take it : sir quoth the young man , i thanke you , but patience rather then pitty , hath béene euer the way to profit : the small grasse of the field fils the barne full of hay , and the poore mens money fils the rich mans purse : he that will not kill a shéep because hee will not see his bloud , may hap to be without meate for his dinner , and why should i pitty him that hath no pitty of him selfe ▪ yet pe●hap● i may make that gaine of the wilfull , that néede not come neere me y ● may make mee comfort them that cānot goe from me : corruption you know hath a part in ●ur nature , whose infection bréedeth diuers effectes of euill ▪ and who liueth without sin ? and therefore if rich men will be beggers , and beggers make rich men , giue me leaue to take my course , i will leaue you to your good conscience . oh cousen bee not a bloud sucker , there is other meate then mutton , and therfore pray not vpon lambes , & if you can , endure the cry of the miserable , yet in what you can be comfortable , and if the wilfull be wofull , yet be not you ioyfull , but to all distressed be pittifull , and put away that corruption , that may bréed an eternall confusion : put not the poore to his irons , least they eate with sorrow into his soule , nor detaine the wofull in misery , leas● you be shutte out of the gates of mercy : howsoeuer iustice commaund execution , vse you commiseration : and so since i see your intent , i will not put you from your purpose : but to the last hundreth deale ( as plainely ) what will you doe with it ? in briefe sir quoth the young man , i will put it out vpon interest , where ( by such plots as i can worke ) i will get foure score in the hundreth , and perhaps my hundreth againe : that were a wonder quoth the olde man , but is not this intérest you speake of plaine vsury ? no sir quoth the youth , not plaine , but in plaine truth , where there is no truth , it is priuy ▪ usury : as how quoth the olde man ? why sir quoth the youth , when my petty brokers , séekers for young spend-thriftes ▪ heare of a youth new come to his land , that is ready to sell it ere hee know the rent of it , vpon him goe they : to me they come for some commodity , eyther an artificiall stone , that must passe for an orientall iewell : a rare péece of silke , that will scarse holde the cutting out : a lame horse though stand right for a little way : and these with ●any other such trickes must be foysted into a little money to make vp a hundreth pounds , for which he shall be surely lapt in bondes sufficient to hold him fast : then ere hee come to haue his money , my broker must haue his share , his seller must haue his share , and the s●riuenor must haue more then for his writings for his share , out of al which shares i must haue a share , besides the cōmodity of my money , & badware , & yet i must séeme an honest man , & of good cō●cience , that wil not take aboue y ● statute for any thing : but thus wee share the spend-thriftes money amōg vs , & if he breake his day , as it is ●ddes he wil , then new double bōdes , and newe shares for the forbearaunce : till thus with our sharing , we leaue him but a little to share from vs : alas quoth the old man why you were as good take his purse by the high way ▪ oh no she quoth the youth , it is ●arre better and easier thus to méete with his money by a by way : wee that thus ●éede vpon the folly of youth , are but ordained to bee tho scourges of prodigality : and when auerice hath once bewitched the minde with wealth , it is but labour lost to perswade reason to leaue it : and therefore cousen , though by your countenance it agrée not with your conscience , beare with me to tel you truely my intent ▪ oh cousen quoth the olde man , truely this last part is the w●●st of all the play , and therefore since i sée your intentin euery one of these courses , rather to deceiue the simple , then to make an honest gaine , i had as lieue kéép my money in my purse , as imploy it to such kindé of profit ▪ if i may sée a good bargaine wherein you may honestly benefit your selfe , without cheating or wicke● cunning , vpon your owne bon● without suerty ; i am for you for a hundreth poundes . sir quoth he , i thanke you , but if you be so scrupelous , i meane not to ●roubl● you : that is as you please cousen quoth the olde man ▪ so ca●●ing for a reckoning of a pint of muska●ine , or such a matter , out they goe together : who no ●ooner w●re out of doores , but they became both gurne●ds : and was not this a wonder ? fran. yes if t●●y had béen sowst , but as they were , it was no wonder 〈◊〉 ol●e william gurnerd of frinsly borough , and hi●●ousen henry gurnerd of arnix with him , the one as honest and kinde an olde farmer , and the other as fine ●nd wise a youth for his time , as one shoul● méete w●●h among a thousand : but since the sunne growes ●ow , i will quit you with one wonder of mine , and so giue ouer till we méete againe . lor. con●ent , ●se your discretion , as time and my memory serueth , i will either giue ouer or requite you . fran. well then you shall vnderstand , that it was my ha● in a kinde of house , betwixt a tauerne and an ●lehouse , where all sortes of people might haue ware for their money , lor. oh by your leaue a little , was it not a kinde of a burdell , a brothell , or a baudy house ? fran. fie man you speake too broad , for where a man may be merry for his money , is there no meate thinke you but laced mutton ? and if a kinde wench play the good fellow , must master constable needes be angry ? it is a heauie hearing . lor. yea when the belly growes so bigge , that the burthen must lye vpon the parish . fra. away man , that is the w●rst , but if men were not hard hearted , women might be better dealt withal . lor. come , you will one day be catcht napping for your fine humour : but i pray you on w t your wonder . fran. why i will tell you : sitting in this foresaid tipling tapling house , gnawing vpon a crust , longer then i had néed , and making many sips o● a pot of ale , hauing a faggot before me , which i meant to sit the burning out of , i heard in the next roome ( somewhat closer then where i sat ) two or thrée laughing very hartely , and as through a creuice in the boords i might espye them , i saw a fat queane with a double chin , set betwixt a couple of léering companions , at the least crafty knaues : where laying mine eare a little to the wall , i heard all their chat , which was as i will tell you : cousen quoth one of them ( to this fubs ) by this drinke ( and then he fecht me off a whole can , that his eye● stared with his draft ) this money was well got : why i got forty shillings of m. you wot who , for only telling of him where the widdow of the eagle dwelt , setting her out , to bee all in the pinners papers , in the thousandes at least , and a house so furnished , it would doe ones heart go●d to come in it , and for a wife the world had not a kinder creature : now , to her i made a trayne by her cousen my neighbour , to bée so acquainted with her , that after i had got into a little ●hat with her , i set her in such a gogge for a husband , with setting out this gentleman to bee so gallant a man , so goodly a man , so fine a man , so kinde a man , so louing a man , so courteous a man , so proper a man , and so braue a man , that besides his liuing which was more then hers by a great deale , his creadit was such with the great ones , that she should go in her hood euery day , and leade a life like a lady at the least : now when with these words , i had set them both in such tune , that i knew how to haue the drawing of both their purse stringes , when i had so long plumed vpon his feath●rs , that they began to growe too fast for getting off , then finding an olde archer instéed of a sutor , that noting my acquaintaunce with the widdow , would make a profit of my trauaile , to him fell i , and giuing ouer my young gallant , fell aboord with his bounty , and hauing him in bond ( beside his dayly liberality ) that ●f hee gat the widdow , i should haue the hundreth poundes , to worke went i with my wittes , to bring this world about : and one day sitting with the widdow in sad talke , after she had asked me of my youth , ( with a sigh ) i answered that he was well , and if that shee would bee secret , i would acquaint her with that which should make her thinke mee an honest man : she not caring what she sayed , to heare what i would say , promised secrecy : whereupon i began to play my part kindly : alas widdow quoth i ( to deale plainely with you ) my friend and i must be two , for whereas i thought him the most honest , and stayed kind gentleman , and good husband in the world , i find he is a wencher , & a spend-thrift , and so hasty that nere a friend hee hath but is weary of his company , & withall ( i may tel you ) he is in debt , truly i haue bin sorrie at my hart , that i wa● was so deceiued in him , to open my mouth in his cōmendation , especially to a woman of your worth , who it were pitty that he should liue , to looke vpon more then as a stranger : but i hope there is nothing so far past but may be called backe againe ? no quoth shee i warrant you , i will looke to that well enough , and i am glad i heare of it so soone , and i thank you with al my hart : oh these yong men are dangerous to deale withall : indéed ( as they say ) they will make much of one , for they will make as much of one as they can , and then leaue vs to make our prayers at whining crosse , but i will leaue them all and bee ruled by my friendes , i am not so young , but i can make much of an olde man , and loue him to , if hee vse mee well , for i see by my neighbours , it is better being an olde mans darling then a young mans worldling : say you so mistris quoth i , and truly if you be so minded , i warrant you i will fit you with a gentleman for your turne : one , that though hee bee somewhat in yéeres , yet is he as staite an olde man , and as neate in his apparell , as if he were but twenty yéeres of age : one that loued his olde wife out of cry , hee hath but one daughter , and shee is marryed , so that hee hath no charge to trouble him : and for his wealth , hee knowes no ende of his goodes : yea quoth the widdow , such a one were worth the looking on , and for the honesty that i haue found in you , i will thinke the better of you while i knowe you , welcome to me at all times , and bring your friend , it may bee he shall not mislike his entertainment : with these good wordes , i tooke my leaue , and after many thankes , making her beléeue wonders , about my villany went i , and being well acquainted with a cousen of hers , who was to pay her a summe of money , which should be forgiuen him by this olde man , if he could get her , we made such meanes , that with the good helpe of her kinsman , who lent this cunny-catching cunning companion , both money and wares for his furniture : we found such times , and made such méetings , that we clapt vp a wicked bargaine : and for my paines ( what care i for the vndoing of her and him , & twenty more , to serue my turne ) i gat these crownes , and will haue more to them ere it bee long : and bee hang'd you will quoth goodwife bumble bee , but sirra worst thou what ? i le tell thée as pretty a tale : in my house ( thou knowst ) i haue them , that will carry meate in their mouthes , and not loose a bone for a shaddow : now vpon some month a goe , i entertained a young gossip , that was not such a baby , but she knew how to but●er her bread , and yet the vilde baggadge ( because she was somewhat snowte faire ) would be a little proude and foolish withall , she would be for no churle , nor chappes , she was a minion for a champion : yea but daughter quoth i , we cannot kéep house with faire lookes , wee must haue money , and the churle at home will be liberall abroad , and the chuffe wil bring better prouander thē chaffe , where he meanes to baite : be content , a purse of golde is worth ten pipes of tobacco , please an olde mans humour , and haue his hart : these youths of the parish , that are so spruse in their apparell , haue little money in their purses , and their verses and their tales , are not worth a pudding for our trade : the basket with cakes , the pee●es of stuffes , the iewels , and the gold , this is it that maintaines the matter ▪ talke is but winde , there is nothing to be borrowed on it , leaue your idle humor , or you will liue but ill fauouredly : now sir , how she listned to me i know not , or how shee profited in my instruction , but an olde widower comming to my house ( instéed of the common course that he might haue taken ) fell into so great a liking of her beauty , that leauing to fall aboord with her for , and so forsooth , began to tell her how great a pitty it was that so swéet a creature , in face and body , should haue so foule a minde : and if that rather néede of maintenance , then wicked delight , did driue her to this lewde kinde of life , and that he might be perswaded of her loathing and leauing her ill course , his wealth was sufficient : children he had none , and to bring her to good hee cared not to spend halfe that hee had , shee should be wife , childe , loue , and perhaps heyre to the best part of that he had : this sound in her eare , so went to her heart , that by such meanes as he wrought , my girle was got away , and my house almost ouerthrowne by it , for i may tell you she was a diamond wench , for colour and countenance , and wit at will : but when this widower had wedded her , and she began to looke about her , she was so turned honest , that it was a wonder howe shée could hit on it : but to be short , one day ( not past a wéeke a goe ) she sent for me , and her good man being abroad , she gat me alone with her into a chamber , where after a showre of teares : oh quoth she , leaue leaue your wicked and hellish life , it may last a while , but the end wil be nought : virgins virginityes , yong mens patrimonies , olde mens wealthes , lost , solde , and wasted , bodies diseased , mindes troubled , hearts agréeued , and soules tormented , hel in the house , & the deu●l in euery corner : take ho●de i say of a faire warning , let the shame of nature , the hurt of reason , the abuse of time , and the offence of grace , make you loath this vilenes , & leaue this villany , deuised by the deuill , & enacted but by his angels : god is where he was , he hath called me home , follow me to him , breake vp your ill company , and fall to your prayers , if you want come to mée , i will not sée you want , but if you will not take this kindly , & follow it soundly , i wil leaue you vtterly , ha●e you deadly , and persecute you most cruelly : now , when she had made an ende , she stung me so to the heart , tha● i was not able to answere her a word a good while , but at last comming to my selfe , i did thanke her ▪ and tolde her , that she should sée i would thinke on her , whereupon she gaue me this golde , and by this golde so i haue , for i haue put two away , and the rest shall follow as fast as may be , for i wil turne christian , and doe thou hodge too , and in good earnest if thou wilt doe as i will doe , wée will strike a bargaine : thou hast béen a knaue , and art sorry for it , i haue béen a drab , and am ashamed of it , let vs leaue al knauery and sweare honesty , wee shall doe more good with them that know vs when they sée vs , then a thousand of them that looke vpon vs , and will not beléeue vs : well madge quoth the cheator , thou hast almost turning my heart in my belly with this talke of thine , & truely i will soone come home to thée , when it shall be thy fault if wee iumpe not vpon the maine point , but what meanes my cosen rainolde to change colour and sit so sad ? oh cosen quoth hee , i heere you talke of a mendment , and reioyce to heare it , but when i thinke withall vpon mine owne wickednes , it prickes me to the heart to remember it : oh the false and counterfet wares y ● i haue sold to simple chapmen in the country , where as well in losse of wares , as by imprisonment for breach of payment , i haue vndone a number , and the goods of diuers honest men that i gat into my hands , and then closely ( to cousen my creditors ) played banckrout without neede : oh cousen when i kept shoppe if a poore gentleman had broke day with me but for forty shillings , i would haue defamed him , with shifter and beggar , and i know not what , but when i had vndone i know not how many , and yet all would not thriue with me , what shall i doe ? why cousen , aske god mercy for your sinnes , of that which you haué , pay as far as it will goe , or employ it to such good vse , as may in time make satisfaction , no doubt but god will be mercifull , you will thriue and prosper , and your conscience will be at quiet : say you so cousen quoth hee , i thanke you with all my heart , and since i haue neither wife nor children , if yee two make a match , i care not if i spend the residue of my life in your company , i will be a lodger in your house , and we wil liue & die like friends : vpon this they clapt hands , called for their reckonings , and departed , when going out of the doores , the men were both turned to plouers , and the woman to an howlate : and thinke you not this a wonder ? lor. no it is no wonder , that william plouer and his cousen roger of mallets moore , and sib howlate of nilcocks marsh , should meete at bulley market , and drinke a pot of ale at the mag pie : but for the wonder it was in their talke and turning honest , if the tale bee true as you tell it , but looke you , the sunne goes lowe , it is time to bee walking , let vs keepe the rest of our wonders till our next meeting . fran. content , and it shall goe hard ▪ but i will bee for you : in the meane time farewell . lor. a●ue . finis . characters vpon essaies morall, and diuine written for those good spirits, that will take them in good part, and make vse of them to good purpose. breton, nicholas, ?- ? approx. kb of xml-encoded text transcribed from -bit group-iv tiff page images. text creation partnership, ann arbor, mi ; oxford (uk) : - (eebo-tcp phase ). a stc estc s this keyboarded and encoded edition of the work described above is co-owned by the institutions providing financial support to the early english books online text creation partnership. this phase i text is available for reuse, according to the terms of creative commons . universal . the text can be copied, modified, distributed and performed, even for commercial purposes, all without asking permission. early english books online. (eebo-tcp ; phase , no. a ) transcribed from: (early english books online ; image set ) images scanned from microfilm: (early english books, - ; : or : ) characters vpon essaies morall, and diuine written for those good spirits, that will take them in good part, and make vse of them to good purpose. breton, nicholas, ?- ? 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proquest page images - jonathan blaney sampled and proofread - jonathan blaney text and markup reviewed and edited - pfs batch review (qc) and xml conversion characters vpon essaies morall , and diuine , written for those good spirits , that will take them ▪ in good part , and make vse of them to good purpose . london printed by edw. griffin , for iohn gwillim , and are to be sold at his shop in britaines-burse . . to the honorable , and my much worthy honored , truly learned , and iudicious knight , sr francis bacon , his ma ties attourney generall , increase of honor , health , and eternall happinesse . worthy knight , i haue read of many essaies , and a kinde of charactering of them , by such , as when i lookt into the forme , or nature of their writing , i haue beene of the conceit , that they were but imitators of your breaking the ice to their inuentions ; which , how short they fall of your worth , i had rather thinke then speake , though truth neede not blush at her blame : now , for my selfe vnworthy to touch neere the rocke of those diamonds , or to speake in their praise , who so farre exceede the power of my capacitie , vouchsafe me leaue yet , i beseech you , among those apes that would counterfet the actions of men , to play the like part with learning , and as a monkey , that would make a face like a man , and cannot , so to write like a scholler , and am not : and thus not daring to aduenture the print , vnder your patronage , without your fauourable allowance , in the deuoted seruice of my bounden duty , i leaue these poore trauells of my spirit , to the perusing of your pleasing leasure , with the further fruites of my humble affection , to the happie employment of your honorable pleasure . at your seruice in all humblenesse nich : breton . to the reader . read what you list , and vnderstand what you can : characters are not euery mans construction , though they be writ in our mother tongue : and what i haue written , being of no other nature , if they fit not your humor , they may please a better : i make no comparison , because i know you not , but if you will vouchsafe to looke into them , it may bee you may finde something in them ; their natures are diuers , as you may see , if your eyes bee open , and if you can make vse of them to good purpose , your wits may prooue the better : in briefe , fearing the foole will bee put vpon me , for being too busie with matters too farre aboue my vnderstanding , i will leaue my imperfection to pardon , or correction , and my labour to their liking , that will not thinke ill of a well meaning : and so rest your well-willing friend , n.b. who reads this booke with a iudicious eye , will in true iudgment , true discretion try , where words and matter close and sweetly coucht , doe shew how truth , wit , art , and nature toucht . what need more words these characters to praise , they are the true charactering of essaies . i.r. in words of worth , to speake of these essayes let this suffice , the worke it selfe will prayse . c.n. some haue an humor , that to discommend they know themselues , they know not how to mend . other correct , what they doe thinke amisse : while in their owne conceit the error is . but true iudicious wits , and honest mindes , will giue their censure in some better kindes : and say but truth , that cannot be mistooke : wit hath well labour de learning in this booke . r.b. ad authorem . he that shall read thy characters ( nic : breton ) and weigh them well ; must say they are well written . they taste the lampe : much reading , obseruation , art , matter , wit , all worthy commendation . some weaue their lines of such a slender thred , they will not last so long , as to be read . thou hast so spunne , so weau'd ; thy words , thy lines they please vs most being viewd , a hundred times . w.d. in laudem operis . words are the pensils , whereby drawne we sinde the picture of the inward man , the minde . such thoughts , such words ; such words , such is the man. say ; is this spirit a plebeyan ? that like the singing larke doth mount so high , we cannot reach them with an earthly eye . w.p. while i essay to character this booke , and th●se charactered essayes o'relooke : i herein finde few words , great worth involve : a lip●o● stile , terse phrase : and so resolve , that as a stone 's best valu'd , and best prised , when best in knowne : so this , when best revised i.b. wisedome . wisedome is a working grace in the soules of the elect : by whom the spirit is made capable of those secrets , that neither nature , nor reason , is able to comprehend : who , by a powerfull vertue , she hath from the diuine essence , worketh in all things , according to the will of the almighty : and , being , before beginning , shall exceede time , in an eternall proceeding : she is a light , in the intellectuall part , by which reason is led to direct the sences in their due course , and nature is preserued from subiecting her selfe to imperfection : in the creation , shee was of councell with the trinitie , in the pleasing of the deity , in the redemption , the inuenter of mercy , for , the preseruation of the elect , and in the glorification , the treasurer of life , for the reward of the faithfull , who , hauing committed to her care , the cariage of the whole motion , finding the disposition of earth in all the children of her wombe , by such a measure , as she findes fitting their qualitie , she giues them either the grace of nature , or the glory of reason : while being the mother of the graces , shee giues them that holy instruction , that , in the knowledge of the highest loue , thorough the pathes of vertue , makes a passage to heauen : learning hath from her , that knowledge without the which , all knowledge , is meere ignorance : while , onely , in the grace of truth , is seene the glorie of vnderstanding : knowledge hath from her that learning , whereby , she is taught the direction of her loue , in the way of life : vnderstanding hath from her that knowledge , that keepes conceit , alwaies in the spirits comfort : and judgement , from vnderstanding , that rule of iustice , that by the euen waight of impartiality , shewes the hand of heauen in the heart of humanitie : in the heauens , she keepes the angels in their orders , teacheth them the natures of their offices , and emploies them in the seruice of their creator : in the firmament , she walkes among the starres , sets , and keepes them , in their places , courses , and operations , at her pleasure , she ecclipseth the light , and , in a moment , leaues not a clowde in the ●kie : in her thunders , and lightenings she shewes the terror of the highest wrath , and in her temperate calmes , the patience of his mercy : in her frostie winters , she shewes the weaknes of nature , and in her sunny springs , the recouery of her health : in the louers of this world liues no part of her purenesse , but , with her beloued she makes a heauen vpon earth : in the king , she shewes her grace , in his councell her care , and , in his state , her strength : in the souldior , she shewes vertue , the truest valor , in the lawier , truth , the honor of his plea , in the merchant , conscience , the wealth of his soule , and in the church-man charity , the true fruit of his deuotion : she liues in the world , but , not the worlds loue , for the worldes vnworthinesse , is not capable of her worth : shee receiueth mammon , as a gift from his maker , and makes him serue her vse to his glory : she giues honor , grace in bounty , and , manageth wit , by the care of discretion : she shewes the necessity of difference , and , wherein is the happinesse of vnitie : shee puts her labor , to prouidence , her hope , to patience , her life , to her loue , and her loue , to her lord : with whom , as chiefe secretary of his secrets , she writes his will to the world , and as high steward of his courts , she keepes account of all his tenaunts : in sum , so great is her grace in the heauens , as giues her glory aboue the earth , and so , infinite , are her excellencies , in all the course of her action , and , so glorious are the notes of her incomprehensible nature , that , i will thus onely conclude , farre short of her commendation : she is gods loue , and his angells light , his seruants , grace , and his beloueds glory . learning . learning is the life of reason , and the light of nature , where , time , order , and measure , square out the true course of knowledge ; where , discretion , in the temper of passion , brings experience to the best fruite of affection : while , both , the theoricke , and the practicke , labour in the life of iudgement , till , the perfection of art , shew the honor of vnderstanding : she is the keie of knowledge , that vnlocketh the cabinet of conceit , wherein are laide vp the labours of vertue , for the vse of the schollers of wisedome : where euery gratious spirit may finde matter enough worthy of the record of the best memory : she is the nurse of nature , with that milke of reason , that , would make a childe of grace , neuer lie from the dugge : shee is the schoole-mistris of witte , and the gentle gouernor of will , when , the delight of vnderstanding , giues the comfort of study : she is vnpleasing to none that knowes her , and vnprofitable , to none that loues her : she feares not to wet her feete , to wade thorough the waters of comfort , but , comes not neere the seas of iniquitie , where , folly drownes affection , in the delight of vanity : she opens her treasures to the trauailers in vertue , but , keepes them close from the eies of idlenesse : she makes the king gratious , and his councell , iudicious , his clergie , deuout , and , his kingdome , prosperous : she giues honor to vertue , grace , to honor , reward , to labor , and , loue , to truth : she is the messenger of wisedome , to the mindes of the vertuous , and , the way to honor , in the spirits of the gratious : she is the store-house of vnderstanding , where the affection of grace , can not want instruction of goodnesse , while , in the rules of her directions , reason is neuer out of square : she is the exercise of wit , in the application of knowledge , and the preseruer of the vnderstanding , in the practise of memory : in briefe , she makes age honorable , and , youth admirable : the vertuous , wise , and the wise , gracious : hir libraries are infinite , hir lessons without number , hir instruction , without comparison , and hir schollers without equalitie : in briefe , finding it a laborinth , to go through the grounds of hir praise : let this suffice , that in all ages shee hath been , and euer will be , the darling of wisdome , the delight of wit , the study of vertue , and the stay of knowledge . knowledge . knowledge is a collection of vnderstanding , gathered in the grounds of learning , by the instruction of wisdome : shee is the exercise of memory , in the actions of the minde , and the imployer of the senses , in the will of the spirit : shee is the notary of time , and the tryer of truth , and the labour of the spirit in the loue of vertue : shee is the pleasure of wit , and the paradise of reason , where conceit gathereth the sweet of vnderstanding . she is the kings councellor , & the councells grace , youths guarde , and ages glory : it is free from doubts , and feares no danger , while the care of prouidence cuts off the cause of repentance : shee is the enemy of idlenesse , and the maintayner of labour , in the care of credit , and pleasure of profit : shee needs no aduice in the resolution of action , while experience in obseruation , findes perfection infallible : it cleares errors , and cannot be deceiued , corrects impuritie , and will not bee corrupted : shee hath a wide eare , and a close mouth , a pure eye , and a perfect heart : it is begotten by grace , bred by vertue , brought vp by learning , and maintainde by loue : shee conuerseth with the best capacities , and communicates with the soundest iudgments , dwells with the diuinest natures , and loues the most patient dispositions : hir hope is a kind of assurance , hir faith a continuall expectation , hir loue an apprehension of ioy , and hir life the light of eternitie : hir labours are infinite , hir wayes are vnsearcheable , hir graces incomparable , and hir excellencies inexplicable : and therefore , being so little acquainted with hir worth , as makes me blush at my vnworthinesse , to speake in the least of hir praise : i will onely leaue hir aduancement to vertue , hir honour to wisdome , hir grace to truth , and to eternitie ; his glory . practise . practise , is the motion of the spirit , where the sences are all set to worke in their natures , where , in the fittest employment of time , reason maketh the best vse of vnderstanding : shee is the continuance of knowledge in the ease of memory , and , the honor of resolution in the effect of iudgment . shee plants the spring , and reapes the haruest , makes labour sweet , and patience , comfortable : shee hath a foot on the earth , but , an eye at heauen , where the prayer of faith findes the felicitie of the soule : in the fruit of charity , she shewes the nature of devotion , and in the mercy of iustice , the glory of gouernment . shee giues time honour , in the fruit of action , and reason , grace , in the application of knowledge : she takes the height of the sunne , walkes about the world , sounds the depth of the sea , and makes her passage thorough the waters . she is ready for all occasions , attendeth all persons , works with all instruments , and finisheth all actions : shee takes invention for her teacher , makes time , her seruant , method her direction , and place her habitation : shee hath a wakefull eye , and a working braine , which fits the members of the body , to the seruice of the spirit : shee is the physitians agent , and the apothecaries benefactor , the chirurgions wealth , and the patients , patience : shee brings time , to labor , and care , to contentment : learning to knowledge , and vertue to honour : in idlenesse shee hath no pleasure , nor acquaintance with ignorance , but in industry , is her delight , and in vnderstanding , her grace : shee hath a passage thorough all the predicaments , shee hath a hand in all the artes , a property in all professions , and a qualitie in all conditions : in briefe , so many are the varieties of the manners of her proceedings , as makes me fearefull to follow her too farre in obseruation , lest , being neuer able to come neere the height of hir commendation , i be inforced , as i am , to leaue hir wholy to admiration . patience . patience is a kind of heauenly tenure , whereby the soule is held in possession , and a sweet temper in the spirit , which restraineth nature from exceeding reason in passion . hir hand keeps time in his right course , and hir eye pierceth into the depth of vnderstanding : shee attendeth wisdome in all hir works , and proportioneth time , to the necessitie of matter : shee is the poyson of sorrow in the hope of comfort , and the paradise of conceit in the ioy of peace : hir tongue speakes seldome , but to purpose , and hir foot goeth slowly , but surely : shee is the imitator of the incomprehensible in his passage to perfection , and a seruant of his will in the mappe of his workmanship : in confusion , shee hath no operation , while she only ●arieth hir conceit , with the consideration of experience : shee trauailes farre , and is neuer weary ; and giues ouer no worke , but to better a beginning : shee makes the king mercifull , and the subiect loyall , honour gracious , and , wisdome glorious : shee pacifieth wrath , and puts off reuenge , and , in the humilitie of charitie , shewes the nature of grace : shee is beloued of the highest , and imbraced of the wisest , honoured with the worthiest , and graced with the best : shee makes imprisonment , liberty , when the minde goeth thorough the world , and in sicknesse findes health , where death is the way to life : shee is an enemie to passion , and knowes no purgatory ; thinkes fortune a fiction , and builds onely vpon prouidence : shee is the sick-mans salue , and the whole mans preseruer : the wise-mans staffe , and the goodmans guide : in summe , not to wade too farre in hir worthinesse , lest i be drownd in the depth of wonder , i will thus end , in hir endlesse honour : shee is the grace of christ , and the vertue of christianitie , the praise of goodnesse , and the preseruer of the world . loue. love is the life of nature , and the ioy of reason , in the spirit of grace ; where vertue drawing affection , the concord of sense , makes an vnion vnseparable in the diuine apprehension of the ioy of election , it is a rauishment of the soule , in the delight of the spirit : which , being caried aboue it selfe , into inexplicable comfort , feeles that heauenly sicknesse , that is better than the worlds health , when the wisest of men , in the swounding delight of his sacred inspiration , could thus vtter the sweetnesse of his passion : my soule is sicke of loue. it is a healthfull sicknesse in the soule , a pleasing passion in the heart , a contentiue labour in the minde , and a peacefull trouble of the senses : it alters natures in contrarieties , when difficultie is made easie , paine , made a pleasure , pouerty , riches , and imprisonment , liberty : for the content of conceit , which regards not to be an abiect , in being subiect , but to an obiect : it reioyceth in truth , and knowes no inconstancie , it is free from ielousie , and feareth no fortune : it breakes the rule of arithmericke , by confounding of number , where the coniunction of thoughts make one minde in two bodies , where neither figure , nor cipher , can make diuision of vnion : it simpathies with life , and participates with light , when the eye of the minde , sees the ioy of the heart : it is a predominat power , which endures no equalitie , and yet , communicates with reason , in the rules of concord : it breeds safety in a king , and peace , in a kingdome , nations vnitie , and natures gladnesse : it sings in labour , in the ioy of hope , and makes a paradise in reward of desert : it pleads but mercy , in the iustice of the almighty ; and but mutuall amitie , in the nature of humanitie : in summe , hauing no eagles eye , to looke vpon the sunne , and fearing to looke too high , for feare of a chip in mine eye , i will in these few words , speake in praise of this peerelesse vertue : loue is the grace of nature , and the glory of reason , the blessing of god , and the comfort of the world . peace . peace , is a calme in conceit , where the senses take pleasure , in the rest of the spirit : it is natures holy day after reasons labour , and wisdoms musique in the concords of the minde : it is a blessing of grace , a bounty of mercy , a proofe of loue , and , a preseruer of life : it holds no arguments , knowes no quarrells , is an enemie to sedition , and a continuance of amitie : it is the root of plenty , the tree of pleasure , the fruit of loue , and the sweetnesse of life : it is like the still night , where all things are at rest , and the quiet sleep , where dreams are not troublesome : or the resolued point , in the perfection of knowledge , where no cares , nor doubts make controuersies in opinion : it needs no watch , where is no feare of enemy , nor sollicitor of causes , where agreements are concluded : it is the intent of law , and the fruit of iustice : the end of warre , and the beginning of wealth : it is a grace in a court , and a glory in a kingdom , a blessing in a family , and a happinesse in a common-wealth : it fills the rich mans cofers , and feeds the poore mans labour : it is the wise-mans study , and the good-mans ioy : who loue it , are gracious , who make it , are blessed , who keep it are happy , and who breake it , are miserable : it hath no dwelling with idolatry , nor friendship with falshood , for hir life is in truth , and in hir , all is amen . but lest in the iustice of peace , i may rather be reprooued for my ignorance of hir worth , then thought worthy to speake in hir prayse , with this only conclusion , in the commendation of peace , i will draw to an end , and hold my peace : it was a message of ioy at the birth of christ , a song of ioy , at the imbracement of christ , an assurance of ioy , at the death of christ , and shall be the fulnesse of ioy , at the comming of christ. warre . warre is a scourge of the wrath of god , which by famine , fire , or sword , humbleth the spirits of the repentant , tryeth the patience of the faithfull , and hardneth the hearts of the vngodly : it is the misery of time , and the terror of nature , the dispeopling of the earth , and the ruine of hir beauty : hir life , is action , hir food ; bloud , hir honour , valor , and hir ioy , conquest . shee is valors exercise , and honors aduenture , reasons trouble , and peaces enemy : shee is the stout mans loue , and the weake mans feare , the poore mans toile , and the rich mans plague : shee is the armourers benefactor , and the chirurgions agent , the cowards ague , and the desperats ouerthrow : she is the wish of enuy , the plague of them that wish hir , the shipwracke of life , and the agent for death ; the best of hir is , that shee is the seasoner of the body , and the manager of the minde , for the induring of labor , in the resolution of action : shee thunders in the aire , rips vp the earth , cuts thorough the seas , and consumes with the fire : shee is indeed the inuention of malice , the worke of mischiefe , the musique of hell , and the daunce of the deuill : she makes the end of youth vntimely , and of age wretched , the cities sacke , and the countries beggery : shee is the captaines pride , and the captiues sorrow , the throat of bloud , and the graue of flesh : shee is the woe of the world , the punishment of sinne , the passage of danger , and , the messenger of destruction : she is the wise mans warning , and the fooles paiment , the godly mans griefe , and , the wicked mans game : in summe , so many are her woundes , so mortall her cures , so daungerous her course , and , so deuilish her deuises , that , i will wade no further in her riuers of bloud , but , only , thus conclude in her description : she is gods curse , and mans misery , hells practise , and earthes hell. valor . valor is a vertue in the spirit , which keepes the flesh in subiection : resolues without feare , and trauailes without fainting : she vowes no villany , nor , breakes ; her fidelity , she is patient in captiuity , and pittifull in conquest : her gaine is honor , and , desert her meane , fortune her skorne , and folly , her hate : wisedome is her guide , and conquest her grace , clemency , her praise , and humilitie , her glory : she is youthes ornament , and ages honor ; natures blessing , and vertue ; loue : her life is resolution , & her loue , victory , her triumph , truth , and her fame , vertue : her armes are from antiquitie , and , her cote , full of honor , where , the title of grace , hath her herauldry from heauen she makes a walke of warre , and a sport of danger , an ease , of labour , and a lest , of death : she makes famine , but abstinence , want , but , a patience , sickenesse , but a purge , and death , a puffe : she is the mainteiner of ●arre , the generall of an army , ●he terror of an enemy , and the ●ory of a campe : she is the no●lenesse of the minde , and the ●●rength of the body , the li●e of ●ope , and the death of feare ▪ with 〈◊〉 handfull of men , shee ouer●hrowes a multitude , and with a ●daine amazement , she discom●tes a campe : she is the reuenge ●f wrong , and the defence of ●ight , religions champion , and , ●ertues choise : in briefe , let this ●uffice in her commendation : she ●rengthened dauid , and conque●ed goliah , she ouerthrowes her ●nemies , and conquers her selfe . resolution . resolution is the honoure● valor , in the quarrell of ve●tue , for the defence of right , an● redresse of wrong : she , beate● the march , pitcheth the battaile plants the ordinance , and maintaines the fight : her eare is stop● from disswasions , her eie aim●● only at honor , her hand takes the sword of valor , and her heart thinkes of nothing , but victory● shee giues the charge , makes the stand , assaults the fort , and enters the breach : shee breakes the pikes , faceth the shot , dampes the souldior , and defeates the army : shee looseth no time , slippes no occasion , dreads no danger , and , cares for no force ; ●he is valors life , and vertues ●oue , iustice honor , and , mer●ies glorie : shee beates downe castles , fires shippes , wades ●●orough the sea , and walkes ●●orough the world : she makes ●isedome , her guide , and will , ●er seruant , reason , her compa●ion , and honor , her mistris : ●he is a blessing in nature , and a ●eauty , in reason , a grace in in●ention , and , a glory in action : ●he studies no plots , when her ●latforme is set downe , and defers ●o time , when her houre is pre●xed : shee standes vpon no ●elpes , when she knowes her own ●orce , and in the execution of her ●ill , she is a rocke irremoueable : ●he is the kings will , without contradiction , and the iudges ●oome , without exception , the ●chollers profession , without al●eration , and the souldiers honor without comparison : in summ● so many are the groundes of he● grace , and the iust causes of he● commendation , that , leauin● her worth , to the discription 〈◊〉 better wits , i will in these few wordes , conclude my conceit● her . she is the stoutnesse of th● heart , and the strength of th● minde , a gift of god , and , th● glory of the world. honor. honor is a title of grace giuen by the spirit of vertue , to the desert of valor , in th● defence of truth : it is wronged in basenesse , and abused in vn●worthinesse , endangered in wantonnesse , and lost in wickednes● it nourisheth art , and crownet● wit , graceth learning , and glorifieth wisedome : in the herauldry of heauen , it hath the richest cote , being , in nature allied , vnto all the houses of grace , which in the heauen of heauens , attend the king of kings : her escucheon is a heart , in which , in the shield of faith , she beares on the anckor of hope , the helmit of saluation : she quarters with wisedome in the resolution of valor , and in the line of charitie , she is of the house of iustice : her supporters are time , and patience , her mantle , truth , and her crest , christ treading vpon the globe of the world : her imprese , corona mea , christus : in briefe , finding her state so high , that i am not able to climbe vnto the praise of her perfection , i will leaue her royalty to the register of most princely spirits , and in my humble hearts thus only deliuer my opinion of her : she is vertues due , and graces gift , valors wealth , and reasons ioy . truth . truth is the glory of time , and the daughter of eternity : a title of the highest grace , and , a note of a diuine nature : she is the life of religion , the light of loue , the grace of wit , and the crowne of wisedome , she is the beauty of valor , the brightnesse of honor , the blessing of reason , and the ioy of faith : her truth is pure gold , her time , is right pretious , her word is most gratious , and her will , is most glorious : her essence is in god , and , her dwelling with his seruants , her will in his wisedome , and her worke , to his glory : she is honored in loue , and graced in constancie , in patience admired , and in charity , beloued she is the angels worshippe , the virgins fame , the saints blisse , and the martirs crowne : she is the kings greatnesse , and his councels , goodnesse , his subiects peace , and his kingdomes praise : she is the life of learning , and the light of the law , the honor of trade , and the grace of labor : she hath a pure eye , a plaine hand , a piercing wit and a perfect heart : she is wisedomes walke in the way of holinesse , and takes vp her rest , but , in the resolution of goodnes : her tongue neuer trippes , her heart neuer faintes , her hand neuer failes , and her faith , neuer feares : her church is without schisme , her city without fraude , her court , without vanity , and her kingdome , without villany : in summe , so infinite is her excellence , in the construction of all sence , that i will thus only conclude in the wonder of her worth : she is the nature of perfection , in the perfection of nature , where god , in christ , shewes the glory of christianity . time. time is a continuall motion , which from the highest moouer , hath his operation in all the subiects of nature , according to their qualitie , or disposition : he is in proportion , like a circle , wherein , hee walketh with an euen passage , to the point of his prefixed place : hee attendeth none , and yet is a servant to all ; he is best emploied by wisedome , and , most abused , by folly : he carrieth both the sworde and the scepter , for the vse both of iustice , and mercie : he is present in all inuention , and , can not be spared from action : he is the treasury of graces in the memory of the wise , and , bringes them forth to the world , vpon necessity of their vse : he openeth the windowes of heauen , to giue light vnto the earth , and , spreades the cloake of the night to couer the rest of labor : he closeth the eie of nature , and waketh the spirit of reason , he trauelleth thorough the minde , and is visible , but , to the eie of vnderstanding : he is swifter then the winde , and yet , as still , as a stone , pretious in his right vse , but , perilous in the contrarie : he is soone founde of the carefull soule , and quickly mist in the want of his comfort , he is soone lost in the lacke of emploiment , and not to be recouered without a world of endeuour : he is the true mans peace , and the theeues perdition , the good mans blessing , and the wicked mans curse : he is knowne to be , but , his being vnknowne , but only in his being , in a being aboue knowledge : he is a riddle not to be read , but in the circumstance of description , his name , better knowne then his nature , and hee that maketh best vse of him , hath the best vnderstanding so him : he is like the study of the philosophers stone , where , a man may see wonders , and yet short of his expectation : shee is at the inuention of warre , armes the souldier , maintaines the quarrell , and makes the peace : hee is the courtiers play-fellow , and , the souldiers schole-master , the lawyers gaine , and the merchantes , hope : his life , is motion , and his loue action , his honor , patience , and his glory , perfection : he masketh modestie and blusheth virginitie , honoreth humilitie , and graceth , charitie : in summe , finding it a world to walke thorough the wonder of his worth , i will thus briefely deliuer , what i finde truely of him : hee is the agent of the liuing , and the register of the dead , the direction of god , and a great worke-master in the world . death . death is an ordinance of god , for the subiecting of the world , which is limited his time for the correction of pride ; in his substance , he is nothing , being but onely a depriuation , and in his true description , a name without a nature : he is seene , but in a picture : heard , but in a tale : feared , but in a passion : and felt , but in a pinch : he is a terror , but to the wicked , and a skar-crow , but to the foolish : but to the wise , a way of comfort , and to the godly , the gate of life : he is the case of paine , and the end of sorrow , the liberty of the imprisoned , and the ioy of the faithfull : it is both the wound of sinne , and the wages of sinne , the sinners feare , and the sinners doom . he is the sextons agent , and the hangmans reuenue , the rich mans dirge , and the mourners merry-day . hee is a course of time , but vncertaine , till hee come , and welcome but to such , as are weary of their liues : it is a message from the physitian , when the patient is past cure , and if the writ be well made , it is a supra sedeas for all diseases : it is the heauens stroke , and the earths steward , the follower of sicknesse , and the forerunner to hell. in summe , hauing no pleasure to ponder too much of the power of it , i will thus conclude my opinion of it ▪ it is a stinge of sinne , and the terror of the wicked , the crowne of the godly , the staire of vengeance , and a stratagem of the deuill . faith. faith is the hand of the soule , which layeth hold of the promises of christ in the mercy of the almighty : shee hath a bright eye , and a holy eare , a cleare heart , and a sure foot : shee is the strength of hope , the trust of truth , the honour of amitie , and the ioy of loue : shee is rare among the sonnes of men , and hardly found among the daughters of weomen ; but among the sonnes of god , she is a conueyance of their inheritance , and among the daughters of grace , she is the assurance of their portions . hir dwelling is in the church of god , hir conuersation with the saints of god , her delight with the beloued of god , and her life is in the loue of god : shee knowes no falshood , distrusts no truth , breakes no promise , and coines no excuse , but as bright as the sunne , as swift as the winde , as sure as the rocke , and as pure as the gold , she lookes towards heauen , but liues in the world , in the soules of the elect , to the glory of election : she was wounded in paradise , by a dart of the deuill , and healed of her hurt , by the death of christ iesus : shee is the poore mans credit , and the rich mans praise , the wisemans care , and the good mans cognizance . in summe , finding her worth , in words hardly to be expressed , i will in these few words onely deliuer my opinion of her : shee is gods blessing , and mans blisse , reasons comfort , and vertues glory . feare . feare is a fruit of sinne , which droue the first father of our flesh , from the presence of god , and hath bred an imperfection in a number of the worse part of his posteritie : it is the disgrace of nature , the foile of reason , the maime of wit , and the slur of vnderstanding : it is the palsie of the spirit , where the soule wanteth faith , and the badge of a coward , that cannot abide the sight of a sword : it is weaknesse in nature , and a wound in patience , the death of hope , and the entrance into despaire : it is childrens awe , and fooles amazement , a worme in conscience , and a curse to wickednesse . in briefe , it makes the coward stagger , the lyer stammer , the thiefe stumble , and the traitor start : it is a blot in armes , a blur in honour , the shame of a souldier , and the defeat of an army . finis ▪ pasquils fooles-cap sent to such (to keepe their weake braines warme) as are not able to conceiue aright of his mad-cap. with pasquils passion for the worlds waywardnesse. begun by himselfe, and finished by his friend morphorius. pasquils mad-cap. part breton, nicholas, ?- ? approx. kb of xml-encoded text transcribed from -bit group-iv tiff page images. text creation partnership, ann arbor, mi ; oxford (uk) : - (eebo-tcp phase ). a stc . estc s this keyboarded and encoded edition of the work described above is co-owned by the institutions providing financial support to the early english books online text creation partnership. this phase i text is available for reuse, according to the terms of creative commons . universal . the text can be copied, modified, distributed and performed, even for commercial purposes, all without asking permission. early english books online. (eebo-tcp ; phase , no. a ) transcribed from: (early english books online ; image set ) images scanned from microfilm: (early english books, - ; : ; : ) pasquils fooles-cap sent to such (to keepe their weake braines warme) as are not able to conceiue aright of his mad-cap. with pasquils passion for the worlds waywardnesse. begun by himselfe, and finished by his friend morphorius. pasquils mad-cap. part breton, nicholas, ?- ? [ ] p. [by r. bradock] for thomas iohnes, dwelling neere holborne conduit, imprinted at london : . pasquil = nicholas breton--stc. printer's name from stc. in verse. vertical chainlines. part only. a revised edition of the edition published the same year (stc )--stc. signatures: a-e⁴. reproductions of original in the bodleian library, oxford, england. created by converting tcp files to tei p using tcp tei.xsl, tei @ oxford. re-processed by university of nebraska-lincoln and northwestern, with changes to facilitate morpho-syntactic tagging. gap elements of known extent have been transformed into placeholder characters or elements to simplify the filling in of gaps by user contributors. eebo-tcp is a partnership between the universities of michigan and oxford and the publisher proquest to create accurately transcribed and encoded texts based on the image sets published by proquest via their early english books online (eebo) database (http://eebo.chadwyck.com). the general aim of eebo-tcp is to encode one copy (usually the first edition) of every monographic english-language title published between and available in eebo. eebo-tcp aimed to produce large quantities of textual data within the usual project restraints of time and funding, and therefore chose to create diplomatic transcriptions (as opposed to critical editions) with light-touch, mainly structural encoding based on the text encoding initiative (http://www.tei-c.org). the eebo-tcp project was divided into two phases. the , texts created during phase of the project have been released into the public domain as of january . anyone can now take and use these texts for their own purposes, but we respectfully request that due credit and attribution is given to their original source. users should be aware of the process of creating the tcp texts, and therefore of any assumptions that can be made about the data. text selection was based on the new cambridge bibliography of english literature (ncbel). if an author (or for an anonymous work, the title) appears in ncbel, then their works are eligible for inclusion. selection was intended to range over a wide variety of subject areas, to reflect the true nature of the print record of the period. in general, first editions of a works in english were prioritized, although there are a number of works in other languages, notably latin and welsh, included and sometimes a second or later edition of a work was chosen if there was a compelling reason to do so. image sets were sent to external keying companies for transcription and basic encoding. quality assurance was then carried out by editorial teams in oxford and michigan. % (or pages, whichever is the greater) of each text was proofread for accuracy and those which did not meet qa standards were returned to the keyers to be redone. after proofreading, the encoding was enhanced and/or corrected and characters marked as illegible were corrected where possible up to a limit of instances per text. any remaining illegibles were encoded as <gap>s. understanding these processes should make clear that, while the overall quality of tcp data is very good, some errors will remain and some readable characters will be marked as illegible. users should bear in mind that in all likelihood such instances will never have been looked at by a tcp editor. the texts were encoded and linked to page images in accordance with level of the tei in libraries guidelines. copies of the texts have been issued variously as sgml (tcp schema; ascii text with mnemonic sdata character entities); displayable xml (tcp schema; characters represented either as utf- unicode or text strings within braces); or lossless xml (tei p , characters represented either as utf- unicode or tei g elements). keying and markup guidelines are available at the text creation partnership web site . eng - tcp assigned for keying and markup - aptara keyed and coded from proquest page images - emma (leeson) huber sampled and proofread - emma (leeson) huber text and markup reviewed and edited - pfs batch review (qc) and xml conversion pasqvils fooles-cap sent to svch ( to keepe their weake braines warme ) as are not able to conceiue aright of his mad-cap . with pasquils passion for the worlds waywardnesse . begun by himselfe , and finished by his friend morphorivs . ¶ imprinted at london , for thomas iohnes , dwelling neere holborne conduit . . to my very good friende , master edward conquest , as much happinesse from heauen , as his worthy heart can wish . sir , to forget your vndeserued kindnesse , were a note out of my nature : & yet how kindely to requite it , is many notes aboue my ability . but as a lame man , that striues to goe , shewes hee would runne , if hee had legges : so , in the humour of my good will , imagin a desire of a greater matter . but leauing these complements , and to come to my purpose ; as i haue found you a kinde spectator of my labours , so let mee entreat you , at my hands to accept this treatise , with a foolish title . where , if vvit haue plaid the wagge , let him not haue his name for nothing : and where you finde a head fit for this cappe , either bestowe it vpon him in charity , or send him where he may haue them for his money . i know you are acquainted with many that well deserue it : whome , least they should be mistaken for better men , i pray you giue them the cappe for their cognisaunce . and so , hoping that your discretion will beare with my imperfection , to finde no better worke , to giue notice of my good will ; i rest , with much thankfulnesse , in more affection than protestation . yours assured , to commaund , n. b. ❧ to the reader . yov that read , to tearme you gentle and he not , you would thinke i did mocke you : & therefore giue me leaue to thinke of you , as i finde you . but to the matter : mad-cap hath past one fit , and new is fallen into another : what it is , you may partly guesse by the title . for , in a foole , is hidde a great deale of vaine matter : which you shall heere finde runne ouer , in a fewe verses ; not the best that euer you redde , nor perhaps the worst that you may meete with . but to be short , what pasquill begun , morphorius hath ended : how well i say not : but the better , if you like it : to whose kindnesse , in hope of patience , i commit it ; and so abruptly i leaue it . your friend : ❧ to his honest friende pasquill , in all haste . friende pasquill , hearing of late of the paines that thou hast taken in reprehending of the wicked ( among the spirits of best condition , not a little cōmēded ) i haue thought good ( finding the corruption of this age ) to put a foole , to thy knaue . among which weak witted brains , i haue not let slip such beetle headed asses , as taking vpon thē the worke of thy wit ( in seeking to rob thee of thy vvorthinesse ) haue shewed the height of their foolishnesse . who , among other such wise people , finding their names but in their natures , will ( i hope ) like good children , rather mend their faults , then be angry with their maisters : if not , let them sinke in their owne sorrowe : giue the mad-man his mad-cappe , and the foole his fooles-cappe : thou and i be friends , and the world fare as it list . and so farewell . thine , as his owne , morphorio . morphorius to the reader , in the behalfe of his friende pasquill . hee , that of late was in a madding fit , doth from a franzy to a folly fall : and which is better , madde , or foolishe witte ? i thinke as good , almost haue none at all . well , sugar sweete , or bitter as the gall , t is pasquils humour , so i pray you take it : and as you like it , chuse it , or forsake it . his meaning was , to please none but himselfe , nor to displease but those that well deserue it : he doth not care , though enuy play the elfe : his dishe is drest , and he will not reserue it : but to the world , for such poore diet serue it , as are content with ordinarie dishes , while nicer gulles are choakt with gugin fishes . when he was madde , hee rag'd against the knaue : now idely fitted , falles vpon the foole , in hope that doctors better wisdome haue , than carpe at schollers that doe goe to schoole , and wishe a workeman but to knowe his toole : for graues-end barge can neuer passage haue , till it be furnisht with a foole or knaue . finis . pasqvils fooles-cap . what meanes this world , that muses can not rest , but one or other will be working still ? t is not time now to breake too broad a iest ; least , had i wist , repent a heedlesse will , while hāmering skonces haue vnhappy skill which in their cradles , being borne accurst , will euer construe all things to the woorst . but since the wisdome of the world i finde , before heauens vvisdome , foolishnesse indeede , while such illusions doe the spirit blinde , as onely growe vpon vngratious seede : which wicked humours in the heart doe breede , while truest wisdome liues aboue the sunne : let me but play the foole , and i haue done . but some , perhaps , in pieuish spight will say , the fielde is large , wherein i am to walke : where i may wander many an idle way , and make a deale of fiddle faddle talke : but say , my muse mistake greene cheese for chalke , this is the worst ( to hide her idle braines ) she shall haue but the fooles-cappe for her paines . but , let her weare it , since it is her due . who hath no wisdom , can not speake of wit : who neuer came where wit and reason grue , must needs shoot wide , whē that they aime at it . for , while the gander by the goose doth sit , t is ten to one , how euer prooue the weather , but that the birds will all be of a feather . then , good wise man , if such a one thou bee , that dost these lines of little matter reede , i pray thee be not in a chafe with mee , although a lade be spurred till hee bleede : keepe thou thy stable for a better steede : who hath beene well brought vp in reasons schoole , may haue the patience to goe by the foole. but , if it be , you can not goe along , but that you needes will stumble at a strawe ; if that your selfe will doe your selfe such wrong , to let the worme vpon your wits to gnawe , vntill a crowe be come to be a dawe : then do but thinke how some this ●east will smother , why should one foole be angry with another ? then be not angry , let the foole alone , except thou be a bird of his owne broode : for trust it true , it will be ten to one , if once thy heade be couerd with his hoode , it will so heate thy braines , and staine thy bloode , that thou wilt fall into such extasies , as while thou liu'st , thou neuer wilt be wise . beware therefore in time of had i wist , let not impatience shewe thy pieuishnesse : keepe thy conceipt within discretions list : where thou maiest looke vpon that idlenesse , that fils the world too full of foolishnesse : seeke thou to knowe but where true wit doth dwell , and learne to laugh at fooles , and all is well . and if thou chaunce to meete an idle mate , whose tongue goes all too glibbe vpon the ●eare , and chiefe delight is so much in his prate , as where hee comes , will be chiefe prater there : in friendly kindnesse tell him in his eare , that in the rules of wit and reasons schoole , he will be counted but a prating foole . and if you hap to light vpon a gull , that is conceipted of his mother wit , and doth apply his beetle-headed scull but to an humour of an idle fit ; in honest kindnesse let him heare of it , that in the rowles of wisdomes rules you reede , lesse hope of him , than of a foole indeede . and if you chaunce to see the sonne of pride looke fifteene thousand mile aboue the moone , and lye abedde vntill his idle hide must make a morning , of an after-noone ; for feare his worshippe should be vp too soone : least that the ayer should happe to doe him harme , lend him the fooles-cappe for to keepe him warme . and if you chaunce to spy a subtill staue , that hath a world of simple wits beguilde , and , like a cunning , cogging coosening knaue , on others harmes , his helpes doth onely builde , tell him that sathan is a subtill childe : that while the wicked golde for drosse doe sell , makes fooles seeme wise , vntill they come in hell . hee that doth murther twentie thousand men , and sacke their cities , and their townes deface : and , with the dash but of a wicked penne , bring a poore world into a pitious case , to gaine himselfe a kinde of monarches grace : tell him what angels read in vertues schoole , that bloudy pride doth breede a hellish foole. hee that doth couet more then is his owne , and scrapes and scratcheth for a little drosse : and , all with ease is like a bladder blowne , and neuer cares for any neighbours crosse , for his owne gaine , to giue a thousand losse : tell him , when wisdome beates the world about , the foole will quickly lay the miser out , the swaggring huffecappe that will stare and sweare , that hee will cut through the whole piece of cloath ; and face to face , will meete the olde blinde beare , and breake the canne , that 's filled vp with froath , and cares not how he throwe away anoath : let him be sure when vertues honours fall , in vvisdomes court he hath no place at all , the sneaking coward that doth closely creepe , and feareth euery shadowe where hee goes : and of himselfe both watch and warde doth keepe , for feare his friendes should growe to be his foes : doth so much title of true manhoode lose , that hee may reade what truthe in honour tries , a coward neuer can be truely wise . the idle spendthrift that will sell his land , to feede the humours of an addle heade : and sowes his seede vpon the barren sand , till late repentance liue to begge his bread , let him beleeue what many a one hath read : how euer fancy make excuse for it , such had i wist had neuer happy wit. hee that doth thinke that wit is but in wealth , and plots to purch●se kingdomes with a purse , and neuer thinketh of the spirits health : but doth his heart with wicked humours nurse , and for a blessing , falles vpon a curse : let him confesse , if in heau'ns blessings blot , hee finde himselfe a wicked foole , or not . hee that lookes babies in his mistris eyes , and beates his braines to tell an idle tale : and thinkes himselfe , that hee is wondrous wise , that breakes a ●east , though it be nere so stale : and for a nut , crackes nothing but a shale : how ere hee thinke of his owne wit amisse , wisdome will tell him , what a foole hee is . she that is neither noble , faire , nor wise , nor scarce so rich as a newe shorned eawe ; and yet , conceited in her owne foule eyes , when shee is dabbled three foote in the deawe , that shee may seeme a prettie handsome shrewe : let her not thinke , but such a shut the do●re is halfe a foole ; and if she be no more . hee that hath neither trueth nor honestie , good hand , good legge , good body , nor good face , nor any such exceeding qualitie as may aduaunce him vnto honours place : yet , thinkes himselfe a man of speciall grace ; when mad-men treade the woodcockes morris daūce , giue him the fooles-cappe for his cognisaunce . shee that is fifteene mile about the waste , and all with fat vnable is to goe , yet makes her face vp in a piece of paste , as though she were an image of rie dowe ; tell her but trueth that vvit and reason knowe , that this is all , that fame doth her affoorde , a filthie owle is but a foolish birde . hee that doth hit vpon a printed booke , and findes a name neere fitting to his owne , and of his owne poore wit hath vndertooke the ground of all hath from his humor growne , when euery bird is by her feather knowne , pasquill doth tell him that poore aesops pie will shewe him how his wit hath gone awry . hee that doth many , all for wanton loue , and hath no reason for his fond affection : but all too late doth with repentance prooue the wofull fruites of wretched wils direction , while want and sorrowe are the soules correction : tell him , such babies may the dugge goe sucke ; while louing fooles haue neuer better lucke . shee , in a glasse , that sees her sorrell haire , and straight will put it to the painters die , and then doth thinke that shee is wondrous faire ; when flatt●ry feedes her humour with a lie , oh , let her not in such an errour die ; but bid her kindly cracke this friendly nut , so foule a dowd ' is but a foolish slut. hee that delights to tell an idle tale , vpon the prattle of a cogging mate , and carelessly his credit se● to sale : which being noted for his foolish prate , he shall be sure to finde , although too late ; that wisdom reades these rounds in reasons schooles , newes-carriers are next neighbours vnto fooles . she that doth file her tongue for eloquence , to entertaine a world with idle talke : and thinkes shee hath the very quintescence of quicke conceite , wherein her wits do walke , yet doth not knowe a buzzard from a hawlke ; let her beleeue , such giddie headed tittes are not commended for the truest wittes . hee that doth loue to talke of robin hoode , yet neuer drewe one arrowe in his bowe : and yet doth thinke his skill is wondrous good , that scarce the compasse of a marke doth knowe : when such a goose-cappe doth a shooting goe , tell him , that in the aime of wisdomes eye , wide handed wits will euer shoote awry . hee that doth put his state vpon his friendes , in hope of grace , when all his good is lost , shall finde his wit not worth two puddings endes , when want of pence to reckon with the hoste , doth make the begger chalke vpon the poste : whose base condition doth too plainely showe , hee was not wise , that plaide the woodcocke so . shee that doth thinke , shee hath a rare conceite , that giues the cuckoe to her kindest friend ; and laughes to thinke vpon that close deceit , that doth but breede repentance in the ende : tell her , if she the sooner not amend , wisdom sets downe , that knows what wit doth mean● a wicked drabbe is but a foolish queane . he that that is proud of his conceipted wit , when he can cogge , and cozen , prate , and lie : and place himselfe with better men to sit , then may beseeme so base a rascaldry , as is too farre from thought of chyualry ; when euery asse his due reward shall haue , the fooles-cappe is too good for such a knaue . hee that in heart doth say there is no god , and neither thinkes of heau'n , nor yet of hell : nor hath a feeling of that heau'nly rodde , that makes the sowle , in sorrowes teares , to tell how mercie doth within the spirit dwell : within the booke of wisdomes blessed schoole , the lord of heauen hath set him downe a foole. hee that will lende more than he well may spare , and he that spendes all that he hath and more ; and onely trusteth vnto fortunes share , and cares not how he runne vpon the score , vntill the begger meete him at his dore : wisdome will tell him truely in the end , hee is a foole that is not his owne friend . shee that can looke as mildely as a lambe , yet is a tigre inwardly in hearte ; and cares not how , nor where she leaue the ramme , when she hath gotten once the rutting parte : it is a rule , in wit and reasons arte , that she , that hath no better natur'd wit , the wise will tearme a dogged foolish tit. hee that is brought vp idly in his youth , and scornes to labour in his elder yeeres , and neuer thinkes vpon the day of ruthe , when want ( entangled in the beggers breers ) the heauie sound of helpelesse sorrowe heares : let him beleeue , that trueth doth plainely wright ; the fooles-cappe fits the idle begger right . hee that can plot a world of villany , and neuer cares what vertues loue deserueth : and sortes himselfe with wicked company , that from the way of perfect wisdome swarueth , while mercies hand the gratious heart preserueth : that sinfull wretch will finde in sathans schoole , a damned villaine is a cursed foole. hee that doth fill his cophers full of goulde , yet will not weare good cloathes on his backe : but doth a kinde of clownish humor houlde , to haue his garment cut out , like a sacke , and thinkes redde herings haue a daintie smacke : tell him in kindenesse ( that he may not quarrel ) the fooles-cappe will be fit for his apparrell . shee that is giuen to ease and sluttishnesse , and trifles out the time in trompery : and yet will thinke it is no pieuishnesse , to feede her selfe with idle foppery ; may hap to finde in sorrowes misery , that when the grashopper doth leaue to sing , an idle hielding is a foolish thing . hee that doth studie twentie things at once , and hath intent for to performe them all : and yet his beetle addle-headed skonce , in full conclusion can doe none at all : if that the fooles-cappe to his fortune fall , let him not thinke but it will finely fit the idle heade , that hath no better wit. shee that is giuen to pride and brauery , and ruffin-like , will sweare , and swash it out ; and studies nothing els but knauery , to bring a wicked kinde of world about ; and cares not whome she followes with a flout : such foolish kittes of such a skittish kinde , in bridewell booke are euery where to finde . hee that is here to day , yonder to morowe , and cares not how hee raungeth here and there : not careth what hee can or begge , or borowe , to spende or spoile , he cares not how nor where : oh , tell that idle fellowe in his eare , if that hee doe not take the greater care , the foole will catch him , ere hee be aware . shee that doth loue to gossippe , and to tattle , and leaues her house to keepe it selfe alone ; and cares not how she spend the time in prattle , till shee haue bar'd her husband to the boane : let her not thinke but such an idle ioane must haue this note set downe vpon ●er name ; a tattling houswife is a foolish dame. hee that can combe his head and curle his bearde , and set his ruffes , and weare his cloake in print , and by his side can finely weare his swearde , and learne to fleere , and leere , and looke a squint , and keepe his steppes , within a measures stint : let him be sure to passe with this good flout ; hee lackes the fooles-cappe yet to set him out . hee that is well in seruice entertainde , and iustly hath the due of his desart ; and by his labour , findes that hee hath gainde the carefull comfort of an honest heart ; yet fondly will with such a master part : tell him , what truthe doth by experience knowe ▪ hee is a foole , leaues such a master , so . hee that will let his wit to runne on wheeles , and in proud tearmes will with his betters stand , vntill his tongue be tempered by his heeles , vntill his braines haue better manners scand : and if the foole doe take him by the hand , bid him haue patience , to endure the sounde ; that lacke of wit will lay a foole a ground . hee that in libels takes delight to write , and cares not whom hee wickedly defame ; but pieuishly will shewe a baggage spite , to touch the honour of an honest name : what shall i say , that hee is much to blame ? yea , and so much , as for his idle vaines , hee well deserues the fooles-cappe for his paines . hee that hath all his studie in the clowdes , and all misliketh euery thing hee reedes : and what the sunne within her circle shrowdes , all in the height his haughty humour feedes : if hee doe chaunce to light on herbes for weedes , hee is but foolish ; rise he nere so soone , that runnes in haste to ouertake the moone . hee that will reade , before he learne to spell ; and write a booke , before he knowe a blot ; and keepe a shoppe , before he learne to sell ; and fall to galloppe ere hee learne to trot : whither such one thinke himselfe wise or not , let him be sure that better wits doe reede , such madhead fellowes are but fooles indeede . hee that with pleasure followes cardes and dice , drinking and wenching , and such idle sportes : vntill too late repentance knowe the price of patience passage to saint sorrowes portes ; whereto the begger most of all resortes : oh let him knowe when he doth comfort lacke . the begger foole will haue him by the backe . shee that doth finde her husband true and kinde , and for her wants to worke both ●ight and day : yet like the wethercocke , with euery winde , will turne her humour euery idle way , and cares not how hee fall into decay , so shee be fedde according to her fit ; shee is a baggage , and a foolish 〈◊〉 . hee that is maried to an honest wife , that , as her life , in loue doth holde him deare : with whome his heart may haue a quiet life , and , in content , liue many a merry yeare yet leaues a doe to take a rascall deere : the fruites of will doe prooue his wit accurst , that so will leaue the best , to take the worst . hee that doth enuie euery mans good happe , and knowes not how to get himselfe in grace : and layes his loue but all in fortunes lappe , whose custome is her followers to deface : when hee is fallen into a pitious case , oh let him knowe , before he hang himselfe , an enuious foole is euen such an elfe . shee that doth keepe an inne for euery guest , and makes no care what winde blowe vp her skirt , and readie is to breake a chaucers ieast , to make a smocke euen measure with a shirt : if such a one be call'd a foolish flirt , t was not for nothing that she had her name , when all the world is witnesse to her shame , hee that doth take the lawe , but as a ieast , and will be hangd but for good fellowshippe , and thinkes it nothing to be halter blest , when from the gallowes it is but a skippe ▪ oh , let him not in anger hang the lippe , if by desert this due reward hee take ; hee was a foole , that hangd for fashion sake , he that wil weary out his friends with borrowing , and be behoulding to an enemy , and kill himselfe with too much sorrowing , to thinke , the touch of treasons villany should make such worke in wicked company : wisdome will tell him , what experience tries , that kinde of wit will neuer make him wise. hee that importunes an approued friend , and hee that feares to speake where hee may speede ; and in beginning , lookes not to the end ; but loues to glorie in a wicked deede , and will his heart with wicked humours feede : these wits doe shewe ( that are so fitly matcht ) a neast of fooles , that wisdome neuer hatcht . hee that doth set his hand to euery bill , and neither cares for right nor equitie , and onely bendeth his vnhappie skill , but to the ouerthrowe of honesty : fooles , that are so neere in affinitie , when vvisdome makes a tryall of true wit , not one of these that hath to doe with it , he that doth build high castles in the ayre , vntill they headlong tumble on his necke : and hee that will not an olde shippe repaire , till it be too farre tainted with a leake : if that the woodcocke giue his wits the peake : let him not chafe if that it be his chaunce , to weare the fooles-cappe , in a moris-daunce . hee that can play on twentie hands at once , and turnes his humour vnto euery time : and hath his spirit tempered for the nonce , to set his flowers onely in the prime : if when he thinkes most warily to clime , by due desart a breakeneck-fall hee haue , his craft doth prooue him but a foolish knaue he that will talke of euery thing hee knowes , and credit giue to euery thing hee heares : and builds his knowledge only on suppose , yet vnderstands not what too plaine appeares : how young or ould soeuer be his yeares , who of his poore wit giueth witnesse so ; thinke him an arrant foole , and let him goe , hee that doth wonder at a weathercocke , and plaies with euery feather in the winde , and is in loue with euery nannicocke ; yet scarcely knowes an orange by the rinde : when euery foole is found out in his kinde , how is it possible but he should passe , for a poore silly simple witted asse ? hee that doth thinke it is no wickednesse , to lead a young man into wantonnesse . but takes delight in all vngodlinesse ; vntil the heart in sorrowes he auinesse , doe shewe the fruites of vvils vnhappinesse ; let that vile villaine reade in vertues schooles , such wicked wretches are vngratious fooles . hee that will chaunge a iennet for a iade , and put his land into a little howse : and , in the way where little vvit doth wade , watch a great mountaine for a little mowse , and sits to feede a monkey with a lowse : where vvill is so in folly ouergone , wisdome sayes plainely , his is small or none . hee that will put his state vpon aduenture , and may be safe and if it please himselfe : and hee that bindes his seruice by indenture , to baggage courses for a little pelfe : if that his shippe doe runne vpon a shelfe , let him not thinke , but that poore wit of his , from vvisdomes course , was carried quite amisse . hee that will creepe vnto an olde ioyne-stoole , and serue a thatcher for a bunch of strawe , and hee that goes to worke without his toole , and loues to wrangle with a man of lawe , and thinkes no birde so prettie as the dawe : how ere such one be of his wit conceiued , wisdome will tell him he is much deceiued . hee that will treade a measure as he walkes , and connterfaite maide marians countenance : and loues to fall into those whisper talkes , that bring poore wit into a pitious traunce : if that the foole doe light on him by chaunce , hee must assume what fates to him assigne : i can not helpe him , t is no fault of mine . hee that will drinke vntill his braines be merry , and eate vntill his stomacke be too full , and lie a bed vntill his boanes be wearie , and prate so long vntill he prooue a gull : if that such braines be lin'd with ganders wooll , when such wise creatures put their wits together , to chuse the wisest , who knowes which is whether ? hee that all day sits blowing at a cole , and neuer leaues till hee put out the fire : and hee that houlds his finger in a hole , to please the humour of a fond desire : and hee that loues to trample in the mire : when these wise men togither make a play , the foole will runne with all their wits away . hee that will in an humour leaue a friend , and in a furie fall vpon a foe : while ill beginnings make as bad an end , when poore repentance doth too late beshrowe the heedelesse will , that wit doth ouerthrowe : that foole must needes be turn'd vnto the list , emong the number of the had i wist . hee that will tell his secrets to a stranger , and play the coward with an enemie : hee that will put himselfe in needelesse daunger , to followe a mad headed companie : let him take heede a sodaine villany make him not finde in true repentance schoole , a backward wit lackes little of a foole. hee that will weare his wealth vpon his backe , yet in his purse doth scarce his dinner carry : and hee that saies to giue his necke the cracke , because he will not for his fortune tarry : if such a foole become a buzzards quarry , when carelesse will doth shewe his wit so smal , t is not my fault , i cannot doe withall . hee that doth studie out his braines in trifles , and misse the humour of a better marke : and cosens his conceite with foolish nifles , in taking of a bunting for a larke , and euery pibble for a diamond sparke : hee that doth so his will to folly fit , doth plainely shewe he hath no perfect wit. hee that can eate no other meate but milke , and for his horse , must haue an ambling nagge : and cannot weare a shirt , but soft as silke : nor keepe his coyne , but in a golden bagge , and must be knowne his mothers kindest vvagge : such smoothed godsons shew in wisdomes schoole , a milk-soppe babie is more halfe a foole. hee that will be afraide of euery dreame , and thinketh euery puddle is a poole : and runnes ten miles to eate a messe of creame , and can not sit but on a cushin stoole : if such a noddy be not thought a foole , hee hath great fauour in the rule of wit , that sees his weakenesse , and concealeth it . hee that doth fill his heade so full of humours , hee knowes not where hee may in quiet sit : and hee that loues to raise vnciuill rumours , vntill that iustice doe in iudgement sit , vpon the workes of such a wicked wit : such wicked vvits , for honest peoples health , might well be banisht from a common wealth . hee that all night doth watch a conny borough , to catch a ferret , that hath broke his muzzle : and hee that squats a hare within a furrowe , and sees how shee within her muce doth nuzzle ; and yet so long about the bush doth puzzle , that she is gone ere he can well beset her , which , of these two good fooles , may be the better ? hee that doth put all to the latter day , to recken euen with all the world at once : and in the meane time is at such a stay , hee knowes not how to vse his addle skonce : if such an asse be noddied for the nonce , i say but this , to helpe his idle fit ; let him but thanke himselfe for lacke of wit , hee that wilfully falles into offence , and satisfaction neuer cares to make : but carelessely stands in his owne defence , while that the foole his wits doth ouertake : when late repentance makes his heart to ake , hee scapeth well , if ( for such idle vaines ) worse then the fooles-cappe answere not his paines . hee that loues to be noted for strange fashions , and for his lockes , and for his kinde of gate : and in his muses , and his passions , will not be thought an ordinany mate : if that his wittes come to themselues , too late , i know not well how to be his aduiser ; but euen be sory , that hee was not wiser . hee that will hoorde vp all for a deere yeare ; yet in the meane time want necessities hee that will be vnto himselfe so neere , as bring himselfe into extreamities , by his owne wilfull caus'd calamities , this is the end that will fall out of it ; such niggard fooles haue neuer better wit. hee that doth put his wealth vpon a cocke , a carde , a die , or such an idle toy : and hath his humour so much on the smocke , as if it were his spirits onely ioy : when soorrowes sighes doe shewe the heartes annoy , let him goe backe vnto repentance schoole , and see how long his vvit hath plaid the foole. hee that will busie be with euery matter , yet scarce hath power to bring one well to passe : and neuer leaues to cosen , lie , and flatter , vntill hee prooue himselfe a craftre asse : let him but looke in the foles looking glasse , and there his woodcocke wit shall plainely haue the true proportion of a paltry knaue . hee that perswades himselfe , he is a king , yet all the world doth for a begger knowe him : and hee that takes the vvinter for the spring , because the sunne a little light doth showe him if want of vvit doe wholly ouerthrowe him , and that the cockes combe to his cappe doe fall , t is not my fault , i can not doe withall . hee that puts fifteene elles into a ruffe , and seauenteene yards into a swagg'ring slappe : and twentie thousand crownes into a muffe , and halfe his land into a hunting cappe : if that the foole doe catch him in his trappe , there like a woodcocke let him walke about : when hee is in , i cannot helpe him out . hee that in all his thoughts is so vnholy , hee makes no care of any good conceight : but giues himselfe so much to idle folly , that vnto hell hee runnes the high way straight : if hee be poysoned with the diuels baight , i can not choose but tell him like a friend , such wicked fooles will haue a wofull end . hee that will brase his face at lothebury , because he will not blush at knauery : and hee that will refuse no drudgery , to gather drosse by any slauery ; and yet will stand vpon his brauery : he is no foole , whoeuer be an asse , makes such a couer for a looking glasse . hee that repents him of no wickednesse , nor takes delight in any godlinesse : but in the way of all vnthriftinesse , doth wast the time of natures wretchednesse ; where helplesse sorrowes , in vnhappinesse , doe breede the spirits endlesse heauinesse : that foole is in the height of foolishnesse . hee that regardes not how hee vse his speech , nor careth how the world doe goe about , nor maketh reckening who beholde his breech , nor how hee play the logger headed lowte : where vvisemen liue , if hee be beaten out , let him be patient , if it come to passe a beastly foole be handled like an asse . hee that doth make his tongue a two hand sword , and only seekes his honour all by stealth : and cares not how hee falsifie his worde , nor by how much disgrace to gather wealth : how euer so his carcasse be in health , wisdom describes him , in true honours schoole , a gull , a knaue , a coward , and a foole. hee that doth gaine more , then he well may spend , and prattles more then trueth doth vnderstand : and in his actions , alwaies doth intend vpon the stay of wicked workes to stande : if that the diuell take him by the hand , let him beleeue what highest trueth doth tell ; hee is a foole , that leaueth heau'n for hell. hee that doth take a shadowe for a substance ; and yet doth thinke he hath a perfect sight : and hee that takes an humour for an instance ; and yet beleeues his braines be in the right : hee that in darkenesse so doth looke for light ( how euer will do take his vvittes to schoole ) wisdome in deede will finde him but a foole. hee that hath once a piece of worke begunne , and knowes not how nor when to make an end : and hee whose will his wittes doth ouerrunne , to make a foe in wronging of a friend : hee that doth so amisse his spirit spend , ( howeuer so his owne conceit doe deeme him ) wisdome in deede will but a foole esteeme him . hee that is esau for vnthriftinesse , and followes caine in his vngodlinesse : and loues achit●phell for wickednesse , and is a iudas , in vnfaithfulnesse , whateuer showe he make of holinesse : that man i finde in too much foolishnesse , hath redde the scripture in vnhappinesse . hee that of machauile doth take instruction to manage all the matters of his thought ; and treades the way but to his owne destruction , till late repentance be too dearely bought , shall finde it true , that hath beene often taught : as good be idle as to goe to schoole , to come away with nothing but the foole , for feare whereof , least some of mine owne sect ( that haue but plaid the fooles , with lacke of vvit ) doe kindely tell mee of my cares neglect , in finding humours for the time more fit : while wicked spirits doe their venome spit : i will conclude ( to prooue worlds vvit an asse ) mans wit is vaine , shal be , and euer was . sapientia mundi , stultitia coram deo. pasquils passion for the worlds waiwardnesse . wicked , vngratious , and vngodly age , where hatefull thoughts are gotten to their height , how should my spirit in true passions rage ? describe the courses of thy vile conceight , that feede the world but with the diuels baight : while wofull hearts , with inward sorrowes wounded , finde wit and reason in their sense confounded . no , no , the depth of thy vnknowne distresse ( wherein the heart is ouerwhelm'd with woes ) exceedes the power of passion to expresse ; while so much griefe within the spirit growes , as all the power of patience ouerthrowes : while vertuous minds , within their sowles agrieued , must helpelesse die , and cannot be relieued . the clearest eye must seeme to haue no seeing , and eloquence must be to silence bound , and honours essence seeme to haue no beeing , where wicked windes runne vertues shippe a ground , while healthfull spirits fall into a swound ; that only pride , that weares the golden horne , may liue at ease , and laugh the world to scorne . if euery right were rightly apprehended , and best deseruings best might be regarded , and carefull workes were to their worth commended , and gratious spirits gratiously rewarded , and wicked craft from conscience care discarded ; then might the angels sing in heaeuen , to see what blessed courses on the earth would be . but oh , the world is at an other passe , fooles haue such maskes , men can not see their faces : there is such flattery in a looking glasse , that winking eyes can not see their disgraces , that are apparant in too open places : but what auailes vnto a wicked minde ? no eye so clowdy , as the wilfull blinde . to see the sleight of subtill sneaking spirits ( that dare not see the glasse of their disgraces ) thriue in the world , while better natur'd merits can not aspire vnto those blessed places , where faithlesse hearts should neuer shewe there faces : would it not grieue an honest heart to knowe it ? although the tongue be sworne it may not showe it . to see a horse of seruice in the field , hurt by a iade , that can but kicke and fling : to see vlisses weare achilles shield , while hissing serpents haue a hellish sting : to see the knaue of clubbes take vp the king , although hee be a wicked helpe at mawe , t was but a clowne that yet deuis'd the lawe . to see a sight of curres worry a hound , a flight of buzzards fall vpon a hauke , a coward villaine giue a knight a wound , to heare a rascall to a king to talke , or see a peasant crosse a princes walke , would it not fret the heart that doth behould it , and yet in figures may not dare vnfolde it ? but what a kinde of wretched world is this ! they that are honest , let them be so still . such as are settled in their course amisse , haue much a doe for to reforme their will. it is the winde that driues about the mill , that grindes the corne that sometimes fils the sacke , that laide awry may breake the loaders backe . what shall i say ? that knowes not what to say . this worlds vile grammar hath a wicked speach : where wealth and will doe carry such a sway , that many a time the goodwife weares the breech , and the stowte oke must yeelde vnto the beech. such vile coniunctions such constructions make , that some are pois'ned with a sugar cake . terence his plaies are too much in request . the knaue , the foole , the swagg'rer , and the whore , thraso and gnato , lais and the rest of all the crue ( that i dare say no more ; but ware the dogges that keepe the diuels dore ) so play their parts vpon the worldly stage , that thieues are hangd before they come to age . oh , t is a word to heare a gander keake , and all the geese to giue a histe to beere : to heare an owle to teach a parrat speake , while cuckoes notes make better musique deere ; where nere a better singing bird is neere , would it not grieue a good musitians eare , to be enforst to stand attentiue there ? to see a wise man handled like a foole , an asse exalted like a proper man : to see a puddle honour'd like a poole , an olde blinde goose swimme wagers with a swan , or siluer cuppes disgraced by a canne : who wold not grieue that so the world should go ? but who can helpe it , if it will be so ? no , no , alas it is in vaine for mee , to helpe the eyes , that ioy not in the light : hee that is sworne that hee will neuer see , let him play buzzard , with his blinded sight . an owle will neuer haue an eagles flight ; hee , that is once conceited of his wit , must die of folly : ther 's no helpe for it . and yet good fooles , that can not doe withall , may well be borne with , for their simple wits : but knauish wits , that wicked fooles wee call , ( where hellish sathan with his angels sits , to worke the feates of many a thousand fits ) those foolish knaues , or knauish fooles i meane , i would to god , the world were ridde of cleane . and yet it is in vaine such world to wish : there is no packe of cardes without a knaue : who loues to feede vpon a sallet dish , among his herbes some wicked weede may haue . some men must winne , some lose , and some must saue . fooles wil be fooles , doe wise men what they can , and many a knaue deceiue an honest man. a curtall iade will shewe his hackney trickes , and snarling curres will bite a man behinde : the blacke thorne shrubbe is best knowne by his prickes : a kestrell can not chuse but shewe her kinde . wise men sometime must wait , till fooles haue din'd : and yet , those fooles , in common wits conceite ; are wise , when wisdom on their wealth doth wait . and yet the wealthy foole is but a foole , the knaue with all his wealth is but a knaue : for truest vvisdome reades in vertues schoole , that there is no man happy till his graue . the hermit liues more quiet in his caue , then many a king that long vsurpes a crowne ; that in the end comes head long tūbling downe . yet who so base , as would not be a king ? and who so fond as thinkes not hee is vvise ? doth not the cuckoe thinke that shee can sing , as clearely as the birde of paradise ? the fowlest dowd ' is faire in her owne eyes . conceipt is strong , and hath such kinde of vaine , as workes strange wonders in a woodcocks brain . but , what should fancy dwell vpon a fable ? in some farre contries , women ride a-stride : the foole that in the kinde can vse his bable , shall haue fat meate and somewhat els beside . for wit doth wonders vnder folly hide : yet in true wisdome , all are fooles approued , they that loue fooles , and fooles that are beloued . but since t is best that all agree in one , the prouerbe saies , t is mery when friends meete . it is a kinde of death to liue alone . a louing humour is a pleasing sweete , let vvise men studie on the winding sheete , and weaker wits this poore contentment haue , t is better be a foole then be a knaue . and so , good friend , if so thou be , farewell : i must not stand vpon the foole too long ; least that my spirits so with folly swell , as doe perhaps my better humours wrong ▪ and therefore thus in briefe i end my song ; the wisest man hath writ , that euer was , vanitas vanitatum , & omnia vanitas . vanitie all , all is but vanitie , nothing on earth but that will haue an end : where hee that trustes to bare humanitie , shall hardly liue to finde in heauen a friend . take heede therefore the highest to offend : either learne wit , where truest wisdome lies , or take my word , thou neuer wilt be wise. and therefore let the wise not be displeas'd , if they be counted fonde as well as other : for , t is a plague , that hath the world diseas'd , sinch sinne became vnhappie natures mother : and let me say but this , my gentle brother ; since all is vaine , that liues vnder the sunne , good wise man be are with fooles , and i haue done . finis . the figure of foure wherein are sweet flowers, gathered out of that fruitfull ground, that i hope will yeeld pleasure and profit to all sorts of people. the second part. figure of foure. part breton, nicholas, ?- ? approx. kb of xml-encoded text transcribed from -bit group-iv tiff page images. text creation partnership, ann arbor, mi ; oxford (uk) : - (eebo-tcp phase ). a stc estc s this keyboarded and encoded edition of the work described above is co-owned by the institutions providing financial support to the early english books online text creation partnership. this phase i text is available for reuse, according to the terms of creative commons . universal . the text can be copied, modified, distributed and performed, even for commercial purposes, all without asking permission. early english books online. (eebo-tcp ; phase , no. a ) transcribed from: (early english books online ; image set ) images scanned from microfilm: (early english books, - ; : ) the figure of foure wherein are sweet flowers, gathered out of that fruitfull ground, that i hope will yeeld pleasure and profit to all sorts of people. the second part. figure of foure. part breton, nicholas, ?- ? [ ] p. printed [by j. haviland] for iohn wright, and are to bee sold at his shop without newgate, at the signe of the bible, london : . dedication signed: n.b., i.e. nicholas breton. printer's name conjectured by stc. signatures: a b⁴. the first leaf and the last leaf are blank. running title reads: the second part of the figure of foure. reproduction of the original in the bodleian library. created by converting tcp files to tei p using tcp tei.xsl, tei @ oxford. re-processed by university of nebraska-lincoln and northwestern, with changes to facilitate morpho-syntactic tagging. gap elements of known extent have been transformed into placeholder characters or elements to simplify the filling in of gaps by user contributors. eebo-tcp is a partnership between the universities of michigan and oxford and the publisher proquest to create accurately transcribed and encoded texts based on the image sets published by proquest via their early english books online (eebo) database (http://eebo.chadwyck.com). the general aim of eebo-tcp is to encode one copy (usually the first edition) of every monographic english-language title published between and available in eebo. eebo-tcp aimed to produce large quantities of textual data within the usual project restraints of time and funding, and therefore chose to create diplomatic transcriptions (as opposed to critical editions) with light-touch, mainly structural encoding based on the text encoding initiative (http://www.tei-c.org). the eebo-tcp project was divided into two phases. the , texts created during phase of the project have been released into the public domain as of january . anyone can now take and use these texts for their own purposes, but we respectfully request that due credit and attribution is given to their original source. users should be aware of the process of creating the tcp texts, and therefore of any assumptions that can be made about the data. text selection was based on the new cambridge bibliography of english literature (ncbel). if an author (or for an anonymous work, the title) appears in ncbel, then their works are eligible for inclusion. selection was intended to range over a wide variety of subject areas, to reflect the true nature of the print record of the period. in general, first editions of a works in english were prioritized, although there are a number of works in other languages, notably latin and welsh, included and sometimes a second or later edition of a work was chosen if there was a compelling reason to do so. image sets were sent to external keying companies for transcription and basic encoding. quality assurance was then carried out by editorial teams in oxford and michigan. % (or pages, whichever is the greater) of each text was proofread for accuracy and those which did not meet qa standards were returned to the keyers to be redone. after proofreading, the encoding was enhanced and/or corrected and characters marked as illegible were corrected where possible up to a limit of instances per text. any remaining illegibles were encoded as <gap>s. understanding these processes should make clear that, while the overall quality of tcp data is very good, some errors will remain and some readable characters will be marked as illegible. users should bear in mind that in all likelihood such instances will never have been looked at by a tcp editor. the texts were encoded and linked to page images in accordance with level of the tei in libraries guidelines. copies of the texts have been issued variously as sgml (tcp schema; ascii text with mnemonic sdata character entities); displayable xml (tcp schema; characters represented either as utf- unicode or text strings within braces); or lossless xml (tei p , characters represented either as utf- unicode or tei g elements). keying and markup guidelines are available at the text creation partnership web site . eng aphorisms and apothegms -- early works to . - tcp assigned for keying and markup - spi global keyed and coded from proquest page images - mona logarbo sampled and proofread - mona logarbo text and markup reviewed and edited - pfs batch review (qc) and xml conversion the figvre of fovre : wherein are sweet flowers , gathered out of that fruitfull ground , that i hope will yeeld pleasure and profit to all sorts of people . the second part. london , printed for iohn wright , and are to bee sold at his shop without newgate , at the signe of the bible . . to the reader . this little fruit of no little labour , gathered together , and bound vp in this little paper , for the better vse of them , that can and will consider of the nature of euery one in his right kind , i kindly commit to your acceptations , assuring my selfe that being free from taxing of any , and far from abuse , but of abusers : hoping that some will receiue good in the memory of what they reade , and no horse will kicke except his backe bee galled ; i leaue it to the wide world to take such fortune as will fall out . and so , loth to make a long supper of a little meat , wishing you to take the best and leave the worst , and breake none of the pale , i rest , your well-willer in a greater matter , n. b. the second part of the figure of foure there are foure things greatly to bee taken heed of : a flye in the eye , a bone in the throat , a dog at the heele , and a theefe in the house . there are foure bitter things that are used but for necessity : rubard gall , worme wood , and a dogged wife . there are foure grievous lacks to a great many in the world : lacke of health , lacke of wealth , lacke of wit , & lacke of honesty . there bee foure especiall poore schollers in the world : petty-foggers quacksalvers , ballad-makers , and a. b. c. schoole-masters . there are foure things ill to bee proud of : a painted face , a patcht body , a pide coat , and a paltry wit. there are foure things faire at the first sight : new books , fat horses , fresh colours , and flickt faces . there are foure strange men in the world : they that make a god of their gold ▪ an angell of the devill , a paradise of their pleasure , and glory of their pride . there are foure notes of an exellent wit : to learne that which is good , to labour for that which is necessary , to foresee a mischiefe , and to forget that which cannot be recovered . there be foure jests of wit : to hope for dead mens goods , to trust to the word of a bankrupt , to be in loue with a lewd queane , and to tel newes after a carrier . there be foure things very uncomfortable : to lye in bed and cannot sleepe , to sit at meat and have no stomacke , to see musicke and cannot heare it , and to want mony and cannot come to it . there are foure persons not to be beleeved : a horse-courser when he sweares , a whore when shee weepes , a lawyer when he pleads false , and a traveller , when he rels wonders . there are foure persons not to be trusted : a foole , a flatterer , an atheist , and an enemy . there are foure ill houses to goe into : a smokie house , a rotten house , a lowsie house , and a bawdy house . there are foure things very hurtfull for the stomacke : raw flesh , stale fish , musty bread , and sowre drinke . there are foure silly fooles in the world : hee that followes a shaddow , starts a flea , drowns an eele , and makes love to a picture . there are foure great trials of wit : to chuse a friend and keepe him , to conceale adversity with patience , to bee thrifty without couetousnesse , and to live out of the feare of the law. there are foure suspitions of a perfect wit : to trust unfaithfullnesse , to shew unthankfulnesse , to advance unworthinesse , and to nourish wickednesse . there are foure great cyphers in the world : hee that is lame among dancers , dumbe among lawyers , dull among schollers , and rude amongst courtiers . foure kinds of men may be well spared : a swaggerer among civill people , a theefe among true men , an atheist among the religious , and a jew among christians . foure sorts of people are very troublesome : fooles among wisemen , borrowers among rich men , cowards among souldiers , and beggars amongst courtiers . there are foure wicked kinds of scoffers : they that scoffe at the honest , at the wise , at the learned , or at the poore . there be foure knaves much dealt withall in the world : the knave of clubs ; the knave of harts , the knave of spades , and the knave of diamonds . there are foure base professions : a wittall , a cuckold , a bawd , and a begger . there are foure close-catchers in the world : a rat-catcher , a moule-catcher , a foole-catcher , and a cony-catcher . there are foure chiefe lights : the light of sense , the light of reason , the light of grace , and the light of glory . there are foure sundry kindes of loues : the love of god , the love of men , the love of women , and the love of children . foure kinds of men hatefull in a common-wealth : a parasite , an hypocrite , a mutiner , and a murtherer . foure idle kindes of exercise : riming , riding , raging , and running on errands . there are foure great sokers of a mans estate : long sicknesse , a costly wife , a sleepie eye , and a proud prodigall spirit . there are foure ill wayes for a theefe : the way to the prison , the way to the ludge , the way to the gallowes and the way to hell . there are foure things foolishly proud : a pea●ocke that is proud of his taile , for he must molt it once every yeare ; an hart that is proud of his hornes , for he must mew them once a yeare , a cuckoe that is proud of her note , for she sings but once a yeare ; and an oake that is proud of his beafe , for it fals once a yeare . there are foure terrible sounds in the world : the report of a cannon , a clap of thunder , the doome of a iudge , and the scolding of a shrewd woman . there are foure naturall skippers : a flea , a frog , a grashopper , and a cat. there are foure chiefe smellers : deere , dogs , ravens , and smell-feasts . there are foure things seldome seene : a begger to grow rich , an usurer to grow bountifull , a foole to grow wise , and a baggage to become honest . there are foure creatures of more charge than profit : parrats , monkies , fysting dogs and fidling wenches . foure pitifull objects to a good eye : a wise man distracted , a city ruined , a ship on fire , and an armie defeated . foure kinds fine fooles : hee that thinkes himselfe wise and is not , he that spends all to be thought bountifull , he that pines himselfe to leave to another , and he that beleeves a queans love . there bee foure things of much strength in the world : love with the religious , for it upholds the soule ; health with the laborious , for it upholds the body ; learning with the studious , for it upholds the wit ; and parience with the gracious , for it upholds the spirit . foure excellent vertues in a virgin : silence , humility constancie , and devotion . foure great blessings to a wife a modest eye , a kind spirit , a paineful hand , and a true heart . foure notes of a divine nature : to regard him whome the world scorneth to love him whom the world hateth , to help him whom the world hurteth , and to advance him whom the world overthroweth . there are foure chiefe notes of a good huswife : early rising , close gathering , safe keeping , and well bestowing . there are foure things goe commonly together : a fleeting face , a leering eye , a flatering tongue , and a false heart . there are foure fearefull judgements : sudden madnesse , sudden warre , sudden ruine , and sudden death . foure kindes of vermine doe very much hurt where they come : mice among cheese , weezels among conies moules among gardens , and whoores among gallants . foure things are tedious to many good mindes : a long tale , a long winter , a long fasting , and a long voyage . foure things weary out a good minde : imployment without reward , oppressions without releefe , cruell cre 〈…〉 s , and importunate beggers . foure things to be taken heed of : an intruding friend , a flattering servant a wanton wife , and a wicked neighbour . there be foure chiefe horses for service : the cours●r for the souldier , the hackney for the post , the cart-horse for the farmer , and the hobbihorse for the morris-dance . foure men to be banished all good company : a lyer , a swearer , a quareller and a tale-teller . foure kindes of women much set a worke : a mid-wife , a milke-maid , a market-woman , and a meale-woman . foure kinds of cleanly wenches : a dairy wench , a shop wench , a needle wench , and a starch wench . foure kinds of black men : a moore , a collier , a smith , and a scullion . foure white women : the lady white , mistris white , good-wife white , and widdow white . foure high things to looke upon : a high man , a high constable , a high steeple , and a high may-pole . foure needfull eyes in a taverne : an eye to the guest , an eye to the plate , an eye to the score , and an eye to the doore . foure things goe through many things : wit , art , experience , and mony . foure dayes welcome to schollers : christmas day , shrove-tuesday , easter-day , and whitsunday . foure kindes of men not to bee stood against : princes and potentates , judges and generals . foure things grievously empty : a head without braines , a wit without judgement , a heart without honesty , and a purse without money . foure diseases hardly to be cured : the gout in an old man , the green-sicknesse in a woman , the farcie in an old horse , and the rot in a sheep . foure chiefe comforts to the sense of nature : health , liberty , mirth , and money . foure chiefe nuts in the world the chest-nut , the wall-nut , the small-nut , and the sort nut . foure chiefe musicall birds : the nightingale , the larke , the linner , and the robbin-red-brest . foure fine little labourers : the bee , the ant , the silke-worme , and spider . foure kindes of beastly men in the world : a glutton , a drunkard , a lecher , and a bawd . foure kindes of theeves worthy to be hanged : horse-stealers , cut-purses house-breakers , and pick-pockets . foure things good in a goose : her quils for pens , her feathers for pillowes , her flesh for the dish , and her grease for the ache . foure exellent medicines for many diseases : abstinence , exercise , mirth and patience . foure things ill for a carrier : leane horse , hard fare , foule weather , and foggy women . foure great in-liers : a woman that lies in child-bed , a knave that lies in wait , a whore that lies in a sweat , and a mad-man that lies in bedlam . foure present cases for foure great paines : to scratch for the itch , to breake wind for the collick , to pisse for the stone , and to sweat for the cold . there are foure kindes of ugly objects : a scabbie iade , a mangy dog , a lowsie knave , and a pockie whore . foure chiefe doves in the world : the turtle-dove , the wood-dove , the ring dove , and the house-dove . foure perilous snares to fall into : the snare of an usurer , the snare of a lewd woman , the snare of a slatterer , and the snare of the devil . foure strange sports : to see a beare hunt a wild ducke , an ape kisse an owle , a goose bite a fox , and a squirrell hunt a coney . foure sweet trades in a citie : sugar-men , comfit-makers , perfumers and nose-gay-makers . foure speedie passengers in the world : a bird thorow the aire , a ship thorow the sea , a word from the mouth and a thought from the minde . foure round walkers in the world a wheele , a spindle , a bowle , and a milstone . foure tokens of foule weather : aches in the limbs , sleepinesse in the head , sweating of stones , and darkenes of weather . foure tokens of faire weather : when the robbin-red-brest sings early , when the bee workes earnestly , when the spider keepes home , and the swallow flies merrily . foure creatures are great spoylers where they come : hogs among pease , deere among corne , cats among milk-pans , and whales among herrings . foure kings without kingdomes : the king of man , the king of portugall , a king in a play , and a painted king. foure strange things to be deciphered : a man and no man , threw a stone and no stone , at a bird and no bird , in a tree and no tree . foure interpretations of these foure things : a man and no man was an eunuch , and therefore no man : the stōe was a pumice , the bird was a bar , and the tree was an eldertree . foure hard dayes in the yeare : good-friday for schollers , for then they fast : ash-wednesday for papists , for then they must be whipt ; rent-day for poore folks , for then they must pay their land-lords ; and the execution-day for theeves , for then they must be hanged . foure things much talkt of , and little found : wisedome , vertue , honesty , and conscience . foure creatures goe willingly to their businesse : a bride to church , a boy to breckfast , an heire to his land , and a swee●-heart to his loue . foure things are soone out : a candle out of his light , a foole out of his tale , an eye out of his sight , and a prodigall out of his patrimony . foure things ill for the earth : a winters thunder , a summers frost , a long drought , and a sudden floud . foure things pretily described : a whore by her leering , a setter by his peering , a parasite by his fleering , and an epicure by his cheering . foure vile things in nature : to be unkinde to a wife , unnaturall to a child untrue to a master , unthankfull unto a friend . foure offenders not to be pardoned : he that will not be admonished , he that will outface a lye , he that will not amend , and he that delights in his wickednesse . foure costly spots in the world : the spots on the cards , the spots on the dice , the spots on embroyde●ies , and the spots on ill tongues . foure men needfull in an armie : a good commandor , a good scout , a good sentinell , and a good gunner . foure things chiefly necessary in peace : a good king , a good counsell , a good soile , and good subjects . foure ill things in musicke : to play out of time , or out of tune , false strings , and bad instruments . foure things good aboue all : god , his word , his grace , and glory . finis . no vvhippinge, nor trippinge: but a kinde friendly snippinge breton, nicholas, ?- ? approx. kb of xml-encoded text transcribed from -bit group-iv tiff page images. text creation partnership, ann arbor, mi ; oxford (uk) : - (eebo-tcp phase ). a stc estc s this keyboarded and encoded edition of the work described above is co-owned by the institutions providing financial support to the early english books online text creation partnership. this phase i text is available for reuse, according to the terms of creative commons . universal . the text can be copied, modified, distributed and performed, even for commercial purposes, all without asking permission. early english books online. (eebo-tcp ; phase , no. a ) transcribed from: (early english books online ; image set ) images scanned from microfilm: (early english books, - ; : ) no vvhippinge, nor trippinge: but a kinde friendly snippinge breton, nicholas, ?- ? [ ] p. [by r. bradock?] for iohn browne, & iohn deane, imprinted at london : . by nicholas breton. a reply to: w.i. the whipping of the satyre. in verse. signatures: a-d. running title reads: no whippe. reproduction of the original in the henry e. huntington library and art gallery. created by converting tcp files to tei p using tcp tei.xsl, tei @ oxford. re-processed by university of nebraska-lincoln and northwestern, with changes to facilitate morpho-syntactic tagging. gap elements of known extent have been transformed into placeholder characters or elements to simplify the filling in of gaps by user contributors. eebo-tcp is a partnership between the universities of michigan and oxford and the publisher proquest to create accurately transcribed and encoded texts based on the image sets published by proquest via their early english books online (eebo) database (http://eebo.chadwyck.com). the general aim of eebo-tcp is to encode one copy (usually the first edition) of every monographic english-language title published between and available in eebo. eebo-tcp aimed to produce large quantities of textual data within the usual project restraints of time and funding, and therefore chose to create diplomatic transcriptions (as opposed to critical editions) with light-touch, mainly structural encoding based on the text encoding initiative (http://www.tei-c.org). the eebo-tcp project was divided into two phases. the , texts created during phase of the project have been released into the public domain as of january . anyone can now take and use these texts for their own purposes, but we respectfully request that due credit and attribution is given to their original source. users should be aware of the process of creating the tcp texts, and therefore of any assumptions that can be made about the data. text selection was based on the new cambridge bibliography of english literature (ncbel). if an author (or for an anonymous work, the title) appears in ncbel, then their works are eligible for inclusion. selection was intended to range over a wide variety of subject areas, to reflect the true nature of the print record of the period. in general, first editions of a works in english were prioritized, although there are a number of works in other languages, notably latin and welsh, included and sometimes a second or later edition of a work was chosen if there was a compelling reason to do so. image sets were sent to external keying companies for transcription and basic encoding. quality assurance was then carried out by editorial teams in oxford and michigan. % (or pages, whichever is the greater) of each text was proofread for accuracy and those which did not meet qa standards were returned to the keyers to be redone. after proofreading, the encoding was enhanced and/or corrected and characters marked as illegible were corrected where possible up to a limit of instances per text. any remaining illegibles were encoded as <gap>s. understanding these processes should make clear that, while the overall quality of tcp data is very good, some errors will remain and some readable characters will be marked as illegible. users should bear in mind that in all likelihood such instances will never have been looked at by a tcp editor. the texts were encoded and linked to page images in accordance with level of the tei in libraries guidelines. copies of the texts have been issued variously as sgml (tcp schema; ascii text with mnemonic sdata character entities); displayable xml (tcp schema; characters represented either as utf- unicode or text strings within braces); or lossless xml (tei p , characters represented either as utf- unicode or tei g elements). keying and markup guidelines are available at the text creation partnership web site . eng w. i., fl. . -- whipping of the satyre -- controversial literature -- early works to . - tcp assigned for keying and markup - aptara keyed and coded from proquest page images - olivia bottum sampled and proofread - olivia bottum text and markup reviewed and edited - pfs batch review (qc) and xml conversion no vvhippinge , nor trippinge : but a kinde friendly snippinge . imprinted at london for iohn browne , & iohn deane . . ¶ to all gratiovs , vertuous , courteous , honest , learned , and gentle spirits , that are truely poeticall , & not too fantasticall : that will patiently read , indifferently censure , and honestly speake of the labours of those wits that meane nothing but well , the writer hereof wisheth all contentment , that a good conditiō may desire . my good friendes , if such yee be ; if not , god blesse me from yee ; for the world is so full of wickednesse , that a man can meete with little goodnesse : maye it please you to vnderstand , that it was my happe of late , passing through paules church yarde , to looke vpon certaine pieces of poetrye , where i found ( that it greeues me to speake of ) one writer so straungely inueigh against another , that many shallow wits stoode and laught at their follies . now , findinge their labours so toucht with ill tearms , as befitted not the learned to lay open , i thought good , hauing little to doe , to write vnto all such writers , as take pleasure to see their wits plaie with the world , that they will henceforth , before they fall to worke , haue in minde this good prouerbe : play with mee ; but hurt me not : and iest with me ; but disgrace me not ; least that the world this iest do kindly smother , why should one foole be angry with an other ? now for my selfe , i proteste that humor of charitie , that i wish to finde at all their handes that see and will reprooue my folly : for i am none of the seauen wise men , and for the eight , i knowe not where to seeke him . beare with me then , if out of the principles of a painted cloth i haue pickt out matter to mooue impatience . and if there be any thing out of that poore library , that may take place in any of your good likings , i will honour your good spirits for your kinde acceptations . but , in any wise , what ere you think , giue me no word of cōmendation : least , too glad of such a mischaunce , i trust the better to my euill fortune . well , in earnest , i will entreat all good schollers to beare with my lacke of learning , and wise men with my lacke of witte , and my creditors with my lacke of mony . which , though it haue nothing to doe in this treatise , yet entreaty sometime doeth well with honest mindes : which i wish , and hope of in them , yea , and all the world that i shall haue to doe withall . leauing therefore the patient to their paradice , and the displeased to their better patience , in my loue to all schollers ( but chiefly to those , that in the ioy of their studies , make vertue their heauen ) i rest your friend , as i finde cause . no whippe . t is strange to see the humors of these daies : how first the satyre bites at imperfectiōs the epigrammist in his quips displaies a wicked course in shadowes of corrections : the humorist hee strictly makes collections of loth'd behauiours both in youthe and age : and makes them plaie their parts vpon a stage . an other madcappe in a merry fit , for lacke of witte did cast his cappe at sinne : and for his labour was well tould of it , for too much playing on that merry pinne : for that all fishes are not of one finne : and they that are of cholerick complections , loue not too plain to reade their imperfection now comes another with a new founde vaine ▪ and onely falls to reprehensions ; who in a kind of scoffing chiding straine , bringes out i knowe not what in his inuentions : but i will ghesse the best of his intencions : hee would that all were well , and so would i. fooles shuld not too much shew their foolery , and would to god it had ben so in deed , the satyres teeth had neuer bitten so : the epigrammist had not had a seede of wicked weedes , among his herbes to sowe , nor one mans humor did not others showe , nor madcap had not showen his madness such , and that the whipper had not ierkt so much . for they whose eyes into the world doe looke , and canuasse euery crotchet of conceite , whose wary wittes can hardly be mistooke , who neuer feede their fancies with deceite , finde this the fruict of euery idle sleight : to shew how enuy doeth her venom spit , or lacke of wealth doeth sell a little wit. and while they tumble in their tubbes of coine , laugh at their wittes that tunne so far awry : in learning how to giue the foole the foine , mistake the warde & wound them selues thereby : while only wealth doth laugh at beggery . for rowling stones will neuer gather mosse , and raunging wittes doe often liue by losse . the preachers charge is but to chide for sinne , while poets steppes are short of such a state : and who an others office enters in , may hope of loue , but shal be sure of hate . 't is not a time offences to relate . contentions sooner will begin then end : and one may sooner lose , then keepe a friend . and he that writes , vnwary of his wordes , may haue an ill construction of the sense . for fortune euer not the right affordes , where will doeth gouerne ouer patience . who doeth not finde it by experience , that points and letters often times misread , endaunger oft the harmelesse writers head ? good writers then , if any such yee be , in verse or prose , take well that i doe write : i wish yee all what ere yee heare or see , haste not your wits to bring it vnto light : lest ere you weet you doe repent your spight . your friendes ill courses neuer doe disclose , and make your pens no swords to hurt your foes . spend not your thoughts in spilling of your wits : nor spoile your eies , in spying of offences . for howsoeuer you excuse your fittes , they carry shreud suspect of ill pretences : and when you seeke to make your best defences , how euer priuate friends will poorly purse ye , if one doe blesse yee , fiue to one will curse ye . some one will say , you are too busie pated , an other saies the foole is idle headed : an other saies such rakehells would be rated : an other , see , how will to wit is wedded : an other , sure the man is poorely stedded : hee writ for coine , he knew , nor car'd not what : but yet take heede , we must not like of that . meane while perhaps he sits within his cell , and sighes to heare how many descant on him : and for a litle must his labour sell , while such as haue the pence , do preie vpon him ▪ and he poore soule , in want thus wo begon him , curseth the time , that euer he was borne , to vse his will to make his wit a scorne . for let him bragge , and braue it as he list , the poets is a poore profession : and oftentimes doeth fall on had i wist , when conscience makes of inwarde crimes confession : and sorrow makes the spirites intercession , for mercies pardon , to that time misspent , which was the soule for better seruice lent . yet will i say that some , oh all too fewe , doe bend their humors to diuine desires : those i confesse , doe in their verses shew , what vertue , grace into those soules inspires , that are inflamed with the heauenly fires : such a good poet , good if any bee , onely in god , would god that i were hee . as for those fansies , fictions , or such fables , that show in losse of time abuse of wit : that neuer look't into those holy tables , where doeth the grace of reasons glory sit : and wisedome findes what is for vertue fit , what ere they figure in their dark constructions , they doe but little good in their instructions . no , poets , no : i write to yee in loue , let not the world haue cause to laugh at vs : let vs our mindes from such ill meanes remoue , as makes good spirits for to fall out thus : let vs our causes with more care discusse : not bite , nor claw , nor scoffe , nor check , nor chide : but eche mend one , and ware the fall of pride . know'st thou a foole ? then let him leaue his folly , or be so stil , and with his humour passe . what hath thy wit to do with trolly lolly ? must euery wise man ride vpon an asse ? take heede thou mak'st not him a looking glasse , wherein the world may too apparant see , by blazing him , to finde the foole in thee . hast thou espied a knaue ? care not to know him , lest that thy knowledge get thee little good . or if you know him , doe not seeke to show him : lest that your head be fear'd to fit his hoode . such sense were better neuer vnderstoode . better to see a knaue , and not to see , then to be thought a knaue , as well as hee . know you a villaine ? let him finde his matche : and show not you a matche a villaines skill : a foolish dogge at euery curre doeth snatch , wordes haue no grace in eloquence of ill : there is no wrestling with a wicked will : let passe the villaine with his villany , make thou thy match with better company . haue you acquaintance with some wicked quean , giue her good words , and do not blaze her faults : looke in thy soule if it be not vncleane : and knowe that sathan all the world assaultes ▪ iacob himselfe before the aungell haultes : sighe for her sinne , but doe not call her whore : but learne of christ , to bid her sinne no more . know you a drunkeard ? loath his drunkennesse but doe not laie it open to his foes : least in describing his vngodlinesse , you take your selfe too soundly by the nose : who hurts himselfe doth giue vnkindely blowes : winke at each faulte & wish it were amended , and thinke it well that 's with repentance ended . knowe you a wencher , let his wenche alone , winke at his fault , & age will make him leaue it : and though he doe not , tell not iohn of ioane , for feare that ether you may misconceaue it , or tone be hurt when tother doth perceiue it : or while you seeke to make their folly knowne , it be a meane to lay abroad your owne . knowe you a miser ? let him be so still , and let his spirites with his metall melt : let him alone to die in his owne ill , and feede not you on that which he hath felt : be not you girded in so vile a belt : rather praie for him , then so raile vpon him , that all the world may lay their curses on him . knowe you a spendthrift secreatly aduise him , but tell not all the worlde of his expence : for if such kinde of warning you deuise him , your course maie happe to fall on such offence , as may be put off with an ill defence : for many a man that hath his wits asquint , would frowne to see his folly put in print . know you a gamester ? let him play his game ▪ but seeke not you to cheat him of his coyne . nor to the world doe idly tell his name , whose heedlesse fancie doeth with folly ioyne , that cannot see who doeth his wealth purloine : least when you name the chance that lost his stake he light on you , & make your noddle ake . know you a plotter ? studdy not his plots , but leaue the busie , to their businesse : least while you winde your wits into such knots , you doe too late repent your foolishnesse , and while you write of such vngodlinesse , finde ere the lines of halfe your rules be red , to write of knaues doth bring a foole to bed ▪ know you a swaggerer ? let him walke along : trouble him not in either word , or deed . he is not borne to put vp open wrong : where euery man may of his humour read . be silent then good poet and take heede ( what euer faults you in his folly see ) you doe not talke of such a man as he . if that a great one haue a great defect , let not your thought once touch at such a thing , vnto superious euer haue respect : a begger must not looke vpon a king. take heede , i say , is a most blessed thing : least if you run to farre in such a fit , a foole may happe to hang for lacke of wit. learne english prouerbs , haue them wel by heart , and count them often on your fingers ends : doe not your secrets to the world impart : beware your foes , doe not abuse your friends : take heed of flatterers as of hellish fiends : eate vp your meat , & make cleane all your platters , and meddle not with any princes matters . reade what is written on the painted cloth ; doe no man wrong , be good vnto the poore : beware the mouse , the maggot , and the moth ; and euer haue an eye vnto the doore : trust not a foole , a villaine , not a whore . goe neat , not gaie ; and spend but as you spare : and turne the colte to pasture with the mare . be not a churle , nor yet exceed in cheere . hold fast thine owne , pay truely what thou owest : sell not too cheape , and doe not buy to deare : tell but to few , what secret ere thou knowest , and take good heed to whom , & what thou shewest : loue god , thy self , thy wife , thy childrē , friend , neighbour , and seruant , and so make an end . beleeue no newes , till they be nine dayes old , nor thē too much , although the print approue thē : mistake not drosse for perfect indian gold ; nor make friends gods ; but as you finde them , loue them : and as you know them , keepe thē , or remooue thē . beware of beauty , and affect no slutte : and ware the wonne before ye cracke the nut . be neither proude , nor enuious , nor vnchaste ; least al too late , repentance ouer-take you : and take good heede howe you your wealth doe waste , least fooles doe scoffe you , & your friends forsake you and thē the begger by the shulders shake you . giue vnto all that aske ; not askers , all : and take heed how you clime , for fear you fall . doe well , be true , backe-bite no man , be iust ; the ducke , the drake , the owle , do teach you so : speake what you thinke ; but no more then you must least vnawares you make your friend your fo be warie , sayes the crane ; bee wise , the crowe : be gentle , humble , courteous , meeke , & milde , and you shall be your mothers blessed childe . be loyall , sayes the lyon , for your life ; be firme and constant , sayes the elephant : the doue bids you be louing to your wife : be carefull , sayes the partridge : painefull , the ant : take heede , sayes rainarde , of the sycophant : be wakefull , sayes the cocke : witty , the conny : and sayes the dog ; looke well vnto your mome . haue all the weeke a penne behinde your eare , and weare your sword on sundayes , t is enough : be not too venturous , not too full of feare : nor stand too much vpon a double ruffe ; eor feare a falling band giue you the cuffe . know well your horse before you fall to ride : and bid god blesse the bride-groom & his bride . be merry , sayes the cuckow : lusty , the frog : nimble , the snaile : the mag-pye , prouident : be thrifty , sayes the buzzard : cleanly the hogge : honest , the bull : the pigeon resident : the popingeaie doth bid you to be silent : be valiant , sayes the horse : simple , the asse ; a better dictionary neuer was . be gracious , sayes the kite : gentle , the waspe : be liberall , the moile : sober , the hare : swift , sayes the tortoise : vertuous , the ape : pittifull , the woolfe : mannerly , the mare : thankefull the eagle : bountifull , the stare : trusty , the iack-daw : faithfull , sayes the hearne : what better lessons then the birdes doe learne ? no further runne , then you may turne againe , and let not will be guider , of your wit. what needes a plaister , where there is no paine ? physicke is onely for the crazed fit : who is in health , hath not to doe with it . take heede of lying lippes , a swearing tongue . for they are odious both in old and young . hast thou a wit and knowest thou canst do wel , vse it vnto some worke of worth in deede . for t is no wit , to teach a foole to spell nothing but foole ; when he is learn'd to reed . better , to teach him christs crosse be his speed , and how the holy ghost may better guide him , then with conceites of iests for to deride him . it is a course of little charitie , to find out faults , and fall vpon them so ; and t is a wit of singularitie , that perfect wisedom doth but little show : which thinks it giues the foole the ouer-throw , and might haue bene farre better exercised , then in the folly that it hath suprized . t is womens iest to wrangle for a word . and what thinke women then of wrangling men ? let such fond quarrels be put vnder boord , as doe but spring out of an idle penne . oh , trouble not the fowle within the fenne . the fame of learning neuer was worse grac't , then where one foole an other hath defac't , but , art thou learned ? looke into thy booke , and thou shalt find thy fancy is abus'd , which hath thy hope of happy prayse mistooke ; and done a fault that cannot be excus'd : for wisedome neuer such an humour vs'd . to shoote at shame , the aime was to farre off , to beat downe sinne , to ierke it with a scoffe . hawkes hoods , & bels are not for scholers study , they haue no argument for wo , ho , ho : their spirits should not think on things so muddy , where duckes lie dibbling in the lakes below : but on the grounds , where sweeter graces grow . and though a fault be scused with a iest : a iest is but a folly at the best . let all good scbollers winde their wits away , from such ill following of their idle wils ; least when they see their faults another day , they doe repent them of their little skils , where lacke of grace , a wittie spirit spils . for drinke is poison that is drunke in quaffing , and wit but folly , that sets fooles a laughing . beleeue me , t is a kind of sport to some that loue no wit ; because of ignorance : when waries begin , to strike a wodden drum , when vertuous spirits fall at variance : about the treading of a moris-dance . but what more spight can be to a good wit , then see a foole to stand and laugh at it ? but , who will laugh so quickly as the foole ? although he know not well at what indeede : but who hath liu'd in any learned schoole , would leaue a line for any asse to reede ; except ( alas ) he were constrain'd for neede , as many are , god knowes ( the more the pitty ) that were they wealthy , would be far more witty . sigh then for such , to see their sory cases , that must such treasure for such trash , go sell : and doe not fall to grieue them with disgraces , that in their sowles doe so with sorrow dwell , as in their hearts is more than halfe a hell , to beat their braines but for a little gaines , and , or be curst , or scoft at for their paines . but if there be some nimble witted sir , that loues to play with euery one he sees : and hath a sport to make a stinking stir with buzzing verses , like to humble bees : i wish such pride were plucked on his knees , to make him know t were better to be quiet , then with his wits to runne so farre at riot . but for my selfe , i know not any such : because , perhaps , i haue not read their writings : or els , i doubt they are too deepe a tuch , for the short reach of my poore thoughts inditings , that could not roue at their conceipts delightings . how ere it be , i know i doe not know them ; and therefore care not who do ouerthrow them . but for my selfe , what euer i haue writ ; and for poore mad-cap , i dare sweare as much : in all the compasse of a little wit , it meant no one particular to touch . but for one should not at another grutch ; as the clouds thickend , and the raine did fall , he cast his cap , at sinne in generall . indeed , t is true , he cast his cap at sinne ; and would to god that all the world did so : then doe i hope our spirits should begin , our wit , and senses better to bestow , then one to seeke another ouer-throw . but pardon him for what is past before , and he hath done for capping any more . and for my selfe , good brother , by your leaue , i will not now dispute an argument of what i would , nor what i could conceiue , nor what may be discretions detriment , in shewing of a wittie excrement : but i will wish all scholers should be friends , and poets not to brawle for puddings ends . i am not worthy to be heard to speake emong the wise , what they should haue to doe ; but if there liue a wit that be too weake , aduised care to bring his will vnto : oh , with good words let me his spirit wooe , that he will now but onely studie pro , let nos be nobis , and the contra goe . so shall our muses sweetest musique make , when gratious spirits doe agree in one : and euery foole may not example take at our vnnaturall dissention : let euery asse goe by himselfe alone : and let vs seeme as though we knewe them not , since no more good is by them to be got . tell not a souldier of his bloodie sword , not yet the sailer of his life at sea : nor tell the courtier of his knife aboord , nor tel the lawier of his gaineful plea : nor tell the louer of his little flea : let them alone , and trouble none of them : a secret hum is better then a hem . if you will needes be merry with your wits , take heede of names , and figuring of natures : and tell how neere the goose the gander sits : of hob and sib , and of such silly creatures : of croydon sanguine and of home made features : but skorne them not , for they are honest people , although perhaps theyneuer saw paules steeple . but , if you could , you should doe better much , to bend your studie to a better end , and neither one nor other seeme to tuch : but in such sorte , as may beseeme a friend : and doe no more your spirits idly spend withierking , biting , skoffing and such humors as fill the world too full of wicked rumors . bring in no verses for authorities : as in presenti , and leaue out the r : t is fit for babes in their minorities , emong their formes , to fall at such a iarre . necke verses are for theeues but at the barre . god blesse vs man from euer comming there . a gulitie heart can scarcely reade for feare . bacchus and ceres were the gods below : and there shall be , and neuer come aboue . and claret wine will quicken wit i trowe : by the redde crosse , i sweare , it is to proue : but , what should scholers , wine and sugar moue , to bring in so appollo and virorum ? when wise men smile at horum harum horum . but , pardon me , if that i speake false latine for lacke of learning : i no scholer am : my masters gowne deserues no face of satine : i neuer to degree of master came : but , where smal learning might attaine the same : and for a verse in latine , let me see : alas , they haue too many feete for mee , but , let me loue that language yet of olde , for ergos sake , that many a time deluded my troobled harte , that knewe not what to holde should be vpon the consequence concluded , while many a placet for his place entruded : vntill the bell bad breake vp schoole , and then sufficient , made , a world of propre men . and i among them , not the least contented to see both maior , and the minor cease , full many a time my hastie will repented , when i haue wisht a placet hold his peace ? whose sophystrie would so my feare increase , that to be short , my learning was so little , as i may write my title in a tittle . looke not therefore for arguments of arte : but from the painted cloth vpon the wall , what i haue learn'd i kindely doe imparte , hoping to purchase no ill will at all : because , so rudely to my worke i fall . such weakenesse my poore wits are come vnto , that beasts , & birds , must teach me what to do . my librarie is but experience : the authors , men , that in my notes i finde : my notes , the natures of such difference , as may descry each other in their kinde : where , if my wit and senses be not blinde , i doe perceiue in too much ill desarte : pride in a scholer , makes a foole by arte. blame me not then , if that i iudge amisse : the sunne and moone are my astronomie : when you beholde where all my cunning is , charge not simplicitie with villany : it were enough to breede an agony in many a man : but truely not in me , that make no care , what ere your censure be . if it be good , i thanke you for good will : if contrarie , so contrarie come to you . if it be well , i can not take it ill : if otherwise , the like good may it doe you , if kindely then , as kindly let me wooe you to leaue such ierkings , least they smart too sore , loue me as i doe you , i aske no more . but yet , me thinkes , i see you smile at mee , as though my rules were scarcely worth the reading : and that a silly painted cloath should be the librarie of all my learnings breeding : and that my wits had need of too much weeding . oh what a burthen must my patience cary ? the alehouse is the asses dictionary . but for the alehouse and the painted cloth , if ought i finde there , that be worth the noting : laying aside the filthy dronken froth ; what good i see , i will not skippe the coating . a good redde herring may be worth the bloting . better a good wit in an alehouse sit , then finde an alehouse in an idle wit. so much in honour of my homely booke : wherein the birds and beasts so wisely speake : and so much for the notes from them i tooke , to helpe such wits as will hath made too weake , into the bounds of blessed thoughts to breake . now , for the natures of those notes , you see what cause you haue to thinke amisse of me . i will not meddle with quae maribus , the propria will trouble me too much : nor yet , qui mihi discipulus . except i knew my mastership were such , as somewhat might a gratious scholer tuch . no , i will let the latine lines alone ; and speake a few more english , and be gone . let all good wits , if any good there be ; leaue trussing , and vntrussing of their points , and heare thus much ( although not learne ) of me ; the spirits , that the oyle of grace annoyntes , will keepe their senses in those sacred ioynts , that each true-learned , christian-harted brother will be vnwilling to offend another . and so would i ; for if in truthe , i knewe ( although it were full much against my will ) i should offend but any one of you , that might conceiue iust cause to wish me ill : i would throwe downe my inke , & break my quill , ere i would write one word to such an ende , as might but gaine a foe , or lose a friende . in kindenesse then let me entreate you this : if that your leasure serue you , looke it ouer : and what you finde that you may take amisse , let my confession of small learning couer , let euery poet be each others louer . let vs note follies , and be warned by them : but not in writing , to the world descry them . it is a plot among pernicious braines , to breede a brawle twixt better natur'd wits , by soothing sinne with humour of disdaines , vntill they fall into some raging fits , wherein the fruite but of repentance sits : but let them listen to those tongues that list , let vs not labour for a had i wist . for , some will say that arte is ill bestow'd on him that knowes not how to vse it well . and he sometime may finde his wits beshrow'd , that reades his lesson ere he learne to spell : marke but the truthe , the painted cloath doth tell ; who laies to much vpon his wits at once , may happe to prooue an ideot for the nonce . sound a mans minde before you shew his meaning : for feare repentance come an houre too late . barre nor the beggers from their merry gleaning : except the land-lord bid you keepe the gate : and where you may haue loue , hunt not for hate . let poets drinke of helicons faire fountaine , but bring no mice out of a swelling mountaine . let noddies go to cuffes for bloudie noses : let vs but laugh to see their lack of reason : leaue them their weedes , and let vs gather roses , and reap our wheat , while they do pick on peason . let vs hate lies , ingratitude , and treason , and with our friends in fond conceipts to striue , and we shall be the blessed'st men aliue . if that a minde be full of misery , vvhat villany is it to vexe it more ? and if a wench doe treade her shooe awry , vvhat honest heart will turne her out of dore ? oh , if our faultes were all vpon the skore : vvhat man so holy , but would be ashamed , to heare himselfe vpon the schedule named ? let vs then leaue our biting kinde of verses : they are too bitter for a gentle taste . sharpe pointed speach so neare the spirit pearces , as growes to rankle ere the poison waste . but let all be forgotten that is past : and let vs all agree in one in this ; let god alone to mend what is amisse . but if we needes will try our wits to write , and striue to mount our muses to the height , oh let vs labour for that heauenly light , that may direct vs in our passage streight : vvhere humble wits may holy will awaite ; and there to finde that worke to write & reede ▪ that may be worth the looking on indeede . to shewe the life of vnitie in loue , vvhere neuer discord doth the musique marre : but , in the blessing of the soules behoue , to see the light of that faire shining starre , vvhich shews the day that neuer night can marie : but in the brightnesse of eternall glory , how loue and life doe make a blessed story . if we be toucht with sorrow of our sinnes , expresse our passions as the psalmist did : and shew how mercy , hopes reliefe beginnes , where greatest harmes are in repentance hid : when grace in mercy doth despaire forbid : and sing of him , and of his glory such , who hateth sinne , yet will forgiue so much . and let our hymnes be angell harmonie , where halleluiah makes the heauens to ring : and make a consort of such companie , as make the quire but to their holy king : this , this , i say , would be a blessed thing : when all the world might ioy to heare and see how poets , in such poetry agree . for who can make an ape to leaue his mowes , although he call him twentie times an ape ? and who can stop the cawing of the crowes , although he tell them of their carrion gape ? and if the collicke chance to breed a scape , but hold your nose the sent will quickly die : then cry not foh ; but let the fih goe by . a mastiffe dog will neuer make a spaniell : then let the curre alone to shew his kinde . a horse-mans saddle is no market paniell . to wash a moore is worke against the winde . those blinking wits do show their wils too blind , that finding faultes so roughly fall vpon them , to think to mend them with their railing on them the deuill is a knaue , who knowes it not ? and who but god , can put downe all his power ? and how must god his gracious loue be got ? but all by prayer euery day and houre ; while teares of sorrow make a blessed showre : and humble faith doth but to mercy flie , in hearty prayer ; not in poetry . yet say i not , but poets well may pray ; and praying poets doe most sweetly sing . for proofe , of dauid see what trueth may say ; a praying poet , and a blessed king : whose verses all did from such vertues spring , as left the loue of learned trueth to try , howe prayer shewes the princely poetry . let vs all poets then agree together , to run from hell , and fained helicon ; and looke at heauen , and humbly hie vs thither , where graces shall be let in , euery one , to sing a part in glories vnion ; and there to settle all our soules desire , to heare the musicke of that heauenly quire. let ouid , with narcissus idle tale , weare out his wits with figuratiue fables . old idle histories grow to be so stale , that clownes almost haue bard them from their tables , and phoebus , with his horses , and his stables : leaue them to babies : make a better choise of sweeter matter for the soules reioyce . who toucheth pitch and tarre cannot be cleane ▪ a wilfull wit doth worke it selfe much woe . in euery course t is good to keepe a meane : and being well , to liue contented so . the softest walkers doe most safely goe . hast maketh wast : and wits that run astray , make had i wist , to make fooles holy-day . be quiet then , i say ; be quiet , wagges : and haue no more with nothing worth to doe : while other angle for the golden bagges , we seeke out toies , to set our wits vnto : but let vs leaue the cobbler to his shooe . and let the foole , himselfe with folly flatter : and bend our studies vnto better matter . no : this is not a world for simple wits , that can not looke a mile aboue the moone : nor roste their sparrowes but on wodden spits : nor make a morning of an after-noone : nor watch a blessing when there fals a boone : no , no : it is no world for weake conceit . the deuil is too cunning in deceit . a silly honest creature may do well , to watch a cockeshoote or a limed bush : for many a scholler happly learnes to spell , that can not put together worth a rush ; yet let a poet at such humors hush : his will should be about some other worke , then where the adder in the grasse doth lurke . and since my selfe haue marched in that ranke , vvhere mercury commanded pallas traine , and spent my spirits in my thoughts , as franke as he that thought he had a better vaine : i must confesse , what idle humours gaine ; a frumpe , a frowne , a foyle , or els a feare : vvhen wil doth write that reason cannot beare , no , truely no : this world is not for me , i will no longer be fantasticall ; but winke at folly , when the foole i see : that in his gesture is so finicall , as if his spirit were poeticall : and thinke it better weare my wits at schoole , then spoyle my wits in painting of a foole . vpon the painted cloth , the nightingale did bid me heare , and see , and say the best ▪ the sea mew sayes it is a cruel gale , that driues the swallow cleane out of her nest . why , simple noses now can bide no iest : and poets , that are open in inuectiues , doe often fall vpon too much defectiues , beleeue me brother , t is as thou doest write ; poets should wright by heauenly inspiration ; but he that is possessed with despight , shewes but a wicked kinde of instigation ; to thinke by scoffes to make a reformation , no , let vs all goe backe to vertues schooles , and let the world alone to bring vp fooles . i haue bene vaine as any man aliue : but would be vertuous now , if i knew how : and euery day , and houre , and minute striue my wicked heart to better grace to bow . then let me say , as to my selfe , to you ; let vs leaue all our idle imperfections , and study vertue , for our liues directions : let vs serue god , in word , and deed , and thought ▪ and by our silence make our quarrels cease : and learne those lessons that true loue hath taught , where concord doth a blessed world encrease , and speake of peace , or let vs hold our peace . for words , or deeds , or thoughts of strife are euill , and are but instigations of the deuill , it is a shame to shun the way of grace , and runour wits a gathering after wool ; and finde the haire so course in euery place , as makes a wood-cocke proue himselfe a gull , that hath no better braines within his scull , then to bestow his time in idle trifles , with penning notes to fil the world with nifles . for god sake let vs then our follies leaue , and not lay open-one anothers ill ; but in our conscience learne for to conceiue , how heedlesse wit may be abus'd by will , and haue a care so well to vse our skill , we may be loued for our learned lines , where gracious spirits poets make diuines . and for my selfe , i meane the ice to breake , vnto the passage of that paradice ; vvhere rauisht grace may of that glory speake , vvhere mercy liues , and comfort neuer dyes , and the best praise of any poet lies : or at the least if any went before , follow that line , and loue the world no more . what right bred wits , will haue to doe with blind men , especially blind beggers and their boyes ? they that haue iudgement , how indeed to find men vvil think such younkers but hobberdie-hoyes , that ply their wits vnto such paltrie toyes : or els to shew that he hath learn'd in part , to rob the blindeman of his beggers art . if it be so , and meane to keepe a schoole to bring vp boyes vnto the beggers crafte , to take a thresholde , for his cushen-stoole , to knaue a crust , and drinke a sorry draft , let him goe sleepe when he hath soundly quaft , and shrugge himselfe vnder some sorry tree , and , 'mong the beggers , master begger be . but then me thinkes he should set out his table ▪ all ye that seeke to haue your children taught , to play the begger how he may be able , vvhen that his eye-sight groweth old , or naught : aske for the man that hath the cony caught , and dwelleth , where the matter is not great : and you shall haue them boorded without meate . but t is no matter : men that haue a name , neede make no table ; they are knowen so well . and the blinde begger hath so great a fame , as of his trickes can euery high-way tell . and since for begging he doth beare the bell , let him keepe schoole ; and learne of him that will : the stocks wil kindly fit him for his skill . but for i doubt , some men of good profession , will take exceptions at my table-writing : to honest mindes i make my hearts confession ; my soule is free from vertuous spirits spighting : not one of them is in my thoughts endighting ▪ i rather wish , god blesse them and their arts , and let the blindmen play the beggers parts . for all good poets will cry out vpon him , that falles to blindenes and to beggery : and in his wits , be so farre woe-begon him , that in an humour , of base trumpery , the world may see , in idle foolery , a ballad-maker would haue bene a poet : but hat he knew not in what point to shew it . thus will the world be descanting on writers , when they shall read their ouer-rude descriptions , and say that spirits which are growen such spighters shuld better learned be in loues prescriptions ; then goe about so with their circumscriptions : that wits of worth , that know their foolery , doe call it pot-rie , and not poetrie . and what haue we to doe with pilgrimage , to walke bare witted to s. dunces well ? a grammer scholer but of ten yeeres age , that scarse hath learn'd his latine lines to spell , vvill soone by heart , a better story tell : and say , such poets as their wits so tosse , make all their walkes by little witttam crosse . for let the world imagine what it list , and idle wits deceiue themselues with toyes : those hammering heads that breed but had i wist , are all to farre from those assured ioyes , vvhere heauenly comfort kils al earths annoyes . no , no : t is onely vnitie and peace , that makes all blessings prosper and encrease . oh poets , turne the humour of your braines , vnto some heauenly muse , or meditation ; and let your spirits there imploy your paines , vvhere neuer weary , needs no recreation , vvhile god doth blesse each gracious cogitation , for proud comparisons are alwayes odious : but humble muses musicke is melodious . then learne to sing , and leaue to learne to braule ▪ it is vnfitting to a fine conceit , from vertues care , to vaine effects to fall , vvhere carelesse words doe carry little weight , vvhile fancie angles but with follies baite : vvhich , hanging but a gudgin on the hooke , may sigh to see , what idle paines he tooke . no , no : let fancie weane her selfe from folly ; and heauenly prayers grace our poetrie . let vs not loue the thought that is not holy , nor bend our mindes to blinde mens beggerie : but let vs thinke it our soules misery , that all our muses doe not ioyne in one , to make a quire to sing to god alone . eor could our spirits all agree together , in the true ground of vertues humble grace , to sing of heauen , and of the high-way thither , and of the ioyes in that most ioyfull place , where angels armes the blessed soules embrace ; then god himselfe would blesse our soules enditing , and al the world would loue a poets writing . finis . pasquils mistresse: or the vvorthie and vnworthie woman vvith his description and passion of that furie, iealousie. breton, nicholas, ?- ? approx. kb of xml-encoded text transcribed from -bit group-iv tiff page images. text creation partnership, ann arbor, mi ; oxford (uk) : - (eebo-tcp phase ). a stc estc s this keyboarded and encoded edition of the work described above is co-owned by the institutions providing financial support to the 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(eebo-tcp ; phase , no. a ) transcribed from: (early english books online ; image set ) images scanned from microfilm: (early english books, - ; : ) pasquils mistresse: or the vvorthie and vnworthie woman vvith his description and passion of that furie, iealousie. breton, nicholas, ?- ? [ ] p. for thomas fisher, and are to be soulde at his shoppe, at the signe of the white hart, in fleetestreete, imprinted at london : . dedication signed: salohcin treboun, i.e. nicholas breton. in verse. signatures: a-f⁴ g² (-a , g ). reproduction of the original in the henry e. huntington library and art gallery. created by converting tcp files to tei p using tcp tei.xsl, tei @ oxford. re-processed by university of nebraska-lincoln and northwestern, with changes to facilitate morpho-syntactic tagging. gap elements of known extent have been transformed into placeholder characters or elements to simplify the filling in of gaps by user contributors. eebo-tcp is a partnership between the universities of michigan and oxford and the publisher proquest to create accurately transcribed and encoded texts based on the image sets published by proquest via their early english books online (eebo) database (http://eebo.chadwyck.com). the general aim of eebo-tcp is to encode one copy (usually the 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reviewed and edited - pfs batch review (qc) and xml conversion pasqvils mistresse : or the worthie and vnworthie woman . vvith his description and passion of that furie , iealousie . ¶ imprinted at london , for thomas fisher , and are to be soulde at his shoppe , at the signe of the white hart , in fleetestreete . . ❧ the best meririest wit in true honest kindnesse , not king humfrey , but humfrey king , god and a good wife make a happie man in this world . lvstie humfrey , honest wagge , hearing , of late , of your determination , to enter into the honourable course of kindnesse ( which , after many mad roundes , will be the best daunce to continue with ) hopeing that you are olde enough to knowe what is good for your selfe , and yet not so wilful in conceipt , but you will take aduisement of your good friends ; for the better instruction of your iudgement in this loues lawe-case , i haue thought good to set you downe such notes worthy memory , as may giue you great light , in the best way to your comfort : where , finding the true description of the worthy , and vnworthy woman , you may , by gods helpe , make a choyce worth the chusing . pasquill sent them to me , and i to you ; hoping , that if they be not as they should be , you will blame him , and not me . so , wishing thine honest heart as good fortune as my selfe , and as much better as shall please god ; if you light well , to be glad , but not proude of it ; if otherwise , to be as patient as your poore friendes ( hoping , that you wil finde a iewell worth the keeping , and drosse but worth the discarding ) i cōmit my booke to your kinde reading , & my loue to your like keeping : and so rest your affectionate friende , salohcin treboun . ❧ to the reader . pasqvill , as you haue heard , hauing had many madde humours in his heade , could neuer be at quiet in his heart , till he had eased his minde of his melācholy : now of late , leauing boyes play to goe to coytes , to put toyes out of his heade , fell to studie of loue : which , finding out a mistresse for his humour , put his wits to many good seruices , scarce worthie the reciting . but , in briefe , he was so graueled in the admiration of her perfections , that he look't so farre into her minde , as made him haue minde almost of nothing else ; till , finding the varietie of her inclination , hee grewe out of loue with loue : his mistresse was but a dreame , and women were strange creatures : if they were as they should be , they were to hard to come by : if , as too many be , they were better lost than founde . and in this quandarie of quimeddledy , how now ( according to the olde country rounde , take the best , and leaue the worst , and breake none of the pale ) hee hath written his minde of all that came to his thought , hoping the best will be quiet , and the rest wil mende . and so , wishing euery man to take his fortune , as patiently as hee may , and to speake as well of him , as he list , he rests , after his olde fashion , pasquill . ❧ pasquill , in general , to women . yee that are worthie of honour , i willingly giue it yee : yee that deserue ill , i will pray for yee , that god wil amend yee : but yee that are gratious , be not proud , least yee fallere yee be aware : and yee that are too blame , be not desperate ; god is mercifull : among yee all , let none be more pieuish than another , to take ill to her selfe . what is good take it , yee that deserue it : what is ill , i bequeath it to none at all : for , i knowe not her , whome particularly i will touch with imperfections . some kinde of shadowes i dreamed of , that were like women : which when i awooke , i found nothing such . and therfore , hoping all women will deserue some good thought , or other , i will honour the best , & pray for the worst , and so rest . pasquill . ❧ pasqvils mistresse . not shee , that braues a picture for a face , nor shee whose waste is little as a wand : nor shee whose eye can glance it with a grace , nor shee that hath a spider fingred hand , nor shee that doth vpon her tiptoes stand : nor shee that is with beauties drosse bedight , is she , of whom my muse doth meane to write . for beautie fadeth like a morning flower , and sicknesse windes the bodie soone awry : and pride is but the shadowe of a power , nor in a finger , doth all fairenesse lie . for when foote , hand , head , heart , and al must die , and death hath made a carcasse of a creature , what good do then the ornaments of nature ? no , no : there is an other kinde of thing , which in the heart doth grow , as some do gesse , that secretly doth through the spirit spring , and heauenly powers especially doe blesse : which as it growes , by measure , more or lesse : doth beautifie the bodie where it growes , as wit and reason , all in wonder showes . which some do call the quintessence of nature : other set downe for reasons gouernment : and some do call the forme of honours feature : and other some the spirits instrument , that giues each limme , & sense , their ornament : but all and some agree on this , i finde , it is the wonder in a womans minde . it is the minde that giues the maiestie : the purest beautie , is within the minde . it is the minde that makes the dignitie , it is the minde that makes the nature kinde , and keepes the eye , that neuer can be blinde : it is the minde that guids both heart & head : for kill the minde , the body is but dead . and this same mind , that monarcheth the thought wherein it doth by inspiration dwell , by whom , the ground of euery grace is sought , the eye to see , eare heare , the tongue to tell , how euery sense may in it selfe excell , this minde i say , the maiestie of nature , is onely it , that makes the perfect creature . this minde , the gift of the supernall grace , descending from the life of mercies loue , which in true musique skorns to touch the base , but ( in the height of honours best behooue ) doth the true consort of contentments prooue : this minde is it , that in true happinesse , doth onely make a womans worthinesse . for , let her be as faire as curds and creame , yet if her minde be made of milke and cheese , her water is but like a common streame , that in a puddle doth her honour leese . a waspish minde is not for hony bees : while the true minde , where honour hath her height , can not descend into a base conceit . and let her be a bagge of golde for wealth , yet , if withall she beare a begger minde : the gratious eye , that sees the spirits health , knowes that the heart that is to hell enclinde , in vertues heauen can neuer honour finde : while the true minde , where vertue hath her place , makes gold but drosse , to purchase honors grace . and let her be a very ape for wit , yet , if she be enclinde to monkies toyes : vertue , that doth the heart to honour fit , findes it too full of follies fowle annoyes , to seeke the iewell of true graces ioyes : while wisdome showes , that in the soule doth sit , there is no honour in an apishe wit. and let her be a ladie for her honour , yet if shee be of an vngentle minde , what heart of worth that will attend vpon her ? that can not grace true vertue in her kinde : but like a buzzard , let her beate the winde , while the true minde that hath true honor proued , makes gratious kindnesse worthily beloued . thus , let her be , faire , wealthie , noble , wise : yet if these be not inly in the minde , in the cleare iudgement of true wisdomes eyes , shee is no creature of an angels kinde : while shadowes do but indiscretion blinde . no , t is the minde , that the true worth retaineth : that all by vertue , endlesse honour gaineth . for , if i may describe a worthie woman , worthie of honour in the highest kinde ( such , as but such one , knowne to few , or no man ) but by the module of a heauenly minde , if that mine eye be not conceited blinde , i will set downe how gratious thoughts bring forth the perfect wonder of a womans worth . if shee be faire without , gratious within , noble of birth , and in demeanour kinde : welthie in purse , yet will with bounty winne the worthy honour of a noble minde : such a rare phoenix in the world to finde , and to be matched in her worth by no man , may well describe the wonder of a woman . but if her beautie be a common blaze , to fire the heart of euery foolish head : or like a glasse , be euery woodcockes gaze , by fond affectes to bring a foole to bed : if such ill humours haue the spirit fedde , where wisdom wants to giue the minde a grace , it makes a picture of a painted face . and if she be of noble parentage , yet turne her minde vnto a meaner string : and by the want of honours cariage , will grace a begger , and disgrace a king , and leaue a larke to heare a cuckoe sing : vnfitly was that honours title giuen her , whē a base minde hath to such beggery driuen her . and if she be as rich as croesus was , yet if her minde be giuen to greedinesse : and doth for wealth more than for honour passe : and thinkes no honour but in wealthinesse : in the true rules of honours worthinesse , she is as farre from true nobilitie , as an olde churle from true gentilitie . and if she be as wise as wit can make her , yet if that wisdome doe not guide her mind , such apish humours will so ouertake her , that oftentimes she will be wilfull blinde , and loose the worth that better wit might finde : and then the wit that hath but folly proued , will make her little worthy to be loued . oh then , let vertue gouerne beauties eye , and honours loue , a noble spirit nurse : let wisdome , wit , to cares discretion tye , and bounty keepe the wealthy ladies purse : so in the blisse where neuer fell a curse , perfections grace the spirit of that kinde , that so can make a bodie of a minde . for such a bodie of a minde so framed , containes more worth then passion can expresse . which wonder , being in a woman named , in honours title can deserue no lesse then reasons grace in natures worthinesse : which on the earth in any one well knowne , might make her only , by her selfe , alone . the noble minde regards true noblenesse , and bends no eye vpon a base aspect : reiecteth pride , rewardeth thankfulnesse ; and vnto vertue hath a chiefe affect : and is not of the subtill humour'd sect : but plainely sees and markes , & loues the hart , that onely seekes for honour by desart . it loues no creeping that doth sinell of craft , where faire before doth hide the fowle behinde : nor is it pleased in a sugred draft , that fils the stomacke onely but with winde : nor loues a falcon of a buzzards kinde : but like a phoenix soaring in the sunne , begins to liue when that her life is done . it maketh patience kill each discontent , and reason comforts in their kindes to measure : it breedes the humour of the best intent , and tels the heart , what should be her chiefe treasure : and but in heauen doth place the spirits pleasure : it liues on earth , but hath not heere her liuing , while heauenly loue hath al her essēce giuing . what worth hath wonne the fairest womēs fame ? but that which honor in the minde hath wrought : and what hath wrought the truest honors frame ? but that which vertue in the minde hath taught : to which the bodie is a thing of naught : for in the minde the gratious spirit dwelleth , that giues the groūd , wherein each sēse excelleth . the gratious glorious queene of womankinde , the virgine marie , mother of all blisse , what wonne her honour , but an humble minde ? that shewes the vaine where truest vertue is : leading the soule it cannot goe amisse : but in perfection plainely hath approued , the onely life that is of god beloued . venus was faire , but to diana , fowle : minerua wise , till pallas came in place : but oh , to match an eagle with an owle , a baggage spirit with an angels face : honour can neuer yeelde to such disgrace . no : vertues hand , that giueth honours crowne , wil strike the thought of al dishonour downe . oh , the true noble beautie of the minde , the hearts chiefe riches , and the spirits treasure , that doth the soule to sacred seruice binde , that only seekes in paradise her pleasure , hath euen of heauen already made a seisure , and shewes where vertue doth the wit refine , it makes the creature to be knowne diuine . it makes the eye of beauty blesse true honour , and honour grace the heart of humblenesse , and wisdome make best wits to waite vpon her , while wealth rewardeth seruice thankfulnesse : and fils the minde so full of worthinesse , as where such true perfections are approued , can not but be of heauen and earth beloued . penelope was constant in her loue : which to her beauty gaue a glorious grace : did not lucretia as great honour proue , against tarquinius , in a wofull case ? oh , modest beautie hath a blessed face : but faire and noble , constant , wise , and kind doe shewe an angell in a womans minde . oh this same minde , a spirit of that power , that ioyes in nothing but in doing good : and will omit no meane , no place , nor hower , that may bring in the height of honours slood , caries no falshood , in too faire a hoode , but , onely grieues at an vngratious nature , doth in a woman make a worthy creature . oh that same minde of true humilitie , doth gaine more grace , then mountain mines of golde : where the true badge of true nobilitie : doth shewe the honour that will euer hold , while baggage humours will be bought & sold : where beggers pride , the towre of babilon , will quickly fall vnto confusion . to shewe examples of our former times , in true recording of those worthy mindes , that would but fill my paper vp with rimes of commendations , in deserued kindes , which wisdomes iudgement in perfection finds , it were too tedious : let thus much suffice , to shewe the mind wherin true honour lies . but , as in all things , contrarietie doth shew the difference twixt the good and bad : and in all humours , the varietie shewes which deserueth chiefest to be had : which makes the minde most grieuous or most sad : so let me shewe the trueth of euery token , that makes a woman , in her fame forespoken . if that her eyes doe trowle like tennis balles , her tongue be alwaies licking of her lips : her heeles be so vpon the slippery falles , they scarce haue power to carrie vp her hips : if that she tread awry among her trips : although her face be like an angell painted , ho there alas , her credit will be tainted . if that her tongue be like an aspen leafe , her haire vnkembed like a cart-horse taile : her fingers ends like to a threshed sheafe , her gate be like vnto a garden snaile : while winter dust hangs knotted at her saile , and haue a minde to answere euery part , she is a darling for the diuels dart . if she be basely borne , and vilely bred , dogged in nature , sottish in conceite : a camels visage and a beetle head , and holde her nose vp to a steeples height , and yet can scarcely on a trencher waite : though she be nointed with the curriersoyle , she will be counted but a filthie royle . if she make curtzy like maide marian , and weare her linnen neuer so well slickt : and be the flower of all the frying pan , and haue her bosome with a nosegaie stickt : and in her tyre be neuer so betrickt : and shall be married to the bailifes sonne : she shal be but the wench , when all is done . if she can aske , what lacke you gentleman , and with good words make profit of her ware : if she can turne the kirrling in the pan , and knowes both how to spend & how to spare , and how to shift , to make a priuate share : she may doe well , for one of her vocation : but ther 's the top of all her commendation . if shee can flaunt it brauely at her doore , and haue her ruffes , cleere starched and well set , her stomacher beare out a yard before , her motley cheekes with pure vermilion wet , and for a skoffe be found in no mans debt : yet , he that sees her cloath , & knowes the woll , findes her a gugin but to hang a gull. if she can play vpon an instrument , and sing , and turne the white vp of the eye . and tell a tale of wantons merriment , and fleere and flatter , laugh , and looke awry , and make a shewe for very loue to die : yet may her minde be of so vile a making , that scarce her body may be worth the taking . but , if she haue the gift to brawle and skolde , to skowle , and frowne , to lowre , & hang the lip : and be not past a hundreth winters olde , and like a flower , that a frost doth nip : and goes no further than a flea can skippe : how euer wicked wealth hath ouergon her , he needs no other plague that lights vpon her . and , if she knowe not how to make her readie , nor what to weare , nor how to speake , nor looke : but in her humours will be proud and heddy : and neuer reade , but in a golden booke , and will be caught but with the golden hooke : surely , i feare , her golde is all but drosse , and he that buies her , will but liue by losse . and if she be in her conceite so muddy , she hath no minde , but of her home made cloath : or in her wicked humours be so bloudy , she cares not how she fils the diuels froath , nor how she sweare , nor how she coyne an oath : oh such an egge so full of hellish euill , is cuen a morsell fit to feede the diuell . and she that is into a beast transformed , by all the humours of vnhumane nature : and by good counsaile , will not be reformed , but is resolu'd to be a wicked creature ( how euer like a woman be her feature ) who euer hath to doe with her , shall finde she is a woman of a wicked kinde . and shee that credits euery tale she heere 's , and tels her minde to euery idle eare : and euery idle fiddling gossippe cheeres , that can but flatter , prate , and lye , and sweare : and now and then , let fall a fained teare : such a good gossippe with her huswifery , will quickly bring a man to beggery . if she be fowle , ilfauor'd , and worse fac't , wry mouth'd , crooke legd , lame handed , & squint eyde : and euery way so thoroughly disgrac't , as for a monster might be made a bride : whose vgly face doth no ill feature hide : if such a creature may be worth the wooing , woe be to him that hath the deede in dooing . but if she be but breasted like a cowe , neckt like a wilde goose , toothed like a dogge : lipt like a horse , & snowted like a sowe , breath'd like a foxe , and sprited like a logge , and in effect , halfe sister to a hogge : yet thinke her penny is good currant mony , hard is his hap that takes her gall for hony . but if that she can simper like a mare , and like a hobby horse can holde her heade , prate like a parrat , like an owlet stare , and sleepe and snort before she goe to bed , and in her pocket haue a crust of breade , and play the wanton on a wodden bench , who wold not cast his gorge for such a wēch ? but if shee can saie yea , and no forsoothe , and fie , and tushe , and how now , pray away : and blowe her nose , and picke a rotten tooth , and weare her best cloathes on a holiday , and skim the creame pot when her dam's away , and make her spindle twist without a whirle , who would not spend his groat for such a girle ? but if she get the garland on the greene , by truly treading of a morris daunce : or in a wheat cart , as she sits vnseene , vnto her lubber can conuey a glaunce , to bring a poore man in a pittious traunse : who would not daunce vntill he could not stād , that had so sweete a pigeon by the hand . if she be sluttish , pieuish , and vntoward , wilful , and wanton , lazie , curst , and sullen , franticke , and foolish , whincling , and froward , and scarce can make a threed of russet wollen , but must be taught how to put vp her pullen : to haue a wench well followed with such fits , would make a poore man halle beside his wits . if that her eyes be bleer'd , and runne a water , her nose hang dropping all the summer long , her mouth doe slauer , and her teeth doe chatter , her breath be for the swinish nose too strong , and ban , and cursing be her howrely song , with such a beldame who is forc't to dwell , needes in this world to haue no other hell . but , if she doe but loue the nappy ale , and lye a bed vntill eleuen a clocke , and secretly can set her ware to sale , for a redde petticoat or a canuas smocke , diue in a pocket , or can picke a locke , and call her husband rascall , foole , and scab , neuer seeke further for a filthie drabbe . but if she haue a filthy brasen face , that will not blush , what euer weather fall , sweare , and speake baudie , thinke of no disgrace , play with all commers , cogge , and throwe at all , and tosse her kindnesse like a tennis ball : in the true course of vices declaration , she is the nurse of all abhomination . if she can smooth it with a carde of ten , and speake no word , but truely , and indeede , and seeme as though she could abide no men , and had no ioy , but holy bookes to reede , looke like a flower , and be a wicked weede , and for her gaine can play the parasite , she were a fit wife for an hypocrite . if she be neither honest , faire , nor kinde , well fac't , wel bodied , handed , legg'd , nor footed , good hart , good thought , good nature nor good minde : but in the poyson of all rancour rooted , and in the mire vp to the knees be booted : such a strāge monster , fit to match with no mā , i thinke t were pittie should be cald a woman . but , if shee can vse cunning words of art , to make her copper seeme good currant coyne : and weepe , & sweare her loue is from the heart , and with an humour iumpe , and issue ioyne , and finely so can giue a foole the foine : though she her matters carry nere so cleane , she shall be but a conny-catching queane . but , if she be a foole that can not speake , but only blush , and looke the tother way : and will alone into a corner sneake , because , alas , she knowes not what to say , but loues with children , & with fooles to play : such a sweete parnell , if a man were mad , might thinke himselfe halfe happie if he had . but , if she can but picke her fingers ends , and pare her nailes , and wash , & wipe her hands : runne to the faire , be merry with her friends , and tell her mother how the market stands , and picke the sheaues , who euer make the bands : such an odde mawkin were a mistresse fit , to make a rich man with the begger sit . but , if she can both seawe , and knit and spinne , seawe slight , knit false , and spin a rau'led threede , and cunningly can play ioane siluer pinne , with idle humours , how a foole to feede , if such a lesson she can kindly reede , she and a tinker , in a market towne , would helpe to cosen many a silly clowne . but , if she can be quiet , and content , speake faire , make curtsie , feare for to offend : and looke as sober as a iacke of lent , what is amisse , be carefull to amend , and bring distempers to a quiet end : oh such a wench would be a member fit , to cosen twenty thousand with her wit. but , if she haue no patience in her passions , no settled humour , but all in selfe wil , no pleasing fansie , but in proouing fashions , nor for her meale , goe further than the mill , and cares not whether it be good or ill : such a vile baggage , were a purgatory , to sinke a very soule in misery . she that is giuen but to all wickednesse , and loues to liue but all in wantonnesse , and will be led but all by wilfulnesse , and spend her yeares but all in wretchednesse , not caring how to ende in wofulnesse : such a fowle fiend is fit in filthinesse , to match the diuell in his hellishnesse . she that can looke a head , and stroake a beard , and picke a moath , and finely set a ruffe , and make her selfe of euery flie afeard , and seeme to take all idle wordes in snuffe , and weare no cloath but of the purest stuffe , and make her coll a nightcap for the cough , god helpe the man : for she is well enough . she that can haue her breakefast in her bed , and sit at dinner like a maiden bride , and all the morning learne to dresse her head , and after dinner , how her eye to guide , to shewe her selfe to be the childe of pride , god , in his mercy , may do much to saue her : but what a case were he in that should haue her ! she that will ride but on an ambling nagge , and trauell not aboue a mile an howre , will not be pleased but with the golden bagge , and haue her coyne come raining like a showre , and giue an angell for a gilliflowre : that is a wench , that if she had a spring , would make a begger , that were halfe a king. she that can walke the by-lanes and the allies , and make close matches twixt yōg lads & wēches and from the mountaines can suruey the vallies , and lay such ambuscadoes in her trenches , that she will make her profit of her benches : such an odde whiffler swears that shewil thriue , as long as she can finde one man aliue . but if she will be cosened with faire speech , and think all golde that makes a glistring show , and doth mistake a blacke thorne for a beech , because she doth no better timber knowe , if heedelesse will doe feele a helpelesse woe , what saies the wag that got the wēch with child ? had she beene wise , she had not beene beguilde . she that can neither boyle , nor bake , nor brue , nor rarely well conceited for her wit : nor scarcely honest , nor was euer true , but euery way , an idle headed tit , yet thinkes her selfe for a good husband fit : oh , how accursed was that creature borne , that tooke that wench , to dub him with a horn ! but , hoping there is no such kinde of woman , but t was a dreame of some mistaken creatures , that women will be curst , nor false to no man , but of good humours , & of better natures , and haue their fancies fitting to their features , i will describe those gratious womens liues , that make good husbāds happy , in their wiues . she that is faire , and wise , curteous and kinde : patient to beare the crosses of conceite , of nature milde , and of an humble minde , constant in loue , and free from all deceit , and will the time of her content awaite : such a true virgine , to become a wise , will make a man to knowe a happie life . she that is carefull ouer that she hath , painfull in that she wisely vndertaketh , and will not tread out of discretions path , but all fond idle thriftlesse waies forsaketh , that to the least of her dishonour maketh , she , that is knowne to haue this kinde of cariage , will make a man halfe happie in her mariage . she that doth loue to keepe within her house , and to the doore can haue a watchfull eye : she in her heade that will not leaue a louse , nor in her heart a thought to goe awry , from the true course of vertues constancy , and keeps the honor of her husbāds bedding , doth make a man twise happy in her wedding . she that doth goe to church but for deuotion , and feareth god , and loues his word in deede , and in her heart will harbour no ill motion , that may her fancie with corruption feede , and in her garden will abide no weede : she , to that man , that on her vertue staies , giues a prolonging of his happie daies . she that forbeares to talke with euery tit , and will not bend her eare to euery tale , and will employ the spirit of her wit , in keeping passions in true patience pale , and for a nut will not mistake a shale : but shun all sly conceits that may beset her , wil make his life thrice happy that can get her . she that can truely iudge twixt good and ill , and paints her face , but with a maiden blush , and to the best doth euer bend her will , and cramp all thoughts that would true honour crush , and make her soule vnto her minde a brush , and loues entirely , where she takes affection , makes mans life happie in his loues direction . she that is nobly borne , and princely bredde , heauenly enclin'd , and holily disposed , a sarahs spirit , and a indiths head , and haue her comforts in that care enclosed , that haue their rest in vertue all reposed : such an angelicall creature in a wife , might make a king to knowe a happie life . she that doth rather loue to heare than speake , and rather striues to vnderstand than teach , and neuer will the bands of honour breake , nor euer seeke to clime aboue her reach , nor in her thoughts let folly make a breach : such a wise wench , in true wits wealthinesse , will make a man finde his lifes happinesse . shee that will rather a defect amend , then to defend , or any way excuse , nor coine a lie , nor an vntrueth defend , nor from a friend a good aduise refuse , nor the true honour of her loue abuse , nor hath that blame , that worthily may blot her makes the man happy , for a wife hath got her . she that will weare according to her calling , such decent garments as she may maintaine , and will not in her busbands eare be bawling , to feede her humour with an idle vaine , and make his purse beyond his penny straine : such a kinde wench , that so her will doth cary , doth make him happy that doth liue to marry . she that can goe to market for her meate , and not stay twatling there with good wife twat , come home and dresse it , and can kindly eate that which god sendes , and be content with that , and take the leane together with the fat , know when to be a spender , when a sauer , wil make a poore man happy that could haue her . she that doth weare but her owne proper heare , and hath no beautie , but of natures blisse , can not commaund a kinde of fained teare , but when iust cause of hearty sorrowe is , and rich , or poore , will neuer runne amisse : such a true wench , to make a happie wife , would make a man to leade a blessed life . she , that doth beare the eye of modestie , the face of grace , minde of humilitie , the tongue of trueth , the heart of honesty , the parentage of true gentilitie , in the true notes of true nobilitie , in my conceit , would surely prooue a wife , to make a lord , to lead a happie life . she that is full of liberalitie , and to the begger neuer shuts her doore , and loues to keepe good hospitalitie , and hath delight for to relieue the poore , yet hath a care for to enrich her store , doth make a man a very happie creature , that marries with a wench of such a nature . she that doth hate to brabble , brawle and scolde , to sweare , and lie , and talke of robin hood : and will no longer any question holde , then while she wel may make her iudgemēt good to prooue that shee her selfe hath vnderstood : such a rare wench , for a well gouernd wit , wold make him happy that were matcht with it . she that is free from infamies deface , wealthie in lands , her cophers full of golde , her minde of vertue , and her heart of grace , and doth no honour but in vertue holde , that true sweete ladie be she young or olde , will make that man to leade a happie life , that knowes what makes man happy in a wife . shee that is mistresse of her owne affection , and vnto reason hath subdued her will , and will not harken vnto imperfection , to leaue the good to entertaine the ill : in the true rules of my experience skill , i thinke that woman where she is a wife , doth make a man to know a happy life . shee that in wealth and wo , sicknes , and health , is all alike vnto her setled loue , and in the world doth count her chiefest wealth , but in the life but of her turtle doue , and seekes on earth no other heauens to proue : in my conceit , who had her to a wife , had no small means to make a happy life . she that is wholly giuen to godlynesse , and hates to leade the life of wantonnesse , and hath true patience in vnhappinesse , and onely seekes the spirits wealthinesse , in the true weight of honours worthinesse : if that a man were in hearts heauinesse , with such a wife might liue in blessednesse . now , hoping that ( although the birde be rare ) the phoenix in a woman may be found , and doubting not , but many women are of their good husbands happinesse the ground , i wish the wise a womans worth to sound , and deerely loue her for that worthinesse , that makes a man to liue in happinesse . but , if that youth for wealth wil match with age , and witlesse age , will dote on wanton youth , if discontent doe growe to rancors rage , when hollow hearts do hammer with vntruthe , if ruine then be subiect vnto ruthe , what shall i say ? but sobbe for such a woing , where kindnesse hath no cōfort in the doing . make then thy choyce , not all alone by chaunce , let reason guide thine eye , honour thy minde , vertue thy heart , and so thy thought aduance , that wisdomes care may happie comfort finde : that if that fortune fall to be vnkinde , yet heauenly loue , that doth the life reioyce , will make thee happie in a heauenly choyce . if thou canst get thee wealth , then doe not want : but chiefely take good heed thou want not grace . for gratious spirits in the world are skant : and conscience liues in such a pittious case , that faith on earth can hardly shewe her face : and simple loue alas , without some liuing , is like a present hardly worth the giuing . and therefore leauing each one to their lot , to like , to loue , and liue as likes them best , to keepe their choyce , or if it like them not , when as they feele their spirits most opprest , to vse their best discretion for their rest , i wish good husbands all to haue good wiues , and all good louing wenches all good liues . so hoping that the best will be content to know the worst must haue a time to mend : who haue bin ill may haue a good intent , to bring bad humours to a better end , vnto your kindnesse kindly i commend pasquils mad humour , to describe a woman , fit to be lou'd of all , or lik't of no man. finis . ❧ pasqvils description of his mistresse , with a passion vpon the ielousie of her match . my sweete muse beholde a creature , of the world the sweetest feature , garnisht with those inward graces , that adorne the fairest faces : which described in their essence , shew the earth a heauenly presence . haires , no haires , but golden wires , binding life in loues desires : eyes no eyes , but starry glories , reasons states , and honours stories : cheekes enchaining hearts beholding , lippes maintaining loues vnfolding . necke , no necke , but alablaster , natures mistresse , reasons master : breasts , not breasts , but beauties moūtains , of mine●uas milke the fountaines : armes embracing loues deseruing : hands vnlacing loues preseruing . belly , no , but venus bedding , all too faire for vulcans wedding , nauell , not , but natures signet , all the graces grau'n within it : for the secret sweete of reason , careful thoughts must speak no treason . thighes , no thighes , but beauties pillers , made for beauties best welwillers : knees , not knees , but pallaes bending , while diana was commending : legs , no legs , but honours passage , to the life of louers message . feete , no feete , but fauours staying , where no fauours are decaying : toes , not toes , but each a token of more trueth , then may be spoken : that in all , for much perfection , natures draught by loues direction . this faire creature ▪ wonder-woman , scene to few , and knowne to no man , by those heauenly powers created , that haue hellish humours hated , while the angels all were sleeping , fell to cursed creatures keeping . cursed creatures , carnall diuels , hates of good , and grounds of euils , wronging vertue , killing reason , vowing trueth , but working treason : these , oh these , by loues illusion , wrought the course of my confusion . hatefull course in heart concealed : but , by hell to be reuealed : in wich briefely is contained , neuer eased , euer pained : in which cruell cares termented , liues my comfort discontented . pittie weepes to see this wonder , loue and vertue liue asunder , honour sigheth without ceasing to beholde this hell increasing , and the heart of loue is dying , while he heares his darling crying . oh how is the soule agrieued , where no sorrowes are relieued , and where crosses are so many , nor the comforts can be any ! thinke if this be hell mistaken , so of heauenly hopes forsaken . but , oh wicked wretched fre●nzy , that hast so corrupted fancy , helplesse , hopelesse , matchlesse shamelesse , dost thou thinke thou shalt be namelesse ? no : the world shall knowe thine euill : ielouzie , thou art the diuell . this is that same inward treason , that hath so confounded reason : this is that same hellish humour , fils the world so full of rumour : this is it that kils the louer , that he neuer can recouer . this is that same hellish fiende , that was neuer vertues friend : this is that same foolish blindnesse , that confoundeth louers kindnesse : this is it , by proofe of many , neuer yet did good to any . then , on thee , and thy possessor , wilfull follies plaine professor , ( that hast so my mistresse wronged , and her helplesse woes prolonged ) fall the curse of loues confusion , by the death of loues illusion . a description of ielousie . vvithin the hart ther breeds a kind of thought begotten ( as some gesse it ) by the eye : but , i doe rather thinke it to be wrought , by a blinde sight that euer lookes awry , and only feedes but of a lunacy : which being gotten kindly in the head , workes a weake wit , to bring a foole to bed . it thinks it knowes not what , nor how , nor why : but once perswaded , t will not beremooued , cares for no trueth , belieueth euery lye , that hath apparance , though it be not prooued , loues but in feare , and feares it is not loued , frets , chafes , and grieues , and neuer is at rest : because the worst doth euer doubt the best . it workes , and watches , pries , and peeres about , takes counsell , staies ; yet goes on with intent , bringes in one humour , puts another out , and findes out nothing but all discontent , and keepes the spirit still so passion-rent , that in the world , if that there be a hell , aske , but in loue , what ielousie can tell . it would haue more then all it doth possesse , and turnes content vnto a crosse conceite , it brings discretion but into distresse , where feare doth onely but on folly waite , while doubts do only dwell vpon deceite : it doth abuse the wit , distract the minde , and knows not what to seeke , nor how to finde . it doth amaze the eye , enchaunt the eare , and wholie kils the stomackes appetite . with spightfull thoughts it doth the spirit teare , and keepes poore patience in a pitious plight , while darke suspicion makes the day a night : it is , in summe , a very hellish fiende , that neuer yet was loue , nor beauties friend . it is a plague , that nature was ordained , in beauties eie , to wounde the heart of loue , an inward poyson , that hath throughly vain'd the haplesse wit , that workes for wils behoue , to make a iacke dawe of a turtle doue , where best , contentmēts are too much abused , while wilfull follies can not be excused . it is the death of ioy , twixt man and wife , where loue is too much loaden with mistrust : it makes the maide to feare the married life , least firmest faith should fall to be vniust : it beats the braine and grindes the wit to dust , it makes the wise a foole , the wealthie poore , and her that wold kepe house , to ope the dore . oh , t is a childe of an vnhappie choyce , nurst by the milke of an ilfauour'd beast : which neuer suffers reason to reioyce , but keepes the heart within an hornets neast , which nought but venome bring into the breast : it is , in summe , a kinde of secret ill , that neuer yet did good , nor euer will. how it hath handled many a haplesse heart , let them describe it , that do better knowe it : but how it workes the sowles continuall smart , he that is able , let him truely showe it , or seeke by all meanes how he may forgoe it : but for my selfe , i say no more but this , god blesse me from it , and my misteris . and such as will be madde , let them be so . who cannot iudge of good , conceiue it ill . he , that will take a finger for a toe , must either blame his wit , or else his will , that knowes his folly , and will be so still . who will be ledde but onely by illusion , must be content to fall vpon confusion . and thus my friend , what so thou be that readest these fewe inuectiue lines of iealousie ( hoping that thou thy fancie better feedest , then with the aspen leaues of lunacy , whose iuyce giues nothing , but inconstancie ) i wish thy loue more kindly to be borne , or for thy iealous head , a huge great horne . what ? art thou angry ? are thy ribbes so gaid , they cannot bide the chinking of a spurre ? be still a while : and be not so appald : a thousand gownes are surd with cony furre : euery one 's not dead , that hath the murre : loue●s may looke , and laugh , and happ'ly like : but many a one may frowne , that wil not strike . because her eye is faire , shall thine be fowle ? because that she is wise , wilt thou be fond ? because that thee doth smile , must thou needs scoule ? because that she is free , wilt thou be bod ? oh make not to a puddle of a pond : be ple●sd to thinke of euery thing the best . f●r , ielousie is but an idle iest . mistrust doth argue but a misconceit : suspi●ion , s●●ewhat in thy selfe amisse : doubt , but a dreaming only on deceite : feare , but a curse , where neuer fell a blisse , tush , smile , and laugh , em●●ace , and coll & kisse , and thou shalt liue as merry as a cricket , while iealousie shall stand without the wicket . finis . the mothers blessing breton, nicholas, ?- ? approx. kb of xml-encoded text transcribed from -bit group-iv tiff page images. text creation partnership, ann arbor, mi ; oxford (uk) : - (eebo-tcp phase ). a stc estc s this keyboarded and encoded edition of the work described above is co-owned by the institutions providing financial support to the early english books online text creation partnership. this phase i text is available for reuse, according to the terms of creative commons . universal . the text can be copied, modified, distributed and performed, even for 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(eebo-tcp ; phase , no. a ) transcribed from: (early english books online ; image set ) images scanned from microfilm: (early english books, - ; : ) the mothers blessing breton, nicholas, ?- ? [ ] p. by t[homas] c[reede] for iohn smethick, and are to be sold at his shop in s. dunstons churchyard in fleetstreet, printed at london : . dedication signed: nich. breton. in verse. printer's name from stc. signatures: a-e⁴. the first leaf is blank except for signature-mark "a". reproduction of the original in the henry e. huntington library and art gallery. created by converting tcp files to tei p using tcp tei.xsl, tei @ oxford. re-processed by university of nebraska-lincoln and northwestern, with changes to facilitate morpho-syntactic tagging. gap elements of known extent have been transformed into placeholder characters or elements to simplify the filling in of gaps by user contributors. eebo-tcp is a partnership between the universities of michigan and oxford and the publisher proquest to create accurately transcribed and encoded texts based on the image sets published by proquest via their early english books online (eebo) database (http://eebo.chadwyck.com). the general aim 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proofread - judith siefring text and markup reviewed and edited - pfs batch review (qc) and xml conversion the mothers blessing . printed at london by t. c. for iohn smethick , and are to be sold at his shop in s. dunstons churchyard in fleetstreet . . to the spirit of mvch forwardnesse , in the inclination to much goodnesse , in the loue of learning , and the honor of vertue : m. thomas rowe , sonne to the lady bartley of stoke , nich. breton wisheth with continuance of health , a prosperous atchieuement of his vertuous desires . syr , my acquaintance with you hath not beene litle , nor my loue , lesse ; which i wold bee glad to manifest in some better matter thē bare words , and yet , since words well weyed , sometime carry matter of good sence ; in the words which i write , i pray you wey the sence of my good will ; which if it haue not done so well as i wish , beare with it for a litle fault , and it may bee i will mend it with a greater : but leauing complements , let me entreat you , in your kindnesse , to patronage this childe of my best choise , to answere the regard of your good discretion ; in whom , though you finde not that finenesse , that is fitting to phantastike humours , yet it may bee you shall note some such matter of contentment , as may be a little worthy entertainment : the best is this ; there is a carefull mothers blessing to her beloued sonne : the first i know you haue and the second i doubt not you are : who reading what i haue written , and remembring what you haue read , i am assured will please her that loueth you , and loue him that herein hath pleased you : & for that much good that he knoweth in you , will euer loue you : but seeing it were better that i rather do so , then tell you so , i will leaue my hope to a good occasion to manifest the nature of my affection : and so beseeching god to blesse your forwardnesse in all good actions , and to preserue you from all illusions . yours irest at commaund , in what mine owne . nich. breton . to the reader . gentlemen , there are so many idle pamphlets vnder the abused name of poetrie , abroad in the world , that matter of good worth , either morall , or diuine , if it bee handled in verse , it is almost as ill as vertue ; it will not sell almost for any thing : yet amōg a number , of , no matter for thē , i doubt not but there are some wil giue reason his right , and vertue her due ; to such onely i commend this little tract of morall discipline : which though it be handled in single verse , yet if it please you to peruse it , i hope you will not vtterly disdaine it : such as it is , i leaue it to your discreete censures , and kinde corrections ; in which , as you shall shewe the best conditions of dispositions , so shall you giue mee cause with much tha●●lnesse , to present you hereafter with some better substance : but least i promise more then i can performe , i pray you take this in as good part , as if it had bin a matter of more worth : and so wishing you all that beare good mindes , the happy fruites of your best desires : loath to be too tedious , i rest as i finde cause . your friend , n. breton . the mothers blessing . my sonne , my sonne , my best beloued sonne , hear my deare son , what careful charge i leaue thee : take hold of time , the glasse is quickly run , trust not to fortune , for she will deceiue thee : what ere thou art , let not the world perceiue thee . know god , loue him , be gouern'd by his will , and haue no doubt of good , nor feare of ill . weane laizie will , from thriftlesse idlenes : beware the wanton , to abuse thy wit : vnbridled will breeds but vnhappines , how euer sorrowes care would couer it : who buyes repentance must pay deare for it . time , truth , and triall , will in one agree : the fruits of sin , death , shame , and sorrow bee . loue not vpon the first delightfull looke : nor hate , vpon the first conceiued harme : let not the care of conscience be mistooke , and feare the force of the almightie arme : feare not mischance , nor harken to a charme . by graceles meanes , deuise not to enrich thee , and let no worlds vnworthy loue bewitch thee . if that thou serue a thatcher , do him due : but if thou canst , subscribe not to the clowne : lest all too late , thou find'st it all too true , when thou hast thatcht the house , he throw thee downe , but neuer fret , how euer fortune ●rowne . for what the higher powers of heau'n decr●e , there is no asking , why it should so hee . breake not thy word , that well thou maist performe , for words are waide by men of worthy minde : take heed of those , that falshoods do enforme , and strike not ●aile , for euery blast of winde ▪ nor do thy spirit to thy body binde . giue not a misers liberalitie , and feare the fruite of prodigalitie . heare all men speake , but harken to the wise , learne of the learned , and the vertuous loue ▪ and let no pride thy blessed soule surprise , that may discretion from thy minde remoue : humilitie is grac't with god aboue . and courtesie , with honors cariage , twixt loue , and beautie , makes a mariage . be kinde to those , that kindly do deserue , cruell to none , a tyrant is a deuill : haue speciall care , thy health for to preserue , and keep thee from the epicurian euill , loue not the eye that squints , nor lips that dreuill . beware the pander , and the parasite , and do not leaue a faulcon for a kite . giue not thine eare to euery idle tale , and trust no more , then what of needs thou must : set not the secrets of thy heart to sale , for feare , they throw thine honor in the dust , and do not loue the treasure that will rust . make it thy day , but when the sun doth shine , and ioy in soule but in the loue diuine . place not thy learning in a library , yet reede , and marke , remember , and apply : and till thou art a perfect antiquary , stand not too much vpon antiquitie : let vertue note the best nobilitie . be wise in all things , that thou doest intend , a good beginning makes a blessed end . stand not on termes with persons of estate , be truly loyall in thy life and loue : know what belongs vnto a magistrate , who hath his office from the heau●ns aboue : nor make a gaunlet of a hedging gloue . let bountie euer be the fruite of thrift , for borrowing is too neare the beggers shift . looke into nature with discretions eye , and sort thy selfe with vnderstanding spirits● build not thy castle of conceit too high , nor let thy hopes be grounded but on merits , while heedles connies feare the hunters ferits . giue none abuse , nor basely take disgrace , nor loue that minde , that hath a brazen face . a blessed colour is a maiden blush , and setled countenance is a comely sight : stand not too long in beating of a bush : for feare the bird begu●le thee with her ●light , in idle follies , neuer take delight . trauaile , but tolle not , painfull is the pleasure , where lacke of care , in labour hath no measure . if god haue blest thee with an inward good , be ioyfull of his blessing , but not proud : for , be the ph● a 〈◊〉 so 〈◊〉 a blood , nature doth wond● in her worke house shroud the sunne itselfe , sometime is in a cloud . concealed comforts are the kindest sweets , where , loue , and honor , with discretion meets . a boasting tongue is like a heard mans hor●e , which makes a noyse , 〈◊〉 nothing worth the hearing : and bragging 〈◊〉 are no● to be borne , thogh fooles of choise , ●time are worth the chering , yet in the points of wisdoms true appearing ; presumptuous fooles , and 〈◊〉 religious iewes , emong the noble● sort should neuer vse . know how to loue , but know not how to hate t'one halfe a heau'n , the ●other halfe a hell ▪ learne what belongs to 〈◊〉 ▪ and to fate , and trust not all , that idle stories tell : and do not reede , before you learne to spell . but keep thy spirit with that speciall care , that truth may shew thee , where her honors are . offend not god , with 〈◊〉 the faire , in higher 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 fit their 〈◊〉 : and looke 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 in the ●ire , that 〈◊〉 the 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 spirit 〈◊〉 , and let no 〈◊〉 so thy soule perple● , but that 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 all 〈◊〉 remoue , that may be ●full to thy happ●e loue . regard thy followers in a kind , as friends , but 〈◊〉 a difference in th●e eyes affect : 〈◊〉 vse their 〈◊〉 in such carefull kinds , 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 speake of thy respect , and well 〈◊〉 rewards do not neglect . for ●s the hand , that 〈◊〉 the seruice binde , although the spirit 〈◊〉 commaund the minde . 〈◊〉 reason by the rules of grace , and ch● 〈◊〉 , 〈◊〉 in vertues choise : in 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 , dwell not on the base , and let thine 〈◊〉 be pleased in the voyce that sounds the song , that makes the soule 〈◊〉 . a●oyd all substance of the soules annoy ▪ and onely iesus be thy spirits ioy . if honor fall vpon thee 〈◊〉 , note how it comes , and how it may begone : and guide thy 〈◊〉 with such inward 〈◊〉 ▪ thy ground may still be sure to build vpon , but needles 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 studie on . for time is 〈◊〉 to 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 , and brings the 〈◊〉 soule to paradise . follow the warres but in a worthy cause , and court it but for ●bilitie , be not a rebell vnto honors lawes : for t is a maime to true gentilitie , in all the notes of true nobilitie . so vse thy sword in field , at home thy pen , thou maist be both belou'd , and fear'd of men . let not a sha●t , a bowle ▪ a carde , nor die , take vp thy rent a yeare before the day : a parats feather , nor a 〈◊〉 cie , make thee too fast , to throw thy wealth away , lest bad i wist do keepe fooles holly day . esteeme a horse , according to his pace , but loose no wagers on a wilde goos● chase . teare not thy throat with hollowing to hounds , nor ride thy horse to death , to seeke a hawke : spoile not thine eyes with leuelling of grounds , nor barre thine honest neighbour of his walke , but take no pleasure with a foole to talke . but harken to the shepheards what they saine , both of the sun shine , and a showre of raine . feed not too grosse , and drinke not ouer much , the sparing diet is the spirits feast ▪ the pitch and tarre , are daungerous to tuch , and want of reason makes a man a beast : of forced euils euer chuse the least . be warned by a little , from the more , and take heed of an inward breeding sore . wound not the conscience of a wofull hart , nor take delight in doing iniury : but ease the sicke in his consuming smart , and helpe the poore man in his misery : so liue , so die , so liue , and neuer die . relieue thy friend , but not with all thou hast , lest thou be driuen to seeke to him as fast . importune not a prince in any sute , nor do a sutor long delaie his hope : in cause of iustice , be not ouer mute , but in a malice , do no secrets ope : but keepe thy care within discretions scope . smile at the bird , whose bill is ouerlong , but neuer listen to the cuckoes song . loose not thy paines , to teach an owle to speake , nor striue to wash an ethiopian white : make it no tryumph to subdue the weake , but vse thy force , to put the proud to flight , and in renow me , giue euery man his right . begin no more , then so thou mean'st to finish , as of thine honor , may 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 diminish . trauaile to learne diuersitie of natures , but keep at home , the care of thy content : and euer haue respect vnto those creatures , that haue their talents in thy seruice spent : and loue the soule that is to vertue bent . for euer keep this point of noblenes , let no man note thee of vnthankfulnes . depraue not any that do well deserue , no● magnifie an idle headed wit : nor let thy will from wisedomes order swarue , how euer humors disalow of it : manage affection with discretions bit . for time will teach thee in true reasons creature , a foole , is but the weake effect of nature . in princes courts , do neuer presse too fast , nor shrinke a foote from thy desert of fame : and slip no time , for once the humor past , a pleasing fansie may be out of frame : shun all occasions of deserued blame . 〈◊〉 i●●nwares , thou happen to offend , let wit● excuse the care of will commend ▪ 〈◊〉 not too great , for feare of enuies figge ▪ yet ioy in all that vertue may aduaunce : make not thy musique of a country iigge , but leaue the lou● , to tread the moris-daunc● : and keep thy sences from narcissus traunce . and follow not acteon to the wood , for feare diana , do thee little good . studie the lawe , but to maintaine thy state , diuinitie , to keep thy soule in peace : logicke , but only questions to debate , arithmeticke , but knowledge to encrease : how numbers may both multiply and cease . philosophy , to iudge of natures best , and phisicke , but grosse humors to digest . and rethoricke , to speake in tune and sence , musique , but to remoue melancholy : astrology , to know circumference , for architecture , learne geometry , and for thy trauaile , learne cosmography . for recreation , soorne not poetry : but for discourses , study history . to haue a kind of superficiall sight , in hawkes and hounds , and horse , and fowle , & fish : is not amisse , but let thy harts delight be neuer setled in an idle dish , nor shew thy folly in a wanton wish . be silent to thy selfe , what ere thou thinkest , and take good heed , with whō , & where thou drinkest . learne for instruction , reede for exercise ; practise for knowledge , and for gaine remember : in worldly pleasures make no paradise ; know that thou art of christ his church a member , and do not make thine aprill in september . vnto thy god , in youth direct thy waies , and he will blesse thee in thine aged daies . let conscience know the title of a crowne ; yet know withall , there is a king of kings : who hoisteth vp , and headlong tumbleth downe ; and all the world doth couer with his wings , while heau'n and earth but of his glory sings . to whom discharge the loue thou daily owest , and he will blesse th● where so ere thou goest . winke at the world 〈◊〉 though thou saw'st it not , and all earths treasure , but as trash despise : let not thy folly lose ●hat wit hath got , nor lose an art , by lacke of exercise : yet let no labour , honor preiudice . be wisely sparing , but not miserable , and rather die , then be dishonorable . feare not a giant , for his monstrous shape , the diuell cannot goe beyond his bounds : nor learne to play the monkie with an ape , but keep thy selfe within discretions bounds , and keep thee frō the worm the cōscience wounds . thus in thy way , let wisedome euer guide thee ▪ and be assur'd , no euill can betide thee . do not awake the lion in his denne , nor thinke the foxe a foole before you trie him : nor put an eagle in a capons penne , nor trust a wolfe , if that you come too nigh him ; but come not neare him , if you can goe by him . for rauening beasts , haue wonderfull wide lawes , and spoile what euer comes within their clawes . beate not the aire with hammers in thy head , whose dreaming labours , will but dull thy wit : and do not put thy siluer into lead , except thou make a double gaine of it , and euer do that may thine honor fit . know trades & traffique , merchants & their wares , but spend thy spirit in more noble cares . be not condemned for a common louer , i meane , loue maker , to a world of weemen : for care can hardly credit lost recouer , and who are bound , can neuer well be free men : beautie hath cunning in her eyes to see men . for where she leads the heart vnto her eies , she leads it finely to fooles paradies . boast not vpon the brauery of youth , nor sco●ethe weaknesse of decrepit age : but hold this for a principle of truth , death hath a part vpon this worldly stage , where none can scape the furie of his rage : a tragedie , where old and young are slaine , but spight of death , the vertuous liue againe . spend not thy ●res vpon a selfe conceit , in grieuing for that neuer can be had ▪ nor let thy wit an idle will await , vvhere giddi● humors are inclin'd to gad ; and let not melancholy make thee mad . for better shut thine eyes from such a light , then haue thy heart tormented by the sight . spare to discourse vpon experience , and alwaies rather answere then demaund : and let no passion shewe impatience ▪ but make entreatie where thou maist commaund : and neuer be with flatterers ouerfawnd . nor stand too much vpon thine owne opinion , how euer pallas marke thee for her minion . let not a princesse fauour make thee proud , no● g●ue too much vpon a small disgrace : be● 〈◊〉 affection to a filthy dowd , no●●ake an idoll of a painted face : no● loue a colt but of a coursers race . no● vow thy seruice to mistaken saints , vvhose truest tytles are but honors saints . weare not a feather in a showre of raine , nor swagger with a swiser for his swill : put not thy spirit vnto too much paine , in searching secrets farre aboue thy skill : and know a halbert from a hedging bill . and euer note those noble points of nature , that truly make an honorable creature . forbeare thy fury on a suddaine rage , yet in thy right be euer resolute : and let true patience choller so asswage , that honors quarrell may be absolute : lest rashnes too much reason ouershute . for carefull valor in a cause of strife , strengthens the hart , and giues the spirit life . flie machiuile his vile instructions , which are but poysons to a princely minde : and noted well , are but destructions , that do the world with wicked humors blinde : and do the soule to hellish seruice binde . where nothing for gaine must be forbidden , while diuels in the shape of men are hidden . note what is done , by whom , and how , and when , and marke what issue growes of each euent : if by the sword , the purse , or by the pen , and where the honor of the action went : and how to take it for a president . for many things haue many times bene done , that had bene better , nere had bene begun . know all the courses that thou canst attaine , but follow onely that may do thee good : in questions alwaies make thy meaning plaine , obscured thoughts are hardly vnderstood , but let not choller ouerheate thy bloud . so shall thy feare of fortunes force be small ▪ and thou shalt stand when other men do fall ▪ take heed my sonne , thy soule be not deceiued with any straunge , or all too strong illusion : for cares best wit cannot be misconceiued , which sees the force of follies close intrusion , while heedlesse will brings wit vnto confusion . be wise my sonne , in heau'nly wisedomes booke , and thou shalt angle with no diuels hooke . loue not a iester , nor a hackney iade , time is but lost in either of their triall : rather regard the mattocke and the spade , and take the sunne to be thy truest diall : where thou shalt see the foole a knauish spiall . shake off the lowse that hangs vpon thy cloathes , and hate the swearer that is full of oathes . the ru●ian , 〈◊〉 - by , and the rascall flye , but loue the vertuous , valiant , and the kinde ▪ looke towards heauen , and let the world go bye , and make thy body subiect to thy minde : how ere thou winkest , be not wilfull blinde . but looke into the glory of that grace , that makes the faithfull spit in sathans face . confound the diuell with the word of god , looke to thy soule , it is the speciall part : and loue the life that death hath ouer●rod , and to thy sauiour wholly giue thy hart : who saues his seruants from ●fernall smart . and when thy greatest sorrow doth assail● thee , trust in his mercie , that will ●er faile thee . mine owne deare sonne , i am no deepe diuine , but what my god hath taught me , that i teach thee : beseeching him to blesse that soule of thine , that no illusion euer ouerreach thee ; nor wilfull sinne of lacke of grace imp●ach thee . nor faithlesse thought may euer so deface thee , but that his mercie euer will embrace thee . but for my notes of natures obseruation● , by long experience to my paines reuealed ▪ where truths cōstructiōs made those 〈◊〉 ▪ that too much proofe hath for assurance 〈◊〉 ▪ which priuate care hath from the 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 . to thee my sonne , and for thy good i hope , i do this casket of my iewels ope . esteeme them richer then a masse of gold , and part not with them for a world of wealth : for such a treasure is not to be sold , as is both for the soule and bodies health ▪ then leaue them not vnto vnworthy 〈◊〉 ▪ but in thy bosome , locke them as their 〈◊〉 , till good occasion bid thee 〈◊〉 the● 〈◊〉 . and when thou find● 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 minde , and leads thee to the ground 〈◊〉 of thy good : go forward still , and further seeke to finde , how best the substance may be vnderstood ; that after purging breeds the liuely blood . and thou shalt feele such pleasure in thy paine , as idle spirits haue no power to gaine . and ere i grow too fast vnto an end , let me a litle furthermore aduise thee : be carefull in affecting of a friend , least subtill kindnesse cunningly surprise thee : and let thus much for such respect suffice thee . let honour , valour , truth , and wit allure thee , or neuer of a faithfull friend assure thee . for pa●entage affect equalitie , for l●●ing , vertue ioind with eloquence : for bountie , wisedomes liberalitie , for valou● , resolutions patience : for pro● , ●bour with experience . for ho●our , vertues inclination , for spirit , graces inspiration . th● ch●● fri●d , if thou wil● fauour any ; for 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 they that cannot alter nature ▪ but fauo● fewe , for if thou mak'st of many , thou wilt be held a simple witted creature : take heed therefore of a dissembling feature . sound the condition , and approue it ●ound , before thy faith be to thy fauour bound . but if thou find'st a minde of that true worth , that is not matcht in all the brokers shops : whence thou canst draw , that true loues liquor forth , which is not season'd with vnsauery hops : while faiths strong pillars need no vnderprops . all as a phaenix , do esteeme that friend , with whom thy life with thy affection end . but if a smoothing tongue , a fleering face , a capping knee , with double diligence , by close colloging creepe into thy grace , to make an vse of thy magnificence ; know he will but abuse thy patience . away with such , and from thy care discard them , they purchase bur disgrace that regard them . and if he seeke to vndermine thy thought , and go about thee with a bad inuention : and do denie thy due desire in ought that may performe the truth of his intention : or stand on ●ermes in causes of contention ; then do thus much for thy assurance know , a hollow friend is but a hellish foe . and now for knowing of thine enemy , let this suffice for reasons true direction : who doth intrude into thy company , and make a shewe of too too much affection ▪ such nimble wits haue euer in reiection . and by a serpents hisse , and beare-whe●pes eie , mistrust the treason of an enemie . if he perswade thee to disloyall thought , imagine him a villaine in the height ; if that he haue with wanton humors wrought , know that an idoll is the diuels baite : and if he cheat thee with a gaming sleight , in cares discretion leaue his company , and hold him for a cunning enemy . if he importune thee with borrowing , or carelesse liue vpon thy purses spending : or daily put thee off with morrowing , till want do make thee wearie of thy lending , then in the care of better thrif●s commending , shake o● a varlet in his villany , and hold him for an inward enemy . but leauing more of friends , or foes to speake , the one too fewe , the other all too many : so many friends , their friendships daily breake , that fewe are faithfull , if that fewe be any : the sunne so soone , the painted f●e wil● tawny . tha● he that hath the world well ouergone , finde ▪ foes too many , friends , but fewe or none . 〈◊〉 when thou wilt a seruant fitly chuse , haue great regard vnto his qualitie : lest lacke of care , thy kindnes do abuse : allow no counterfeit formalitie ; no prigging theft , nor prodigalitie . no pot companion , nor no prating knaue , not lazie rascall , nor vncomely slaue . 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 ●ggard , nor sheep-biter dogge , 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 , night-walker , nor game player : 〈◊〉 ●ing copes-mate , nor no grunting hogge ; 〈◊〉 ▪ swearer , brabbler , nor way layer : 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 iester , nor soothsayer . no da●ie tooth , nor double diligence ; nor him that hath a world wide conscience . but sober , honest , wittie , thriftie , kinde , good shape , good face , expert , and laborous , good hand , good heart , good spirit , & good minde , discreetly carefull , but not couetous : faithfull and firme , in perfect truths approuing , and think that seruant kindly worth the louing . now if thy sernant vnawares offend , in secret giue him reprehension : but if you see he care not to amend , nor of aduice take better apprehension , mistrust his spirit of some ill intention . away with him , and turne him to disgrace , and seeke to put a better in his place . but last of all , and not the least in charge , i wish thee looke into thy loues consort : for when the heart hath left the eye at large , venus commaunds where cupid scales the fort : as all too many , all too true report . be carefull therefore in thy thoughts affection , that they be gouern'd by a good direction . beautie with vertue , honour ioynd with kindnesse , wit with some wealth , and person without pride : true noblenesse , without ambitious blindnesse , faire haird , straight bodied , sweet countenance , and cleare ●ide ; a spirit where no poison doth abide . where these sweet birds do all in one bush sing , who would not spend his life in such a spring ? but if she be ilfauour'd , blind , and old , a prattle basket , or an idle slut : a sleepie huswife , or a hatefull scold , or such a sparrow as will not keepe cut : spoile not thy teeth with cracking such a nut . for in the world there is no greater hell , then in a house with such a hagge to dwell . or if complexion with condition meete , a croidon sanguine , and a currish nature : a minde that treads good manners vnder feete , a sorrell foretop , and a sowish feature : god blesse thee sonne , from such a wicked creature . and let thee rather leade a single life , then kill thy selfe , to liue with such a wife . learne then to chuse the best , and leaue the worst , and chusing well , make much of such a choise : and thou shalt see while other liue accurst , thy heart and soule shall inwardly reioyce : oh heartie loue is such a heau'nly voyce , as he that know it , or doth kindly heare it , will finde no musicke in the world come neare it . but i will leaue thee to the heau'ns direction , beseeching god of his high heauenly grace ▪ to settle so the care of thy affection , it take no roote in an vnworthy place : but that a virgins eye , and angels face , so make thee ioyfull of thy happie chaine , that fancie bound , would not be free againe ▪ but that this course , and euerie other care , may purchase and continue thy content : and that thy soule may liue , where vertues are , the happie soules eternall ornament : to him that fram'd the highest firmament . thy heart and soule in loue all humbly bow , and to his will , thy seruice truly vow . at morne , at noone , at euening , day , and night , vnto his mercie do confesse thy sin : and begge of him , to cleare thy blinded sight , and teach thy spirit how it may begin to finde the way that gracious loue may win . pray , weepe , and cry , vntill thou hast obtained into his seruice to be entertained . and when thou feel'st the spirit of that grace that rules the heau'ns , come downe into thy hart : and so thy thoughts in order all to place , that vertue do dispose of euery part : when thus thou feelest that thou blessed art , pray for continuance of that comforts blisse , that keepes the soule , it cannot go amisse . and when thou feel'st the loathing of that sinne , that long misled , that mournfull soule of thine : and the true way of grace art entred in , that doth the soule to sacred loue encline , and doth assure thee of the loue diuine , then let thy heart , thy minde , and spirit sing , an halleluiah to thy heauenly king. begin with glory to his maiestie , proceed with glorie to his holy name : coutinue glorie to his deitie , and end with glorie to his worthy fame : and endlesse be the glorie of the same . begin , proceed , continue , end his story , without beginning , neuer ending glory . o highest glory , in the heau'ns aboue , o brightest glory , of theau'ns behoue : o purest glory , before heau'ns to proue , o blessed glory , aboue heau'ns to loue : o louely glory , that all loue doth moue . o gracious glory , that all grace beginneth , o glorious glory , that all glory winneth . thus my deare sonne , sing vnto god thy lord , and sing in tune , that heau'ns may ioy to heare : and let thy tongue , thy heart , and soule accord , to chaunt it out with such a ioy full cheare , that heau'ns may see , thou hold'st their master deare . and thy true faith may in thy spirit proue , the liuing comfort of thy heau'nly loue . but if thou doost not serue thy god aright , and humbly feare his holy maiestie : thy clearest day will turne to darksome night , thy wealth to want , thy wit to vanitie : thine ease to paine , ioy to calamitie . thy sweetest musicke to a mournfull quell , thy life to death , thy hope of heauen to hell . for though a while he suffer thee to thriue , and finde on earth a fayned paradies : yet death will come , who quickly will depriue , thy sences of the pleasures of thine eies : wherein th' illusion of thy spirit lies . and thou wilt be within thy soule so torne , as thou wouldst wish , thou neuer hadst bin borne . a world of woes will ouerwhelme thy heart , and fearefull dreames affright thee in the night : a thousand torments will encrease thy smart ; and dreadfull visions will thy soule affright : thou shalt be bard from the eternall light . and in the darknesse , where all horrors dwell , thy soule shall burne in euerlasting hell . where thou shalt see the mizer-minded-dogge , frie in the furnace of his molten gold ▪ the glutton monster , and the drunken hogge , gnawing their bones , with hunger , thirst , and cold : the murtherer in paines not to be told . the leacher so bedight in beastlinesse , as kills his soule to see his filthinesse . the tyrant tortur'd with those vgly spirits , that fed his humour with the thirst of blood : the traitor follow'd with those hungry ferits , that onely fed vpon the poysned food of damned soules , that neuer did man good . the theefe tormented with the shamelesse lyer , the swearers mouth , all in a flame of fyer . the pander and the wicked parasite , shall sup the broath of hellish beastlinesse : the heretike in wilfull ouersight , shall feed vpon the froth of foolishnesse : boyld in the fire of all vnfaithfulnesse . the atheist so shall feele gods vengeance on him , that all the plagues of hell shall fall vpon him . the vniust iudge , at least if there be any , the bribing client of ill conscience : the periur'd witnesse whereof are too many , the plotting pate of sinfull pestilence ; the wrothfull spirit of impatience : all these shall iustly all their torments beare , but god blesse thee from seeing of them there . but if thou rightly serue thy lord and god , and day and houre do sue to him for grace : when faithfull truth this world hath ouertrod , thy soule shall flye vnto afairer place ; where thou shalt see thy sauiour in the face ; and in that face , that euerlasting blis , in which the brightnesse of all glory is . there shalt thou see frō hie the day-light springing , which darksome night hath neuer power to shade : there shalt thou heare the saints & angels singing , and all their ditties to his glory made ; there shalt thou feele the ioyes that neuer fade . there shall thy soule more perfect ioyes possesse , then tongue , or heart , or spirit , can expresse . there shalt thou see the bounteous richly crowned , the gratious prince in angels armes embraced : the vertuous souldiers with the saints renowmed ; the iudge of iustice , in high honor placed : the faithfull witnes , in truthes fauour graced . the virgins singing , in the angels quier , how patient hopes vnto their heau'n aspire . there shalt thou feele the blessed ioy of peace , wherein the life of holy loue doth rest : there shalt thou heare the musicke neuer cease , where angels voyces euer are adrest , in their best tunes to sound his glory best , where euery one a blessed part doth beare , god blesse thee sonne , to set them euer there . amen . finis . characters and essayes, by alexander garden characters upon essaies morall, and divine breton, nicholas, ?- ? approx. kb of xml-encoded text transcribed from -bit group-iv tiff page images. text creation partnership, ann arbor, mi ; oxford (uk) : - (eebo-tcp phase ). a stc estc s this keyboarded and encoded edition of the work described above is co-owned by the institutions providing financial support to the early english books online text creation partnership. this 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(eebo-tcp ; phase , no. a ) transcribed from: (early english books online ; image set ) images scanned from microfilm: (early english books, - ; : ) characters and essayes, by alexander garden characters upon essaies morall, and divine breton, nicholas, ?- ? garden, alexander, ?- ? , [ ] p. printed by edward raban, printer to the citie and both colledges, aberdene : . a verse version of: breton, nicholas. characters upon essaies morall, and divine. the last leaf is blank. reproduction of the original in the british library. created by converting tcp files to tei p using tcp tei.xsl, tei @ oxford. re-processed by university of nebraska-lincoln and northwestern, with changes to facilitate morpho-syntactic tagging. gap elements of known extent have been transformed into placeholder characters or elements to simplify the filling in of gaps by user contributors. eebo-tcp is a partnership between the universities of michigan and oxford and the publisher proquest to create accurately 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text creation partnership web site . eng - tcp assigned for keying and markup - apex covantage keyed and coded from proquest page images - jonathan blaney sampled and proofread - jonathan blaney text and markup reviewed and edited - pfs batch review (qc) and xml conversion characters and essayes , by alexander garden . aberdene , printed by edward raban , printer to the citie and both colledges . . to the trvely honored , and worthily worshipfull , sir alexander gordon , knight-baronet of clunie , &c. when these characters curt , and short essayes , right worshipfull , vnworthie of your view , at some successiue hours , on ydle dayes , my pen , for pinsell ; coale , for colours , drew , i stood , and studi'd , whose praeponed name ▪ should dye in graine , and luster lend to them ▪ my wits conven'd , and in my braine combynd , the free and friendlie favours that i fand , with th'ever-courteous countenance and kynd , that i haue alwayes at your honours hand ; advise mee onlie , that your worship shall giue luster , life , dye , and adorne them all . deigne then t' accept them with that wonted grace , smoothe front , and face , that i did ever find : which perfectlie doth point out , and expresse the gen'rose sprite , the wise and worthie mind , which doth before the worke , and work-mans skill , in given-gifts , regard the givers will. your worships ever devoted , alexander garden . to the reader . en●… i and tenderlie entreat , if you haue teasure , and th'effayres not great , to take some tyme , and to survey this table : vvhich well perused , shall prooue profitable . vvhere thou thy selfe in some of these shalt see portrayd , if eyther good or bad tho●… bee . if good , insist , and make a progresse still : and if perverse , pray , and repent thine ill . but i would wish , that thou thy selse find foorth , amongst the best and worthie for thy worth . disdaine not then , nor loathe thou for to looke vpon the tenor of this tabled booke . nor scorne thy misses mongst these maps to marke , albeit they bee not cut in curious vvorke : as these , apelle●… ●…o ●…he lyfe had limm'd or hondius hand had them attyrd and trimm'd , yet sagely searched thou in these shalt see , the not to please , yet what may profit thee . even as justly you merit so al garden inherit . characters and essayes . a worthie king. a worthie king , of god omnipotent , is in the nature of governament , the verie figure and the image : then hee is the chiefe and quintescence of men. the champion of the church next god is hee , and the protector of the policie . the lator of the lawes and of the same the strength and force , of those that hee doth frame . the sword of iustice is the king to kill , and mercies scepter too , when ere hee will. the glasse of grace , the eye of honour , and the blessing of the lord vnto his land. lyfe vnto loyaltie , to treason terrour , to reason rule , and arbiter to errour : his power soveraigne is , and his command , most absolute , and vncontroll'd must stand . his frowne is death , keene as a killing knife , and in the favour of his looke , is life . hee is a pilote , and his bounds the barge : and all his subjects therein , are his charge . their peace , his pleasure , q●…etnesse his care , and their kinde loue , doth his content declare . hee hath no paralele , since in degree none is , nor with him in aequalitie . his royall crownes prae●…ogatiue ●…one ever can from his sole sov'ra●…gnitie dissever : hee is th' anointed of the lord , and such none should therefore presume ●…t attempt to touch . hee of a bodie is the he●…d , heerefore as sacred should vnwrong'd reigne evermore . hee is the scourge of sinne , the rod of vice , and rateth vertue at the highest price . god his vice-roy , hee 's o're his people supreme , and vnder him whole governour to them . his safetie must bee all his counsels care : his health and honour , all his peoples prayer . his pleasure must bee pleasant to his peeres , and his content his kingdomes glads and cheares . his presence must with reverence be respected , his person strongl ' attended and protected . his court must bee adorned and decor'd , and still his state must b'intertain'd and stor'd . none must presumpt'ouslie pry in , nor pea●…so into his bosome , nor his secrets search . his will none should with-stand , nor it retard when hee directs , but do 't with great regard . since hee 's ( tho not a god ) more than a man. and next to god for to bee honour'd than . a wall of iasper , and an house of golde hee is , that doth an heavenlie treasure holde : whose strong foundations are of precious stone , that gates and entresse bot of pearle haue none . and all is precious passing ev'rie thing , into a godlie , wise , and worthie king . an vnworthie king. . a wicked , vitious , and vnworthie king , th' vsurper is of power in governing : where tyr no●…s rule into authoritie , losseth the glorie of true majestie . while dread and feare of terrour frighteth hence , in subjects hearts , loue from obedience : for when the lyon wolfe lyke liues , the lambe murdred but mercie , dyeth with the dambe . hee is a piece , of too much pow'r and worth , to ryot , and to lavish furie foorth ▪ hee is the scourge of sinne , altho the same shall bee for sinne , cast in the fierie flame . hee th' actor is , clad with the cloake of law , that all good acts , and order doth orethraw . hee fautor is , and father of th' offence whereat hee winkes , or doth therewith dispence . his reason in the acting of his furie hee in the bellie of his will , doth burie . and in his temper best , and calmest case , hee 's desperate , and in a doubt of grace . his people and kingdomes hee destroyes and wastes , and all but care , to ruine helpes , and hastes . himselfe a prey to 's followers , and foes , hee makes : and all in ende to ruine goes . himselfes a ●…ortor to his loathsome lyfe , and feares , each keepes to cut his throat , a knife . hee scorneth god , and is to him a traytor , and makes a god , and idole bot of nature . hee vseth reason bot to ruine sense , and speaketh faire vpon a foule pretence . his will , his wit , it violen●…lie carries , while death , and wrong , together mixt , it marries , and jugulates , ●…ot with injustice hand , to bib their blood the best men of the land. vnlimitable his lust is , and desires , and to worke tragicke vengeance never tyres . inevitable is his envie and spight , hatcht in his hollow heart , both day and night . that should bee best of men , the worst of things , are tyrannous and cruell bloodie kings . his blood-swolne eyes , darts ire ; his banefull breath , breathes with the basiliske vntimous death . the hand of him is the vnrighteous rod , that smites the godly , in the spight of god. the tyrants heart , it is a court of evill , the dwelling and divano of the devill . his feete as th' eagle flies , and spurs the post , to execute his mall inventions most . his heaven his pleasure is , his god , his gold ; his face aff●…ights , and 's horrid to beholde . the exercise that hee delighteth in it only is , iniquitie , and sinne. his words are wicked , and vncomfortable , and all his actions are intollerable . in summe , hee hatefull ●…s , and inhumane , the curse of crowns , of royall state the staine . the clogg of court , and all the counsels crosse. a publicke plague , and all the kingdomes losse . a worthie queene . . a godly queene , a gift , is good , and great , vnto the king , the countrey , crowne , and state : shee is th' vmpeered mistresse , by her merit , and grace of all her sexe in royall spirit : shee is the chiefe of women , and the chose , lyke to the moone , amongst the starres shee shoes : and in her spheare of brightnesse giues none place , bot to the king , her sunne , in anie case . shee is his diamond , that 's never dimbe , bot clearely shynes , to all the worlde and him. shee is that rich , and precious pearle , that hee vnprisable esteemeth in his eye . the ioy of courts , and comfort of the king , from whence content , all peace , and pleasure spring . shee th' orbe is where , his loving motions moue , in the effects , reciproake of their loue. shee 's wisdomes fairest loue , shee 's vertues grace : in naturs first , and honours highest place . shee is the hand-mayde of the lord most hie . and th' other halfe vnto the king must bee . last , by her worthie carriage shee gaines to bee the kingdoms beautie , where shee reigns . a worthie prince . . a worthie prince , hee is ●…h ' extreame , the scope , the altitude , and kingdomes highest hope . the richest iewell , reckned of renowne ▪ that kings can haue 〈◊〉 in their crowne : and is the fairest ●…lowre , for to bee seene , that growes into the garden of the queene . hee is the ●…ym'd ●…t-object of the eye of all the kingdome , in his infancie : hee ●…s the m●…rrow of the mothers care , a loving sy●…es solisitude , much m●…ire . hee is the theame the counsell oft thinks on , in the succession of the royall throne . hee is the loue , delight ▪ and ioy of all , this great incorporation generall . hee 's natures master-piece , and ●…oue no lesse , of wisdome , in the lyfe of worthinesse . hee is a massie-precious ivor boxe , full of rubies , of the richest rockes : attending tyme , to emptie and vnlose . such deare and daintie wares as 't doth inclose . these are the royall deeds , that hee shall doe , in his succeeding lyfe , and raigne into . hee prickes in 's wisdome , expectations sprite , and layes ambitions heart before his fee●…e ▪ and by his vertue wins , and valour both , the noblers loue , and in their bosome go'th , his bountie strongly binds , and not constraint , the service of the most sufficient . hee is the chrystall glasse , where nature may the quintescence of all her arte display . he th' index is , and reasons booke indeede , wherein true vertue may her honour reade ▪ hee is the morning-starre , that blazeth bright , and doeth from the sunne receiue its light . hee is the first wisht fruite that doth aryse from the blest tree , of th' earthly paradise . hee is the subject of the most import , and studie of the best , and wisest sort ▪ vnto the learned , and the sharpest wit , hee is a matter admirable to it . last , hee is wisdomes sonne , and honours hight ; vertues choyse , and valou●…s working spright . an vnworthie prince . . a prince corrupt , hee is the kingdomes feare , and the precursor of corruption there : a pest to the peace , and rest of the realme , and the concusior of the common calme . a precedent that bad example giues , and much mischiefe , and wickednesse contriues . a naughtie ductor , that great numbers drawes vnto contempt , and to the breach of lawes , when will and power , pryde in furie horse , to act ambitions bad designes perforce . hee 's lyke a dreadfull dreame to one that 's vext , and in the sprite much troubled , and perplext . h'affrights , and most into his humours then , the very mindes and hearts of prudent men , and for too much delight in vanities , hee ( carelesse ) quites the loue of all the wise : and with th'advise of grosse and giddie heads , his actions all imprudently proceeds . hee 's lyke a little mist , before the sunne his carriere and dayly course beginne : which aye the more , and greater that it growes , lesse good it doth , and operation showes . hee is the griefe of the king , the queenes sorrow , and the crosse of the court , both even and morrow . the curse of crownes , the seede of vnhappinesse , and the vngracious fruite of vngodlinesse ▪ the canker hee 's that kingdomes cleane consumes , and treasure boxes empties all , and toomes . his countrey last , it may with care him call an vndigesting bolle of bitter gall. a worthie counseller . . a worthie counseller into a land , supporting it , doth lyke a pillar stand : and from th'anoynted one , that reigneth there , his is the greatest , and the chiefest care . the paines of his person , pa●…sing of his sprite , into the state effaires ▪ are infinite . hee is a guarde . watch tower and sentinell , the enemies approach t'a●…end and tell . hee 's a provisor , to provide in straites ▪ the weale and preservation of the states . an oracle hee●…s in th●… princes eare , and in his fist him as a brand doth bear●… . an equall weight , in iustice ballance hee , and light of g●…ace , in loue of trueth , must bee ▪ in the carriage and the course of the law , as a cleare rayd eye , himselfe hee doth shaw , and in his fervor , in playing of his part ▪ in 's soveraigne service , beholde , hee is an hart. a minde of honour , a braine of inventions , for his countreyes good , are all his intentions . his place is powerfull , and his arme is strong , while his service is faythfull , and doth no wrong ▪ his honours , his place , and calling doth claime , due by desert , and competent to them . hee , a planet is , plac'd in the firmament , of the politicke heav'n of government . which through the cloudie , grosse , and thickest aire , the nature of his light doth kythe , declare . in summe , and last , such a one is hee , that never can bee spar'd in policie . an vnworthie counseller . . a publicke poyson , and pernitious thing , and hurtfull harme , to the crowne of a king , is a corrupted counseller , and evill , the sonne of shame , and suppost of the devill . the danger of the state , and oft the fail , when iudgement wants , or weaknesse wryeth all the eares of the king , hee doth enchant , and charme . and doeth so , the whole ▪ republicke harme . false in effect , tho most faire in his word , and in th'advise of tyrannie , a sword pridefull , and pe●…lious , his power still , and partiall proues his voting , with his will. his heart is hollow , for his owne behoue , in protestation of a feigned loue . hypocrisie the cloake hee carries on , his colde and counter●…et religion . trayterous invents , the onlie agents are , that sti●…re in him , a bolde ambition dare . hee 's ly●…e a cloudie and a threatning storme , that seemes to haue a nat'rall cause and forme : when that it raines , dissolues , and foorth doth fall , it striketh dead , and ofttimes drowneth all . disloyall to his lord , ingrate to god , to both vnworthie , and of vertue voyde . hee is no person proper for his place , but doth the grandour of that rowne disgrace . vnworthie alwayes , and therefore , vnfit for to looke once , on majesti●… from it . a worthie noble-man . . hee 's a true noble , that is noblie borne , whose gracefull vertue doth descent adorne . nobilitie consistes not aye in blood , but in a personall , and practicke good. when as the noble-borne , by actiue worth , decores , and crownes , and beautifies his birth . hee noble is , that nev'r to vertue , wealth , nor to his honour , doth preferre his health . for countrey , king , and for the christian fayth , hee 's truely noble , that doth disdaine the death . and never doth regarde ( for loue of these , ) his hazards , paines , his losse , his gaine , nor ease ▪ and hee is noble the noblest nobles among . that will not doe , nor will receiue , a wrong . hee is compleatlie noble , in everie case , whose nature is nobilitate with grace . and hee is noble , that prudentlie , and wyse , doth hugg humilitie , and pryde despyse . graue wisdome justlie doth most noble esteeme , the temperatelie iust , and magnaneim . a verie noble , a king , a prince , or earle , in natures shop , is lyke a polisht pearle : whose reasonable soule is rapt aboue terrestr'all trash , with hopefull holy lone . hee 's wholly noble , into his heart that hath strong holding hope , true loue , and living fayth . hee 's meerly noble , whose sprite aspiring springs , nev'r blinking backe ▪ to baggage basest things . hee is the heart of hospitalitie , bounties lyfe , and nurse of charitie . hee 's learnings loue , necessities reliefe , valours fame , and wisdomes constant cliefe . the falcon hee 's , that on no carrion feeds , and th' eagle that after no spider speeds . hee is the dolphin true , that feares no whale , and never will for terrour turne his taile hee is in reasons heaven , a stately starre , and chosen sainct in vertues kalendar . hee 's in the royall round and hemispheare , a sure and setled cynosura there . hee 's rector in reasons philosophie , load-starre of light , in loues astronomie . in honours court , hee hath the marshals place , and 's royall gallant into greatest grace . in briefe , hee is the beaut ' of his abode , belov'd of men , and gracious vnto god. an ignoble-man . . th' ignoble are , that bee in noble roomes , putrid within , without faire painted toombes , lyke th'apple of sodome , that is ash within , altho it haue a gold-lyke glancing skin . it is to reason an exceeding gr●…fe , when glories styles , and honours tytles chiefe , birth , fortune , fate ▪ or chance , doth put or place , in , and vpon the subjects of disgrace . base , naught●…esse , and th' ignoble mynds of them , nobilitie , doth falsif ' , and defame . when the follie of will , and want of wit , for vert ' advancing , frames nature vnfit . th' ignoble are bulks and bodies of basenesse , the verie mynde , and spirit of grossnesse . into his indevours and disposition of right generation , hee 's in suspition . wisdome never knew , and vertue nev'r bred him , learning nev'r taught , nor honour nev'r led him . to waste and consume , his course and inclination , without respect , to his place , or reputation . vanitie and wrong , are the whytes of the but , where-at the ignoble doe ayme , and doe shoot . wastrie and avarice , tho both b'extreame , are dearest , desir'de , delightsome to them. th' ignoble are the sorrow and the shame of kinsmen , parents , pedegree , and name . the staine of their title , the plague of their place , wracke of their house , and ruine of their race . a worthie bishop . . all worthie bishops , ambass'dours they are , to plot , and preach peace , in the midst of warre : from th' almightie to miserable man , most worthily worthy these worthies are than . they make th'attonoment ▪ take vp the trews , from th heaven , to th' earth , they bring the best newes . where mercies patience , doth practise , and prease , nature cor●…upted , to call vnto grace . they are the sweet sounding trumpets of loue , that fighters of fayth , to fight it out moue . and heralds of wrath , that thunder-lyke threates , for sinfull trespasses , all manner of states . praying , imploring , with folded vp hands , before the holiest , humblie hee stands . charie of their charge , and war'lie they watch , from forcing their flockes , and stands in the breach . th' are pastors comple●…t , that none can reproue , full of a faythfull , and fatherly loue. yet dreadfull , and deadlie denuncers of woe , to sinfull secure , in their sermons they show . these vigilant , wyse , and worthie divines , are sunnes to our soules , but setting that shines . in the night of nature , before vs they pace , to leade vs to goshen , to light vs with grace . hee 's vnreprooueable , whole of his lyfe , the houseband and head , of an only wyfe . hee 's prudentlie prompe ▪ and apt for to preach , to confirme , confute , instruct , and to teach . hee 's harbrous , hee is helpfull , hee is holie , to wisdome woo'd , to vertue wedded wholie . hee doth direct , by his workes and his word ▪ and squares his lyfe , by the law of the lord . hee 's a physician , and vseth ( therefore , for the loue of the soule ) to search everie sore : lansing what leprose , or festred hee finds , and so he remeads the mallad ' of minds . searing some-times , and corrosiues in cure , hee vseth for putrids , till they bee pure . hee is fore-pacer , in the path-gate to grace , and worthie of honour , respect of his place . for preaching of lyfe , hee 's worthie of loue ; and hee for his paines prayse-worthie doth proue . an vnworthie bishop . . a bastard that the ephod doth abuse , and is of faythfull pastors the refuse ; hee 's th'out-cast , the scroofe , the scumme , & the shame , yea , th'ignommie , of a worthie name . a dog that is dumbe ; a drudge , and a drone , vnworthie the charge hee is chosen one . when sparing of paines , of knowledge misuse , vnfaythfull effects , but profit , produce . idolatrous seeds hee seminates , so sowes in the soule , a furie ▪ and a foe . vnhappie , for lorne , and light-lesse the sheepe , that bishops so bad , haue credite to keepe . when these they shall , for wanting food bee found to perish , pastring in a barren ground hee breeds a warre , distrust , and diffidence . into the wittes of all his audience . good pastors aye , hee preasseth to supplant , a devill indeede , and bot in show a sainct ▪ hee makes religion bot a cloake of sinne , that covertly hee walks , and walloweth in . and with a feign'd humilitie doth hyde , a passing and imcomparable pryde . his flesh doth fret , and all his bones doe itch , to raze the poore , and for to rob the rich. ev'n wise-mens eyes , hee leades , blind-folded foorth , bot with conceit of his imagin'd worth. and drawes their thoughts to call accompt , esteeme ( tho hee bee not ) him such as hee doth seeme . hee lookes lyke a lambe , hee liues lyke a foxe , and cruellie , craftie , kils all his flocks . hee is the person of hypocrisie , th'vnpure spirit and heart of heresie . griefe to the good , to the faythfull a foe , crosse to the church , and to the world a woe . a worthie iudge . . the worthie iudge , doth well his calling knaw , and is the grace and glorie of the law. hi stomacke is a treasurie of trueth ▪ and pondereth all , with reasons scalls of rueth . hee is indeede a doome , whose blast of breath , on breach of the law , is dreadfull as death . where criminall faul●…s must cleanly bee cut , and from the peace of the publict-weale put . a worthie iudge , is a sword in the hand , ( to kill or conserue ) of the lord of the land. in the countreyes cause hee ev'r hath an eye , that doth the weale of the common-wealth see . his studie and paines , ( proportion to keepe ) bereaues him of rest , and of his sound sleepe : betwixt commanding and obedience , to keepe the crowne on the head of the prince . and safelie and sure , of the subject al 's , to hold on the head , vnhewne from the hals . the worthie iudge , is feared bot of fooles , curst bot of knaues , and hated bot of snools . hee 's honour'd of wise , of prudent approv'd , gratefull to the good , of the godly belov'd . hee judges all right , revenges all wrong , and doing these both , hee 's steadfast and strong . his word is the law , his power is grace ; his merit , honour ; and his labour , peace . an vnworthie iudge . is ivstice griefe , in judging when hee erres , and partiallie , the wrong , to right preferres : and when through ignorance , wrath , or envy , th'innocents life , vpon his lip doth ly . his handes are full of brybes , defyl'd with blood , the guiltlesse gore , it fatts him most of food . his heart is full of hypocriticke hate , his tongue of treason , vntrueth , and deceit . his face is feign'd , and smooth as smoothest oyle , politickly , more to oppresse and spoyle . hee is a man more morall , than divynd , iudicious more , than to bee just enclynd . his mercie mercinarie is , and solde , his kyndest countenance , vncoft , is colde . his lips doe lavish , legendes of the lawes , yet giues colde comfort , to the poore mans cause . the weightie angell doth over-weigh his grace , and turnes him devill on his tribunall place . altho the liverie of the law , hee weares , his processe all vnlawfull led appeares . his holinesse , is superficiall , and seemeth to bee so , and that is all . into the preached word , hee hath no pleasure , and for the worlde , to heare it , hath no leasure . his appetites , as they his mynde doe moue , is the religion , that hee best doth loue . his goods , they are his glorie , and his gaine , and hee impure , doth bot his place profane , while iustice sacred seat , hee makes to bee , by his abuse , nought bot a boucherie . a worthie knight . . a worthie knight , is hee that doth inherit , the proper vertues of a perfect sperit : whom power can not appall , nor crosse foot chance , oppos'd ▪ depresse , nor prosprous veles , advance . true worthinesse is eminent in him , that sa●…elie in most dangerous deeps can swim . hee is a magnanime and worthie knight , into the worlds vp-roars that walks vpright : and not with fortunes change , nor griefe of minde , confounded , nor perplext in sprite wee find . hee worthie is , that wis●…lie giues his word , and keepes it too , th'vnsheathing of his sword , and not with light escapes , or bastard bracks , as some snuffe pepper , soone exceptions takes . hee worthie is , that bitter things can beare , and ov'r his stresses patience tropheas reare . true magnanimitie , his sword , and horse , convoy , and hewes , his passages perforce . and th'onlie paradise , into his eye , are fields defeat . tryumphs , and victorie . to pardon the submissiue , and distrest relieue , his glorie is , and conquest best . hee will bee free from everie blott and blame , that may imply dishonour to his name . his pardon granting , to his prostrate foes , most rich and famous him , in mercie shoes . hee 's voyde of spight , and not with hate defylde , in spirit stout , and in his nature mylde . hee is not one , with loue and hate , that 's mixt , nor wavers , as one fast , and loose betwixt . bot hee is constant , true , and bellicall , heroick like , and honorable with all . bot worthie knights , note this , in number are , in vnities , and now , bee singulare . and like th' arabian bird , doth bot abound , for they with vs , as there , these fowls are found . an vnworthie knight . . the foule refuse , and the defect of nature , to fortitude , and honour true , a traytor . when to advance , his valour it occurs , his blade is blunt , and hee wants ravell'd spurres . a cypher in court , a sheepe in the campe ▪ yet lyke tytides in the streetes will stampe . hee is amongst men , lyke owles amongst birds , shaming the sword , to his side that hee girds . hee counts for no promise , nor honour , nor fayth ( gaine once hee his point ) that hee plighted hath . a friend , or a foe , hee finely can faine , grace thee even now , and gloome on thee againe . hee 's worshipt for his wealth , not for his wit , neyther was valour the worker of it . where courage for honour doth enterpryse , th'vnworthie knight lyke to a lubbard lyes . when magnanimitie with courage strong , through perill passes to repare a wrong . hee faintly feares , and couragelesse hee quakes , and to heare these attempts such terrour takes , that all his sprites , they post from him apace , and lead-lyke , liue-lesse , hee lookes in the face . hee is the chylde of pryde , that doth despise , the truelie worthie , that through vertue ryse . hee 's follies fav'rite , full of ostentation , and onlie mightie in imagination . in honours court , yet there bee no such apes , knights bot in cloathes , and cavelliers in shapes . vnto the mould whereon they moue , bot masses , and god forbid our countrey breed such asses . a worthie gentleman , . hee is a bearing branch of honours tree . and gentle germen of genuitie . whose fruites for to be ▪ vertues actions fall , as pleasing to the eye of iudgement all . as truely rellishing and smelling sweet , vnto the soule , and vnderstanding sprite . the de●…ds and actions fitting him to doe , hee is not forc'd , nor is compeld there-to : except they bee things naughtie , ill , and bad , where-to in heart hee nere intention had : bot eyther doth vnwittinglie such acts , or forc'd vnwillinglie vnto those facts . most effable , and in his nature kynde and flexible , yet with a genrose mynde . in his alleadgeance is , and loue most loyall , vnto th' authoritie , and power royall . religious , hot , and fyrie in his zeale , most kyndlie carefull for the common-weale : and what is his , hee heedfullie regards , and bount'fullie bestoweth his rewards . hee 's confident , resolved , and enteare , from foeminine , from base , and bairnlie feare . hee 's not compos'd , nor come of cur●…ish kynd , bot cast in vertues mould , pure , polisht , fyn'd . and by the sprite of wisdome , drest and squar'd , in honours house , for to bee plac'd , prepar'd . hee in apparell doth more comelie goe , than costlie , for a pharasaicke sho more healthsome is his fare , and daylie dyet , than exceffiue , profuse , and given to ryot . hee exercise , for pleasure , more do●…h loue , than that the same should to him painfull proue . his studies all , are for instruction more , than ostentation , pryde , or worldlie glore . his i oues not wanton , no , nor f●…itting are , bot faythfull , vertuous , chaste , and regulare . hee is no niggard , no , nor prodigall , but treades the temprates steps , the best of all . his carriage is not carledge , nor austere , nor apishly doth hee his bodie beare . his pedegree , descent , and gentle blood , by courteous carriage hee doth make them good . and by the vertuous course , and lyfe hee liues , h'example good , to his succession giues . an vnworthie gentleman . is the derision and the scoffe of wit , true honours scorne , and the ydle ape of it . where wealth much more than worth and wit wee see , is vainly worshipt with simplicitie . hee 's one of vices varlets , that delights in vanities excessiue dayes and nights . and one that all doth prodigallie spend imprudently , but eyeing ev'r the ende . and ydlie more on worthlesse workes and vaine doth waste , than would a temprate state maintaine : or well husbanded , or managed , might attaine to honour , in the vertuous sight . all his delight 's in vice and vanities , his cogitations ydle , and inanities . his heart is hollow , hardned , and vnholy , his exercise , is fecklesse , frivole , folly . his pleasures imp'ous are , and all prophane , his studies such as yeelde no grace , nor gaine , his conversation , bairnly is , and base , degenrate from a iennet , to an asse . his rayment and apparell out of forme , his dyets are inordinare , enorme . out of all square , his carriage is almaist , and none his companie at all requeast . since buzzard-lyke hee 's with a falcons bell , or lyke a iade , spread with a golden pell . a worthie lawyer . in vertue conscience , grace , and iudgements grouth , hee is the indagator of the trueth : hee painfully pleas , doth practise , and preasse , to bring them into conclusions of peace . the time hee divides in vses to knaw , from ignorance , the knowledge of the law. obscurities , h'vnlockes and open layes , and truely th'orator pleading hee playes . with emptie hands , a pittying sprite , and pure , in conscience court , hee patrones aye the poore . in resolutions , and responses plaine , and quicke in giving , but all greede of gaine . a corryphaevs in his clients cases , and still the best , and not the bad , imbraces . hee doth not loue to holde a client long , nor will defende what well he viewes is wrong . the case , and not the client , hee respects . and not what 's wrong , but verities protects , his labours are to make his calling bee , ( even as it should ) seene in sinceritie . hee doth despyse , both falsehood , and delayes , and others knaveries , in their pleas displayes . h'abhors advantage , by ore-sight , or sleuth , of others , if the matter bee of trueth . hee wearies not his poore-men , with depending , nor to the iudges , or the wryters sending . but all that these bad patrons puts them to , hee by his servants o●… himself●… , doth doe . and more for conscience , credite , and his name , than for their money , hee doth doe for them. still of his calling hee doth conscience make , and bot what they may gladly giue , will take . hee doth not sucke their substance by slim shifts , as thiefe-lyke some doe vse , and yet vnthrifts . hee by his faythfull labours ( not by stealth ) and gotten , guided well , doth grow to wealth . yet all the goods with honestie hee gains , hee prudentlie in ployes , and nought prophanes ; so worthily , most worthie , hee doth grace , wher●… h●…e doth passe , and is imploy'd the place . of ●…ll men hee 's respected for good parts , and gets for gracious guiding , good-mens hearts , for hee is faithfull , efauld , vpright ever ; dissimulate , nor false , nor feigned never . an vnworthie lawyer . . hee is a lawlesse , perdite , and a lost , the figure bot of a foot-faring post ; that carries , not knowing ( a bag full of billes ) the tenor , contents , their mynds , or their wills : only can reade their tytles , and direct , sans knowledge vnto what farder effect . to bee inform'd hee troubles nor travels much , since that the trueth hee nere intends to touch . hee 'll agravate and make the matter great , and many maximes of the law repeat : to cause his client thinke his cases are pronounced pro , before hee breast the barre , hee speakes bot problems , sentences , or phrases ; quotes acts , and lawes , till rustickes hee amazes . yet what hee speakes , or quotes , be words bot waste , and waird bot as the blinde their clubs doe cast : or as the bairnes their lessons learne by rat , so hee but farder knowledge rymes bot that . hee hath an heart to greedinesse so given , that hee will perill all , and hazard heaven , before hee shall not ( o vngodlie gaine ! ) by beggering his clients , wealth obtaine . hee nev'r with his conscience comes to count , so that hee see his meanes and honour mount . hee glores in geare , gold-angels are his gods , for which his trueth , hee tramples on , and troads . hee studies all , to sophistrie and shifts , protracting time , still hee delayes , and drifts . and empties so his long dependers purses , till they , by weeping crosse , with sighs , and curses , departe : when what they had prepar'd is spended , their causes ill persude , and worse defended . they never haue compassion on the poore , bot like a prostitute and publicke whoo●…e , from both the parties , but a sense of shame , and all that silver sets they take from them . they trickers are , and tyners of a cause , but conscience , and knowledge of the lawes . they haue no soule , they haue no shame , nor eyes , bot such as sole their present profit sees . a worthie souldiour . . a worthie souldiour worthily is stylde , valovrs genuine , and naturall chylde . predestinate train'd vp , and borne to bee fit for the service of necessitie . and th'ensigne to advance and carrie foorth , of honour in the actiue acts of worth : hee dyes the earth , in crimson with his handes , while hee the violence of wrong with-stands . hee ruines that which prowde ambition reares , and tyrants statutes into tags hee teares . hee is a warie watch man , and with wit , advantage takes of time , and vseth it into the projects and designes hee hath , for executing of his lawfull wrath : while cowards base make flight their foule refuge , hee makes his blade his arbiter and iudge . and with the pike objections hee impoungs , when others bot retort them with their tongues . the dint of death , altho before his eyes , hee obviates , before indignities . hee is a lyon , awfull to ambition , and lyke a loving lambe , vnto submission . hee holdeth hope , in hazards by the hands , and on the head of feare , triumphing stands . hee is the peace , preserver , and a shield , vnto his king and countrey in the field . vnto disloyall subjects hee is seene , a persecuter constant , and a keene . hee leades to battell chearfull , as hee past vnto a banquet , for to breake his fast. hee knowes not cowardice , nor fainting feare , on resolution , hee his rest doth reare . search all his forts , his strongest you shall finde , to bee the magnaminit ' of his minde . looke to his life , and thou shalt see 't , a way , where dangers obviate , and meete him ay . yet with vndaunted sprite hee forward fares , and to no fortune stoups , nor perill spares . in midst of martiall broyls , and braue alarms , hee with his armes , there floutly wins his armes . and by his merits , in the fields , and plains , in court at home , his honors hee obtains . an vntrained souldiour . . a souldiour but skill , and an vntrain'd , is like a young hound , or a whelpe new wain'd , that can not doe , when first hee falles to hunt , lay downe his nose , as other hounds are wont : nor put vpon a piece of service , knoes his pike , nor peece , nor person , to dispose . the manner of his march is like as whan tyr'd at the plough , trudge home is seene a man. hee beares his blade , before his bellie tyde , for to bee sure , hee lose 't not from his syde . his pike hee lyke a pyke-staffe lifts aloft , as boors their bacon carrie , when it 's coft : and with a minicke minsing of his owne , a kynde of carriage , yet in camps vnknowne . hee so presents his peece , with speciall grace , which makes his fellowes flout him in the face . on goes his arms , vvaste-coat-lyke , ore his ears , and hee his murrion , lyke a night-cap weares . when to bee quarterd , to the fielde hee 's led , as with his bobbie hee lookes for his bed. and when prepar'd his provant hee espyes , hee kyte-like craving , for his victualls cryes . and ere he scarce be come , or knowne , he will wish to bee home , at 's mamie , or the mill. and hanging downe his head , hee drouping goes , as if hee had his heart into his hose . and in his hut , when hee to rest doth take him , hee sleeps , till drums or deadlie pellets wake him . thus hee himselfe hee carries , and descryes , in all imployments , in all companies . till martiall discipline this milk soppe raw , doe season ▪ and to vnderstanding draw . a cypher hee 's , mongst figures , and is nought , bot a shadow , and not a substance thought . a worthie physician . is open enemie , and foe profest , to sicknesse , disease , to plagues , or to pest : purging from nature corruptions , and what infects destroyeth , or weakneth , yet that . in feeling of pulses , or groaping of wrists , or viewing of water , his actions consists . discourses that chiefelie fits him , and pleases ▪ are of the causes and kinds of diseases . in physicall things , hee frets till hee finds , and searcheth of simples , sorts , and the kinds . and then of these all , accordingly takes , advisedly , so his mixtures hee makes . vnto his patients , hee patience perswades , and with a modest mirth , their griefes hee glads . much hee doth moue , allow , and advance , and praiseth oft in purpose , temperance , both to avoyde all wastrie of wealth , and for vpholding of bodily health . purging and bleeding his counsellours bee , into conserving of sound sanitie . his two attendants and on-wayters are , the choyse chyrurgion , and apothecare . resolv'd with these , of time , and seasons sure , hee temprate tryes , and cunning in his cure . surfets , excesse , and venerie both , agents alwayes for his imployments go'th . when as from one-an-others weaknesse hee will , straine strength to himselfe , by knowledge and skill . thus they are needfull , and necessare men , to cure diseases vnnecessare then . an vnworthie physician . . an asse turnd ape , his office hee vses , yet artlesse , both practise and parties abuses . bayard-lyke blind , hee bloodeth with the lance , doe hee cure , or kill , hee cares not what chance . witlesse with vomit , or purging hee will , giue health in haste , spoyle presentlie , or spill . hee cracks of his cures , his travels , and where , such wonders hee wrought , seene seldome or rare . bot so farre a-field , that there are found few , will tye them , to try his talking , if true . hee vaunts of rewards , and venteth out wonders , that his receipts , were nere lesse than hunders , in markets and faires , hee is not away , walking , and viewing , some vrinals ay . where if hee find hot , grosse humors , or raw , albeit that liech hee little doth kn●…w ; yet some thing to seeme , some-what hee will say , lyn'd with some latine , that lykelie it may . and if hee hit , and to a purpose speake , then l●…ks hee lyke one to salue all the sicke . this fellow effronted , hee never fayles , in telling stale iests , and olde merrie tales . for olde ones to laugh , and the young to allure , peares hee hath pocked , and sweeties bee sure . peartly hee speakes , as having inspection ▪ and skilfull in knowing of evrie complection . and if a strange cure hee stumble on , or chance , out of his artlesse vse , and ignorance ; yet saucie , and shamelesse , sweareth this ann ▪ that easily cure incurables hee can . bot being vnlearnd , vnhonest , and al 's , oft times found foolish , found fraudfull , and false ; indeed , if not death , it 's danger to deale , with such quacke-salvers , for sicke men , or whole . a worthie merchand , . is th' heire of adventure , whose hopes doe hing , on gaine , that the winds from the waters bring : with halters of hempe , and horses of tree , through the watrie waste region rydeth hee : and with a merrie gale chearfull hee is , furrowing the foame , and shearing the seas : in trading by toyle , and travell hee takes , discoveries of coasts and countreyes hee makes . n'hazard this worthie from ventring exempts , bot stablie hee stands in all his attempts . hee spares not expences , expecting his gaines , so traffique and trade , the merchand maintaines . his studie is number ; his care , his accounts , to know how 〈◊〉 meanes diminish , or mounts ▪ his effauld-faythfull formes are his defence , and greatest comfort ▪ is , his conscience . hee trades not with a measure false , his fame is whole , and all ▪ his wealth , is his good name . hee feares no sill ' , and by charibdis sayles , nor for a wracke , hee out of measure wayles . altho with tempests , hee bee tost and strest ▪ yet hopes in the hav'n to ryde , and to rest . and by his trade , and labours long at leasure , hee gets his goods , and finds the key of treasure . hee bringes , from th'observations of his eye , the modeles best , of architecturie . and from a bought exper'ence , and the sourse of knowledge high , hee draweth his discourse . what comely is abroad , and good , hee knowes , most circumspectly that at home hee showes . in h●…s apparell , hee is neat , and cleane , and modest in demeanure , hee is seene . not daintie , nor too delicate , in dyet , vsing the meane twixt parcimon ▪ and ryot . full of civilitie , and alwayes , ( note ) hee holy is , religious , and devote . and to the citie , countrey , court , and king , what cannot wanting bee , doth daylie bring . an vnworthie merchand . . a cheater hee is , that with a full purse , will with the best to the board , and the burse : then soberly bargaine , and promise to pay , peremptorly keepe his houre , and his day . so craftily thus in credite hee creepes , for once hee or twise his covenants keepes . but pedlar-lyke yet how ev'r hee begins , more with his wit , than honestie , wins . hee lifts what hee can , from coap-men , and strangers , while credit hee cracks , and conscience indangers . at greatest rate , hee buyes the worst of wares , but for the payment , neyther counts nor cares . yet with faire words tho false , these forraigne goods , as trustie stuffe , at home , on friends , h'obtrudes . his measures double are , and wrong his weights , and seldome holds ( suppose he sweare ) his heights . hee passes not for pietie , if poore ; and if hee bee rich , none dow him endure . hee in the streets derayd , aboue his state , a-gadding goes , and vp and downe doth jet . olde chavcers cooke , hee likned is vnto , that busie seemes , where there is nought to doe . hee is a cogging knaue , and craftie aye , over-roguing all , that over-reach hee may . t'impone the simple , 〈◊〉 oft times are wittie , yet they dishonour , and they shame their citie . and with their fashions 〈◊〉 tho false , deface , and are vnto all merchands good disgrace . yet time decyphers these deceivers all , when they debosh , and play bankrupt , with all . a good man , . that feares for loue , his god , and in his light of trueth doth trace , and walks his wayes aright ; and as in loue , through fayth , his god hee knaws , to keepe in him the compasse of the laws . of god , a good man is th' idea , and a lord ore all hee create to command ▪ to worship him , and serue him holy made , tho from sinceritie , to sinne , hee slade . with reason borne , to know things naturall , inspir'de by grace , for metaphysicall ▪ hee hath a face , that vp to heaven doth bende , a soule to sense , that all the life doth lende . and to the worlde is a stranger given , while of his sprite the home is onlie heaven . his life a time of toyle , is strangely strest , his death , againe , the walke and way to rest. his studie is , into the word of trouth , which carefullie hee keepeth in his mouth : and in his life to practise it doth proue , for his delight is in the law of loue. hee doth provide bot for necessitie , and casts his care in th' vse of charitie . hee doth converse with divine prophets , more than worldly profits , to increase his store . in the law of the lord is all his pleasure , and in his knowledge , all his wealth and treasure . his bosome thus the best of wit inclouds , and thus hee 's rich , into the best of goods . heaven of his eye , it is th'extent and scope , and life through christ there-in his highest hope . humilitie , the scale it is , where-by hee having pride deprest , doth mount on hy . his patience is procurer of his peace , that guyded is with vertue , wit , and grace . hee is the seede of loue , and by th' effect of grace , hee 's heire of heaven , and life elect. for all that hee doth care for , craue , and claime , is for that heavenlie high iervsalem . a bad man , or atheist . . with god , with man , the world , himselfe , at warre , and what not , all hee to damnation dare . in nature like a dog ; in wit , an asse , and beast-like hee doth in his passion passe . into his actions , which are alwayes evill , hee is a corporall incarnate devill . hee maketh sinne a mocke ; the byble , a bable , gods grace , an humour ; and his trueth , a fable : and calles it cowardice , for to keepe peace , for troubled tymes , hee holds his happinesse . his castle hee doth call his sword ; and pride , the horse , where-on this hell-hound haunts to ryde . his purchase , pyckrie is ; his language , lyes ; his longing , lust ; his puncke , his paradise . and with a whore , and a polluted punke , his glorie is , to bee debosht , and drunke . hee is the patron of impietie , and deadly danger of societie . hee vertue loathes , and loveth vanitie , and is the horrour of humanitie . in bawdrie , and in barratrie , h'abounds ; till bodie , soule , and fame , hee all confounds . hee boasts the good , and hee vpbraids them broadly , and spights at all the gracious and godly . his paunch is his prince ; the taverne , his towre ; mahound , his master ; his mistres , a whore. oathes are his graces , and woundes are his badges : rebell , and rogue , and picke-purse , his pages . hee knowes not god , nor goes where grace doth dwell ; bot walks through the world , like a devill to hell , hee treachrous is , and a truethlesse detractor , the fellon , the foole , the fiends benefactor . vntymely begotten , and backwardly borne : vnworthilie waxes , and liveth forlorne . a monster to men , a foole to the wise : in doubting , despare , and damned hee dyes . a wise man , . is like vnto a clocke , that nev'r doth chyme , bot at the houre , and striketh still in tyme : or as a dyall just , set with the sunne ; or glasse that well doth keepe , and restlesse runn●… . so will hee never ware a word , bot whan to speake pertains , vnto a prudent man. hee measures time , and all in season does : hee tempreth nature , and doth reason vse . sense hee commands , and will hee keepeth vnder : and all with knowledge , hee doth pose and ponder . none can his eares with charmes blow vp , and batter ; for fast they are , when parasites doe flatter . closse is his mouth , vnto detracting tongues : and no false imputations hee impungs . an humble heart , an open hand , and free , hee hath to want , and vnto pietie . to observation aye his labours tende , and wise experience is his ayme and ende . to contemplation , and to meditate , his thoughts are oft devote , and dedicate . the divine vvord made man , his vvill , his law ▪ is all that hee doth call for , cares to knaw . swolne pride hee knowes no●… of prosperitie , nor yet the mis●…rie of adversitie . bot takes the one , as if the day , or light , and th' other , as the darknesse , and the night . hee knowes not fortune , and no fate hee feares , bot builds , and all , on providence hee reares . and through the hope of fayth , that grace hath given , hee reaches high , and doth lay hold on heaven . his workes are good , and godly , as his mynde , his words and thoughts to honour all inclynde : for hee in loue th ' elect is of the lord , a master to the worlde , that cares not for 't . and tho heere borne a stranger , bot on earth , in heav'n a burger , by a second birth . a foole. . a foole hee is , the'abortiue birth of wit , and the vnfashiond embrio of it : where nature had more power , than reason vse , the fruit of imperfection to produce . his actions all , are almost all extreames , of meanes , nor endes , hee never doubts , nor dreames . nature taught fooles , to eate , to worke , and sleepe , tho they there-in no time nor measure keepe . fooles haue no feare of god , respect to men , and voyde of reason , they no duetie ken . bot as their passion , and their braine-sicke wits , transport them , they doe play their foolish fits. his exercise , it is foure ▪ folde alway , h'eats , drinks , and sleepes , or then is laughing aye . fyue thinges doe humor him , and much doe moue , and not bot these can hee thinke of , nor loue . and what are they ? a bauble , a bell , and bot a pupped pudding , or a pyed coat . his wordes want wit , and reasonlesse his will ; for it resolv'd , doth neither good nor ill . hee wisdome and instruction doth despise , since hee can nought , or hee will not bee wyse . his front , his index is , and doth expresse , his mindes distemprature and giddinesse . his foolish fits , neyther the bad doe please , nor can the good bee seene content with these . hee out of measure is in motion ever , and bot when hee doth sleepe , hee resteth never . hee is vnhappily begotten and borne , ( tho not his fault ) reason and wisdomes scorne . a shame to 's syre , a blott vnto his brother : a curse to 's kin , a mischiefe to his mother . hee liues a beast , and doth no better die , but wit and reason , natures infamie . a plaine honest man . like iacob is , and dwelleth into tents , not full of congi●…s and court complements : bot hee is faithfull , efauld , free , and plaine ; and so but change , immobile doth remaine . like to a coat , that is so well prepar'd , to fit the wearer plaine , but welt , or gard. when as the stuffe where-of the same is made , nor is the forme , in more request is had : so th' honest heart , but fraude ( that breedes offence ) the credit keeps of a good conscience . fred from infernall brands of infamie ; from scandall , and deserved obloquie . his works are vert'ous , and his words are trueth : his progresse plaine , and all his practize rueth . his life is labour past with patience , his rest is death , and his sprites passage hence . his travell is from infancie to age , a painfull passage , and a pilgrimage . his wayes yet plainnesse , and his pleasure , peace ; his whole delight , is loue , his glorie , grace . his crdit , is his coyne , reason , his square : content , his kingdome , conscience , his care. his carr'age courtous is , and no waies vaine : his heart is humble , holie , and humane . hee 〈◊〉 is churlish , ever charitable : in talking , and discourses , delectable ▪ hee ever was , and ever will bee found , amongst rich iemms , the rightest diamond . a phenix amongst fowles : yea , hee is borne , mongst men a sainct , mongst beasts an vnicorne . a knaue , . the worst of wit , and the scorne of reason , begot but grace , and syne borne ▪ out of season . hee is the shame of good societie , and promptuarie of impietie . hee doth dishonour all the humane race , and is past helpe of god , past hope of grace . hee corrupts age , and hee infecteth youth : hee hateth wisdome , and detracts the trueth . his words are false , his oathes proue perjuries : his studies , trickes ; his practise , villanies . his wealth , for wit and honour , hee doth holde : ●…or glorie , gaine ; and for his god , his gold. to trust , a traytor ; t'amitie , a thiefe : prompe in the plots , and practise of mischiefe . a friend to none , or found to few is hee , and yet hee is aye his owne enemie . an vnthrift since his breathing first , and birth ; abhorr'd in heav'n , vnhallowed on the earth . his heart of poyson is a pond that springs , his tongue deceitfull , and lyke dragons stings . and lyke a limbecke is his fleeting braine , that doth distill inventions vilde and vaine . hee loues no lawes , nor counts of their commands : for hell , mahound , and hee hath shaken hands . and as hee vvolfe-lyke liues , false like a foxe ; ●…ee dogg-lyke dies , or in the streets , or stockes . an vsurer , . the character and patterne is expresse , of worldly miserie , and vvretchednesse . the gold and money that these misers haue , their master is , and they their silvers slaue . what they doe call , and for their owne doe claime , they haue it not for it bot holdeth them. they haue no grace divine , nor god , bot it , vvhich robs their reason , and bereaues their vvit. the more they come by , more and more they craue ; and wish their gardivyots were their graue . for where their heart and treasure is , there would they ly , and bee engraveld with their gold. their greed it is , s'vnsatiate , and such , gaine what they lyke , they cannot get too much . their ev'r vnbounded pleasure in their pence , makes them but soule , but sight , but shame , but sence . their feare , is vvant , and for to get , their care : their dyet is , plaine fasting , or poore fare . their studie , sparing ; and their loathsome lyfe , still with it selfe is at debate and stryfe . their habit , and their cloathing , oft declares , they were the hang-mans , or of rouped vvares . their teeth of interest destroyes and eates , and is a canker vnto all estates . they swill , they sucke , and like loach-leeches bloods , and drinke their debters substance , and their goods . they loathed liue , and vnlamented die : drudges to drosse , and mappes of miserie . a beggar , . a laysie lout , that doth himselfe professe . the fellow , pheire , and mate of idlenesse . his lyfe a resolution is of ease : high-wayes , his vvalke , hee travels most in these . bot th' ale-house is the place of his retreat , where with his vvhore hee will not misse to meete . and there ore-turnes , and freely tosse the pot , that with a feign'd infirmitie they got . for busily his studies are all bent , to counterfit th'infirme , and impotent . and all his practise , is espyde to bee , to cogg , and coozen simple charitie . of all the rabble of all ranging rogues , none are more noysome , than th●…se swarming frogs . for into everie hamlet , towne , and farme , lyke caterpillars they doe flocke and swarme . at bed , at board , from home , and in the house , their fellow and companion is a lowse . vvith blessings they begin , and pray for all ; bot into cursing ofttimes ends their call. none lives on th' earth religious lesse than they , they prey on men , yet nev'r to god they pray . thanks none , or few , to him they giue ; and lesse regard they giue their givers in distresse . no , none more ●…ewdlie liues , and more impure , and none are worse , and vicious more bee sure . they carnall are , and lustfull , out of measure , and brutish in the acting of their pleasure . they marrie seldome , baptize nev'r their brood , and others know , but caring , kynd , or blood. th' are atheists almost all , and in effect , god nor the devill , hell , lord , nor law respect . they trade by beggrie , many tymes by stealth ▪ and alwayes vvasters of the common-wealth . his birth , his lyfe , and death , oft falleth thus , hee 's gotten and borne into a barne and bush. then ydlie dryues his dayes , and leads his lyfe , vvithout all law , and her that for his vvyfe hee holds , a vvhore , a th●…efe is , or a vvitch ; and last , hee ends and dyeth in a ditch . a virgine , . is like the lillies , and the crimson roses , when phoebvs force their luked leaues v●…loses : vvhich kythe in colours pure , and all ingraine , but anie macule , tash , or anie staine , shee 's natures beautie , in her chiefest pryde , in chastitie , and vertues tinctures dy'de : vvhere th'vnpolluted spirit gracious , doth make her angell-like , and glorious ▪ shee 's vertues darling , vvi●…domes milk-whyte doue , reasons care ▪ and shee is honours loue. the grace of youth , the comfort of the age , in both discreet , in both digest and sage . her studies , and her exercises , holy ; but petulance , lascivious sports , or folly. an handsome , humble gravitie , her grace , vvith comely carr'age , and a constant pace . louely her looks , and yet most chaste her eye , her countenance severe , yet sweet to see . her actions all , are with her vvords , that 's trueth , her constancie , her fame , in age , and youth . her wealth , her vertues are , her grace , her glore , her labour , patience , and content her store . her vsuall dyet , it is abstinence , her ornament , and crowne , is continence . her lawne-like loue , vnspotted is ▪ and cleane , her orisons devote , her hope 's divine . her parents pleasure , honour of her kin , and phoenix of the land shee liveth in . of female kinde , shee is the first and fairest , and one of all the rationall , that 's rarest . and to bee found the heavens beneath , and vnder , the choysest iewell , and the chiefest wonder . a wanton woman . a vvanton vvoman , 's vicious , and strange , the type of imperfection , and of change. in qualitie a vvag-taile , and in shape , a siren ; in her nature , bot an ape . her vult , a witch ; inviting to all evill : for shee into condition is a devill . her words are charmes , and everie nod , a net , to snare the foole ; and for the fleshlie set . her looks are hooks , and baits , bot to abusion : her companie is death , iosse , confusion : her lustfull lips , like hybla-honey drops ; bot loathsome sowre these liquors haue their sops . her mouth is soft , and smoother more than oyle : bot what it speaks , doth poyson , spill , and spoyle . her ende is worse , and bitterer by farre , than worme wood , gall , that tarte and bitter are . her heart with pride , and with deceit doth swell : her feete to death , her steps treade downe to hell. her kynde imbraces , and her kisses killes : her breath for balme , bot bitter venome stilles . her wav'ring wit , bot naughtie fancies nowrish : and all her thoughts are wanton , vaine , all whorish . her life is lewde , all ydlenesse , and play : her dyet is th' excesse of dainteis aye . her loue is vanitie ; and still in change : and as her eyes , so her affections range . her excercise , bot rest ; and yet are whollie , busied about inventions bot of follie. her fancies are for fashions , toyes , and showes : her vveale in colours , and her vvealth in cloathes . to catch , and cozin men , is all her care , her house , an hell , and all 's vnholie there . her vvayters on , are bauds , for beasts and bables : her friendship false , and her discourses fables . she is the plague of youth , repentance storie , th' abuse of tyme , and ages purgatorie . a quyet woman , . is lyke a winde , low , quyet , calme , and still , that blowes no dust , nor doth the bodie chill : whom nev'r impatience doth provoke , and moue , bot with her patience wins the heart of loue. her vvisdome makes her vvill to bee preferd , and worthilie to get a great regard . shee feares the lord , flees sinne , and loveth peace : shee walkes to heav'n ; her guyde thereto , is grace . shee helpes and aydes , into asperitie , and takes a parte into prosperitie . her tongue is still vnto discretion tyed : her face with modest shamefastnesse is dyed . shee is her husbands heart , his loue , his chose , and doane-bed , where his spirites doe repose . her braue behaviour , is a glasse , where-by her children may their owne miscarr'age see . she treades vpon the tortoys , never strayes from home , nor ydlie walkes vpon the wayes . her vertuous doings , they doe her adorne ; shee cares not change , and fortune shee doth scorne . a turtle to her husband , in her loue ; and meeke to him , shee lyke a lambe doth proue . no , nev'r what hee concludeth , doth controule ; an angell , and a sainct into her soule . shee is a pearle , that is vnprizable ; a pleasure great that is vnspeakable , a comfort too , that is incomparable , and in the worlde , a wyfe inimitable . an vnquiet woman , . shee is a thing , much worse to keepe than knaw ; a beast that brooks subjection to no law. the mischiefe , and the miserie of man , that scarcely can descrybed bee : and whan it is , into the verie hearts and heads of law and reason , detest●…aion breeds . for her demeanures , they indeede are theams , which aye and onlie stand into extreams . her words and voyce , the scrighing of an owle , that to affright men , on the night doth yow le . her eyes , even as the cockatrice , doe kill : her hands , the clawes are of the crocadill . her heart , a cabinet , that doth containe all that is naughtie , vicious , and prophane . tyme shee abuseth , and shee woundeth wit : no reason shee regards , bot wrongeth it . shee is impure , her pryde vnsupportable : her malice , matchlesse ; will , vnsatiable . shee doth respect , nor anie person spares : defame shee fears not , nor for counsell cares . her wit is will , command , is , must , not no : her reason , shall ; her satisfaction , so. shee cannot loue , lyke , nor allowes no lord , and doth from law and order both debord . shee is a crosse , bot not of christ , a crosse : a griefe to nature , and to lyfe a losse . and from her birth , shee 's emptie of all grace : a plague to pietie , a foe to peace . a wracke of wealth , a wrangler , full of wrath : most tarte in taste , and in digestion , death . a good wyfe. . a world of wealth , a iewell good and great , and to her lord , a kingdome , in conceat : an heavenlie blessing , and mans happinesse , that nought , not death , can minish , nor make lesse . her husbands iewell , and her childrens ioe : ever vertues friend , and ever vices foe . her conversation , is solacious : her count'nance graue , yet ever gracious . her tongue is temprate , and her eye is warie : her carriage is kynde , yet chaste and charie . shee 's gracefull graue , a mirrour to her mayds : her beautie naturall , but arte , but ayds . shee with no pomate paints her face , nor fairds : nor doth not vse with oyle to smooth't ▪ and smeard , to make it show before the sunne , and shyne , to helpe pure nature , wrong the worke divyne . but shee doth count it well , and best decor'd , as fashion'd with the finger of the lord . shee 's mistres of her passions , and her tongue to reasons girdle it is tyde , and hung . next heaven , her house shee holds her chiefest care , and that her good houswyfrie doth declare . shee goes not gadding , bot at home shee dwells : and when shee goes shee goes on tortois shells . shee in apparell is , and cloathed cleanlie ; not too magnificke , no , nor yet too meanlie . her words are wyse , her voyce is musicall , and al●… her actions are harmonicall . an effoeminate man , . is lyke a man , to see , in shape , in sho , that hath the forme , and in effect is no. hee is a primped piece , and therefore than , is womanish , and bot a chyldish man. into his relish , hee is liquorous : in loue , and his desires , libidinous . hee tryfles tyme , and bot with puppets playes : a-wenching walks , and ydlie dryues his dayes . hee covets for to looke in mirrours oft : for to sleepe sound , and to lye long , and soft . hee loues to bee imbrac'd , and to bee kist ; and then , aboue the best , hee thinks him blest . hee'inanelie talks , a looke demure hee shoes : hee mirds too much , and too-too nycelie goes . hee iuncates loues , and dainties much desyres ; and for to ball , and banquet , never tyres . to bee his mistres man , hee vrgeth still : bot to bee a master to her mayde hee will. to frame lewde lines , and sing loue songs , hee loues : to smell perfumes , and haue sweete watred gloues . hee coyneth purposes , and telleth lyes : hee studies daunces , and riddles doth devyse . hee loues good-morrowes , and yet doth delight to sleepe the morning , and to watch all night . hee doates to heare , and wandring newes to chace : and hunting for them , haunts the market place . hee sighs for loue , and will for kyndnesse greete : yea , with each humor will a cadance keepe . his game with girls is most at barla-breakes : and after , on his bed tobaccho takes . and then with frictions , and with cloathes fyre hot , full of these fumes , breathes lyke a boyling pot. this ganimede , soft , nyce , and man-turn'd-woman , in verie deede , and in effect is no-man . a parasite , . hee is the picture of impietie ; to gaine a groat , avowde to villanie . for with a flattring tongue hee will not fayle , to picke mens pockets , and their money steale . his face is brazed , that hee cannot blush : shame set asyde , none hee regardes a rush. and what hee lighteth on with both his hands , hee holdes ; for they are lym'd , and lyke bird wands . his tongue vntymous , clinketh lyke a bell , and nought but tryfling truethlesse tales doth tell . hee playes the pandare , and with gracelesse greetings , hee carries messages , for evill meetings . and with smoothe wordes , which hee is cunning in , perswades a sorte of sweetnesse into sinne. hee is much lyke a dogg without a doore ; where-at the devill to daunce , went in before . or lyke a mounted spyder hee doth show ▪ and yet but liues on poyson heere below . so hee may gayne , hee lookes not who doth losse , and for a crowne his credite hee will cosse . hee hath no honestie , and doth no duetie : hee spoyles the youth , and is th' abuse of beautie . a knaue at court , a cheater in the citie , that should bee punisht , and expell'd but pittie , a iester alwayes , ( tho his iestes bee stall ) hee is , and is a iacke-an-apes in all . a baude . . a baude , shee is a kynde of woman-beast , that spoyles virginitie , and mayden-heads maist : for dissolutelie when shee was bot young , shee vitiate , and did her owne a wrong . and ever since , without remorse or feare , shee vseth sundrie men , and merchands geare . and for vntymous trading with their wares , into her age post to the fiend shee fares . to damsels shee is dangerous , lest these , shee with th'oft-falling-sicknesse and disease , doe fyle them , and infect ; for shee was ever since shee was twelue yeares , touched with that fever . the youth to spell , nev'r trust her for to teach , ( altho for proofes and practise she might preach ) lest that shee doe , scarce well weand from the mother , learne them too soone to poynt , and put together . shee playes the surgeon , that can ease no smarts , bot only swellings in the lower parts . shee hath one song , and it shee soundeth aye ; tyme is , tyme was , and tyme will weare away . sweet daintie things , therefore , neglect not you , to vse the tyme , and take your pleasure now , incace when it is past , occasion gone , you sit vnsought , and courted bee with none . and while this toothlesse vents her vicious voyce , from a waste wombe , and brest with birnings bosse , t' affright the fiend , flat falne , and low-lyke shoes , ( as eldren apes ) her cheeks , her chin , her nose . the humour that shee 's most displeasing in , is at her disabilitie to sinne. and shee is nev'r more joviall , than when shee is perswaded , shee is young for men. shee cares for nothing , nothing bot her ease , loues bot her lust , pains bot her panch to please . she sels her soule , for sacke , for bottle-ale ; for to lay downe her flesh , shee will not faile . in nought bot one , is shee industrious , in th'hospitall , or in the baudie house . to see the wenches well set all to warke ; bot almost ever , and oftest in the darke . her breath corrupt , her head is balde , her eyes rheumaticke , running thou beholds and sees . shee 's vertues spoyle , and graces great regrate , the wracke of wealth , natures disdaine , and hate : for shee is stomached , and still doth storme , that so deform'd a monster shee should forme . a drunkard . . a drunkard , to define him , is a beast , tho hee the figure haue , and bee man-fac't . man cup-shot , is no man , no , scarce in part ; for hee hath neyther hands , nor head , nor heart . hee is a nowne , and an adjectiue one , that by himselfe , well can not stand alone . and yet a tryer , and contestor great , into his weakenesse , and that stau'ring state. if that in surfets , health , or sicknesse shall , the mastrie haue , command , and o're-rule all . hee is the figure of deformitie : and th'evidence of all enormitie . h'abuseth time , and natures rights ore-turns , hee wasteth wealth , at reason spights , and spur●…ns . all modestie h'anoyeth , and hee ●…oarres , all temp'rate sprites hee frights from him and skarrs . civilitie hee doth disturbe , and trouble ; and all disorder orderlesse doth double . hee 's woe to his wife ; to his children griefe : his neighbours skoffe , and to himselfe a thiefe . his feete doe reele , his tougue at randon runnes , hee doth , hee sayes , and knows not what , yet sinnes . hee blasts , hee braiks , hee bans , and hee blaspheams : hee shouts , or sleeps , and still is in extreams ▪ hee wastes , and wots not how , and so doth weaken , his stomacks strength , altho that it were oaken . the sober sigh , and for his fashions flees him : and all beside they scoffe and scorne that sees him . and so hee serues for nought , except to shame , himselfe , and slay his bodie , soule , and fame . a coward , . the fruite of feare , suspition , and of dreed , whom nature got , bot in colde blood did breed . and had too much a-doe , to make vp than , a creature , that should resemble a man. and that is all hee keepeth of his kind , for beastly base dejected is his minde . his life a sicknesse is , that doth resemble , a sort of palsie , for his ioyntes doe tremble . and but a cause , such terrour hee will take , that hee will faint , and all his members shake . his death then by debased diffidence , it is a terrour to his conscience , his feeble faith , no kinde of hope it beares , and therefore death hee out of measure feares . all persons hee suspects , and everie place , and therefore wretched is the cowards case . hee much affecteth peace , for feare of warres ; the thought of which his sprite affrights and sca●…res . and if hee bleede his finger , hee anone , looks for the signe , and layes , his life is gone . and if his tooth but ake , incontinent hee makes his latter will , and testament . the roaring , and report , that cannons giues , prostrates him flat , and neare of sprite depriues . and thunder-claps doe him discourage so , that hee can neyther stand , nor stirre , nor goe . before hee fight , or to combate hee kythe , content is hee , and to bee beaten , blythe . and if his feete may succour him , bee sure his head , nor hands , no danger shall endure . hee of no hazard heares , nor hardie feats , bot , fy for shame , hee shudders , and hee sweats . hee will b'affrayde , with flying of a bird , or noyse of wands that with the winds are stird . marrie hee will , and marrie bot with such , as are bot meane , and not of might too much . nor will hee haue a wife that 's faire : for why ? some broyls may bee , and quarrels come there-by . and when hee getts her , if hee finds her frowne , then hee 's abash'd , dejected , and cast downe . if shee bot chance to chyde him , than hee weepes ; and comes as spanels , when they couch , and creepes . where dogs doe barke , hee comes not neare that house , bot flees , as from the catts th'amated mouse . if hee bee rich , for feare hee nev'r concludes , how to dispose vpon , or vse his goods . and in his nature , natvr●… doth defame , for hee doth manhood both disgrace and shame . an honest poore man , . hee is a proofe and map of miserie , in patient porting of his pe●…urie . with wants vnknowne , hee doth resolue to sterue , than those relieue , and with discredit serue . hee prooues his patience ▪ and her strength hee tryes , in suffring griefe but grudge , even while hee dyes . his little is much , his meane and sober rent , affords him store , rich quyet , and content , yet some times so the touch of want him plyes , that from his heart teares burst out at his eys●… : and from his soule such pailes of sighs , and smoake , are sent , that would impatient spirits choake . bot so his reason his hote passions temper , that it controules , and moderates them semper . yet blushes oft for shame of beggarie , or with the sense of his necessitie . for rich men shun , and flee him like infection , his wants refuse , his sutes , finds all rejection . and with a frowning , cold and carelesse eye . or with a skoffe th'vpbraide him going by . his lodging is the earth , and oftimes even the banke his bed , his courtanes clouds of heaven . rootes his repaste , bot fending or'e his fare , and such poore portion as the godly spare , the sunne his summer-comfort vntill night , the moone his to●…ch , his lampe , and winter light. his mournings are the musicke of his breath●… his songs are swan-like , sung before his death . his studie , patience , and his labour prayer : and yet with-all , meeke are his forms , and faire . his life below a pilgrimage doth prooue , his resting rowme and home , is heaven aboue . hee lightlie liues , and as no man , neglected , and dyes not moand , not mist , no , nor respected ; yet tho the worlde his wants and state contemne , hee shall inherite th' high iervsalem . and more nor hee ( stands in the state of grace , ) that hath the worlds prosperitie and peace . hee fullie hath the favour of the lord , and hee with faith , with hope , and loue is stor●…d : and there-in hath for him reserv'd a treasure , past reckning , rich , great , past all meanes & measure . a iust man , . the childe of trueth and vertue both , a birth that shall inherite heaven , inhabite earth . for nature in a meane and temprate mood , bred and brought foorth this fruit , as rare , as good. his eyes from wilfull blindnesse they are cleare ; his hands from blood and brybrie are enteare . his will is voyde and free from wilfulnesse ; his heart most holy , hath no wickednesse . his word and deede are ev'r and alwayes one : hee violates , nor this , nor that , to none . his lyfe doth show the nature of his loue , whose aime , whose ende , and object is aboue . his efauld dealing , and his deeds declare , to keepe his conscience cleane , his constant care. the chiefest comfort that such happie haue , th' assurance is of lyfe , and to bee saue . when as hee on the bench a iudge doth sit , hee ponders all , and powders all with wit with closed hands , and single eyes hee shawes , that there hee sits to grace as giue the lawes . and thus in judging , so his iudgement proues , hee honours reason , and hee iustice loues . hee feares not power t'equall , and to place , with iustice , rigour ; mercie myld , with grace . hee feares the lord , and as hee loues him too , his worship hee , in feare , and loue doth doe . his walks are v●…rt'ous , in his makers sight , hee treads not by-rods , bot hee traces right . hee loues the good , the bad hee cannot by de : hee loues humilitie , and hateth pryde . his works are alwayes worthie for his deeds : as honour bringes them foorth , so vertue breeds . and wisdome fostring war'lie weaneth them , for his rich vertue , to renowne his name . so that hee hath an vnderstanding braine , and sprite of knowledge , more than is humane . and thereby is one from aboue that 's bl●…st , and on the earth , one earthly , that is best . a repentant sinner , . of all forlorne , hee finds himselfe the first , and vowes hee is of wretches all the worst : so bad is the estate hee standeth in , while hee is sowsed in the seas of sinne. hee sighes , therefore , and for his guilt doth groane , and sends remorsefull thoughts to mercies throne ; to pray for pardon , pittie , and compassion , for christs most bloodie , and most bitter passion . and offers with a broken heart contreete , of prayse and thanks a sacrifice most sweet . whose sad remembrance , all his entralls teares , and makes him weepe , and wash his couch with teares the hate of sinne , is figur'd in his face , by th' operation of the sprite of grace . hee covets nothing , bot such things that are conducent for him , and most necessare . superfluous , and vaine hee doth abhorre , and nev'r delights in these that 's transitore ▪ hee lusts not after more , than hee would haue , yet more contemplates ▪ than hee can conceiue . the sharpe recording of his sinnes doth search , his secret soule , and to the spleane doth pearse . while in the detestation of them all , woefull hee weepes , for his offence and fall. yet still his hopes for mercie springs aboue , despare and feare , through force of fayth and loue. his senses tyre his sprites , and thus distrest , his soule in natures course can finde no rest. the slough of sinne , and rags of vice hee wore , hee shifts him off , and mynds to vse no more . bot as that snake , that slayeth with the sight , all sinne , all wrong , and vice , hee doth despight . hee laboures still in loue , and liuely fayth , to liue to god in feare , and at his death to die in favour , that hee may in heav'n enjoy the glorie god hath freely given . a reprobate , . hee is the worke of violence and wrath , the sonne of sinne , but hope , but loue of faith : who beeing borne , for service of the devill , but care doth all , and all hee doth is evill . no villanie escapes him , that hee can : for loathsome sinnes delighteth most this man. his wits are wandring , weake , and still vnstable , his speech prophaine , impure , vnprofitable . his actions orderlesse , and scelerate ; corrupted all , curst , and contaminate . with all these ills , that with the fiends downe fell , from th' highest heaven , vnto the lowest hell. for wisdome , stands his will : which while it s so , bot furie , or bot follie , flows there-froe . hee 's full of infidelitie , mistrust , and onlie doth delight t' injure the iust. the simple hee deceiues , and sucks the blood ; and vnder trust , of th' innocent and good. his breath is bot the blast of blasphemie , and all his practise proues impietie . his conscience cauteriz'd , his senses ●…eard , his heart is hardned , and hee is not feard to fault and fall , bot like a free-man fares , and nev'r in publicke his trespassing spares . hee worships seldome , and it is in vaine , like cains sacrifice , because prophane . hee is indur'd , an out-cast from the lord ; impenitent , vnmyndfull to remord . his wicked wishes are the wracke of those , that vertous , godly are , and vices foes . hee loues confusion , and desires disorder , and boucher-like , bathes in the blood of murder . t' oppresse and spoyle , hee bot a mirding makes , and scorns the law , when hee her statutes breaks . and bee hee put in a respected place , the good they smart , the guiltie gets the grace . remorse , regarde , nor pittie hee hath none ; for feare of god and hope of grace is gone . this peace-oppressor , lawlesse , litigious ; this damn'd reprobate , and irreligious , is a man-monster , and an humane evill ; a diabolicke , and incarnate devill . an holie man , . his heart is heavenly , and his hopes are hie , ev'r over-mounting all mortalitie . things that 's corrupt , hee doth contemne , and hold all mammons meanes , bot mucke , goods , treasure , gold. no honours heere , nor pleasure hee respects , bot thinks they are of fancies , frayle effects . the soli-loquies of his soule are sweet , his mouth and mynde in meditation meet . natures perfection , is an holie man , and the best good that shee exhibite can . for what hath earth more perfect than that spright , in sanctitie that serues his god aright ? yet nature perfects no such peace alone , but grace and fayth their working there-vpon . the holy man , is only hee that 's wyse , for only heav'n hee holds before his eyes . and what is heere below , and earthly , hee that vses only for necessitie . and so , as that they finde him and afford , to serue his needs , while that hee serues his lord . his senses so hee tempreth and commands , that they t' obey his spirit readie stands . which in an orbe aethereall doth moue , stirr'd by a strength and power from aboue . and by observing natures course and lawes , the arte of reason , hee acquires , and knawes . and treads on the th' earth , and trav'ling , doth remaine , while hee turne earth ; and bee trod on againe . altho his soule , inlarg'd from carnall stryfe , doe liue in heav'n , that gaue his senses lyfe : vntill the resurrection of the flesh , that from the earth shall ryse , refynd , and fresh : when all the world is waltring vp-syde-downe : when fortune fawnes , or when the fates doe frowne : hee happie doth his sprite possesse in peace , because supported with the power of grace . his charitie , and librall handes declare , of others want , his kynde and christian care. hee gladlie giues , of what his god hath given , which shall to him redoubled bee in heaven . to liue to god , his practise all doth proue : heaven is through fayth , his hope ; the lord , his loue. his exercise is prayer , his studies bee into the volumes of divinitie : and there hee meditates , admiring most , th'vnit ' of the father , sonne , and holie ghost ; vvhich nev'r in all the numbers of his dayes , enough can hee admire , extoll , and prayse . his heart , ( to watch his eye ) hee ordaines it : and to his mouth a doore hee makes his wit. and both hee ordaines ev'r , and doth direct , his sprite from sinfull pleasure to protect . hee liues not lyke a vvorldlie vvorme , that does for permanent , things perishing , heere choose . no , no , his loue is set on thinges vnseene , and ravished with vvares that are divine . his loue is heavenlie , holie , and doth hold no holie dayes with loue of mundane mold . vvherefore hee 's lyable to manie losses , and oft incurres and combred is with crosses . yet heavenlie helps , and hope vp-holds him so , that losse no losse , nor crosse hee counteth no. an olde man. . the instance of a tract of tyme of yeares , vvhere-in declyning , natures power appeares : vvhen by defect of senses see wee may , the vse of reason both restraind , and stay . bot yet his knowledge with his tyme conferre , and hee shall prooue experience kalendar . tho in the power of action hee is not , as 't were a blanke , extracted from a lot. hee is a subject bot of sicknesse now , and vveaknesse agent , that the backe most bow . crost with the coagh , and a corrupted breath : and so praecursor to approaching death . an olde man , ●…s bot halfe a man , and twyse hee turnes to bee a bairne , and childish lyes . hee 's bot the living picture of a man , and is a verie dying creature than . beholde him well , and in effect you 'll finde him bot a bladder , blowne and stuft with vvinde . hee 's lyke a withred tree , and arride root , that buds not , flowrisheth , nor beares no fruit. and lyke a vveather-worne , and tyme-torne house , decaying fast , and falling ruinous . tho in his dying and declyning grouth , yet is hee pepper in the eyes of youth . hee is the jest of loue , and for infirmitie hee may the mirrour bee of miserie . yet aged lockes , and silver haires , deserue that youth should reverence , regard , and serue . for honour often tymes , and vvisdome both , into an olde mans gowne and garment go'th . ag'd gravitie , and great experience , doth challenge both respect and reverence . his wyse advyse , his counsell true and sage , by practise long , oft proov'd , from youth to age , should with all states and persons bee respected : and not in honourable age neglected . his wordes are oracles ; they should bee noted in kalendars , for common vse , and quoted ▪ his actions should bee imitate , and choosed , to bee there-after for exemples vsed . but as the tyme , and torch of waxe doth waste ; so , liue hee nere so long , hee dies at last . a young man. . the spring of time , when nature mindes to vent , her pride , and best of beauties , excellent : and to the worlde show and exhibite will , her arte divine , in-imitable skill . hee is the loue , and the delight of th' eye ▪ and well considred , singular to see . his flesh and sprite , are at a iust and iarring , and hee is all in making , or in marring . his wit and will , stands at intestene stryfe , if this , or that , shall lord and leade his life . his vertues bee in waxing , or in waining , and all his good , in losing , or in gaining . his thrift is as hee guydes him , and begins , if tentlesse , sure hee tynes , if wisel ' , hee wins . his credit is ( what ever bee his calling , ) and honour in the mounting , or the falling . his life is in th' increasing , or decay , and hee walks in the vvyde , or narrow vvay . hee is a bloome , that 's blasted in the bud , or growes to bee a fruite that 's faire and good . hee 's like a bird , that dies ere nature brings her to make vse , and venture to her wings . or like a colt , that is fensce-fed , and ydle , and none can breake , without a stryping brydle . or falcon-like , must bee well mann'd , and fram'd , els hee can nev'r , or hardly , bee reclam'd . hee is dames natures darling , and her io , and cheefest charge of reason is also . his exercise is studie , in his youth , or it is action , in his elder grouth . his studies are vnto his pleasures most , or vpon knowledge is bestow'd his cost , the disposition marked of his mynde , declares him iade-lyke , or of iennet kynde . his carr●…age is a trying table , or touch. that proues him gentle , or degenred much . for youth is lyke to lumpes of lead , or waxe , that at the workers will th' impression takes . which being hardned , and becomming cold , th' indented dints and forme it hath , doth hold . the qualit of his birth , frames him perforce , in his vpbringing better , bee or worse . and while experience fine , and reason fit , his vnderstanding , hee 's no man as yet , no , rather bot a chylde ; and i may say , with flatterie to bee deprav'd , a prey : and doth consist and stand in such a case , as eyther hee , is in the way of grace , to proue a sainct ; or walking in his evill , and path of sinne , shall doubtlesse grow a devill . finis . the passion of a discontented minde approx. kb of xml-encoded text transcribed from -bit group-iv tiff page images. text creation partnership, ann arbor, mi ; oxford (uk) : - (eebo-tcp phase ). a stc . estc s ocm this keyboarded and encoded edition of the work described above is co-owned by the institutions providing financial support to the early english books online text creation partnership. this phase i text is available for reuse, according to the terms of creative commons . universal . the text can be copied, modified, distributed and performed, even for commercial purposes, all without asking permission. early english books online. (eebo-tcp ; phase , no. a ) transcribed from: (early english books online ; image set ) images scanned from microfilm: (early english books, - ; : ) the passion of a discontented minde breton, nicholas, ?- ? essex, robert devereux, earl of, - . southwell, robert, saint, ?- . [ ] p. printed by v.s. for iohn baily, and are to be sold at his shop at the doore of the office of the vi clarks in chancerie lane, london : . in verse. variously attributed to nicholas breton, robert devereux and robert southwell--cf. stc ( nd ed.) and nuc pre- imprints. signatures: [a]² b-c⁴ d². title within ornamental border. reproduction of original in the harvard university. library. created by converting tcp files to tei p using tcp tei.xsl, tei @ oxford. re-processed by university of nebraska-lincoln and northwestern, with changes to facilitate morpho-syntactic tagging. gap elements of known extent have been transformed into placeholder characters or elements to simplify the filling in of gaps by user contributors. eebo-tcp is a partnership between the universities of michigan and oxford and the publisher proquest to create accurately transcribed and encoded texts based on the image sets published by proquest via their early english books online (eebo) database (http://eebo.chadwyck.com). the general aim of eebo-tcp is to encode one copy (usually the first edition) of every monographic english-language title published between and available in eebo. eebo-tcp aimed to produce large quantities of textual data within the usual project restraints of time and funding, and therefore chose to create diplomatic transcriptions (as opposed to critical editions) with light-touch, mainly structural encoding based on the text encoding initiative (http://www.tei-c.org). the eebo-tcp project was divided into two phases. the , texts created during phase of the project have been released into the public domain as of january . anyone can now take and use these texts for their own purposes, but we respectfully request that due credit and attribution is given to their original source. users should be aware of the process of creating the tcp texts, and therefore of any assumptions that can be made about the data. text selection was based on the new cambridge bibliography of english literature (ncbel). if an author (or for an anonymous work, the title) appears in ncbel, then their works are eligible for inclusion. selection was intended to range over a wide variety of subject areas, to reflect the true nature of the print record of the period. in general, first editions of a works in english were prioritized, although there are a number of works in other languages, notably latin and welsh, included and sometimes a second or later edition of a work was chosen if there was a compelling reason to do so. image sets were sent to external keying companies for transcription and basic encoding. quality assurance was then carried out by editorial teams in oxford and michigan. % (or pages, whichever is the greater) of each text was proofread for accuracy and those which did not meet qa standards were returned to the keyers to be redone. after proofreading, the encoding was enhanced and/or corrected and characters marked as illegible were corrected where possible up to a limit of instances per text. any remaining illegibles were encoded as <gap>s. understanding these processes should make clear that, while the overall quality of tcp data is very good, some errors will remain and some readable characters will be marked as illegible. users should bear in mind that in all likelihood such instances will never have been looked at by a tcp editor. the texts were encoded and linked to page images in accordance with level of the tei in libraries guidelines. copies of the texts have been issued variously as sgml (tcp schema; ascii text with mnemonic sdata character entities); displayable xml (tcp schema; characters represented either as utf- unicode or text strings within braces); or lossless xml (tei p , characters represented either as utf- unicode or tei g elements). keying and markup guidelines are available at the text creation partnership web site . eng - tcp assigned for keying and markup - apex covantage keyed and coded from proquest page images - judith siefring sampled and proofread - judith siefring text and markup reviewed and edited - pfs batch review (qc) and xml conversion the passion of a discontented minde . london printed by v. s. for iohn baily , and are to be sold at his shop at the doore of the office of the vi . clarks in chancerie lane . the passion of a discontented minde . from silent night , true register of mones ; from saddest soule , consum'd with deepest sins ; from hart quite rent , with sighs & heuy grones , my wailing muse her wofull worke beginnes : and to the world brings tunes of sad despaire , sounding nought else but sorrow , griefe , and care . sorrow , to see my sorrowes cause augmented , and yet lesse sorrowfull , were my sorrowes more ; griefe , that my griefe , with griefe is not preuented ; for griefe it is must ease my grieued sore . thus griefe and sorrow care's but how to grieue ; for griefe and sorrow must my cares releeue . the wound fresh bleeding must be stancht with teares , teares cannot come , vnlesse some griefe preceed ; griefes come but slacke , which doth increase my feares , feares , lest for want of helpe i still should bleed . do what i can to lengthen my liues breath , ifteares be wanting , i shall bleed to death . thou deepest searcher of each secret thought , infuse in me thy all-affecting grace ; so shall my workes to good effects be brought , while i peruse my vgly sinnes a space : whose staining filth so spotted hath my soule , as nought will waste , but teares of inward dole . o that the learned poets of this time ( who in a loue-sicke line so well indite ) would not consume good wit in hatefull rime , but would with care some better subiect write : for if their musicke please in earthly things , well would it sound if straind with heaunly strings . but woe it is to see fond worldlings vse , who most delight in things that vainest be ; and without feare worke virtues fowle abuse , scorning soules rest , & al true piety : as if they made account neuer to parte from this fraile life ; the pilgrimage of smart . such is the nature of our foolish kinde , when practiz'd sinne , hath deeply taken roote , the way to penance due is hard to finde , repentance held a thing of little boote . for contrite teares , soules health , and angels ioy , most men account a meere phantastike toy . ill working vse , deuourer of al grace , the fretting moath that wasteth soules chiefe blisse , the slie close thiefe that lurkes in euery place , filching by peece-meale , til the whole be his . how many are deceiued by thy baite , t' account their sinnes as trifles of no waight ? o cursed custome , causing mischiefe still , too long thy craft my senses hath misse-led ; too long haue i bin slaue vnto thy will ; too long my soule on bitter sweetes hath fed : now surfetting with thy hell poysned cates , in deepe repent , her former folly hates . and humbly comes with sorrow-rented hart , with blubbred eies , and hands vprear'd to heauen ; to play a poore lamenting mawdlines part , that would weepe streames of blood to be forgiuen : but ( oh ) i feare mine eies are drain'd so drie , that though i would , yet now i cannot crie . if any eie therefore can spare a teare , to fill the wel-springs that must wet my cheekes ; o let that eie to this sad feast draw neare : refuse me not , my humble soule beseekes ; for all the teares mine eies haue euer wept , were now too little had they all bin kept . i see my sinnes arraign'd before my face , i see their number passe the moathes in sunne , i see that my continuance in this place cannot be long ; and all that i haue done i see the iudge before my face hath layde , at whose sterne lookes all creatures are afraide . if he be iust , my soule condemned is ; and iust he is , what then may be expected , but banishment from euerlasting blisse ? to liue like cursed caine , base , vile , abiected : he in his rage his brothers blood did spill ; i more vnkinde mine owne soules life doe kill . o could mine eies send trickling teares amaine , neuer to cease till my eternall night , till this eye-flood his mercy might obtaine , whome my defaults haue banisht from his sight : then could i blesse my happy time of crying , but ah too soone my barren springs are drying . thrise happy sinner was that blessed saint , who though he fell with puffe of womans blast , went forth and wept with many a bitter plaint , and by his teares obtained grace at last : but wretched i , haue falne of mine accord , tenne thousand times against the liuing lord. yet cannot straine one true repentant teare , to gaine the blisse from which my soule is banisht ; my flintie heart some sorrowing doth forbeare , and from my sence all true remorce is vanisht : for heart and sence are cloyd with dregs of sinne , and there 's no place for grace to enter in . no place ( deere lord ) vnlesse thy goodnesse please to pitty him that worst deserues of any ; and in thy tender mercy grant him ease , as thou tofore hast mercy shewd to many : yet none of those doe equall me in sinne , oh how may i hope mercie then to winne . the traitor iudas heire borne to perdition , who for a trifle did his lord betray , in equall doome deserueth more remission , then my defaults can challenge any way : he solde him once , that once for gaine was done , i oftentimes , yet lesse then nothing wonne . the bloody minded iewes , in furie mad , vntill on christ their cruell rage was fed , in their fell anger more compassion had then i , for whome his harmelesse blood was shed : their hellish spite within a day was past , my sinfull fit doth all my life time last . for eu'ry stripe that he from them did take , a thousand deadly sinnes haue i committed ; and eu'ry wound as deepe a wound did make , as did the cordes wherewith my christ was whipped : oh hateful caitife , parricide most vile , thus ( with my sinne ) his pure blood to defile . o sinne , first parent of mans euer woe , the distance large that seuers hell and heauen ; senses confounder , soules chiefe ouerthrow , grafted by men , not by the grafter geuen : consuming canker , wasting soules chiefe treasure , onely to gaine a little trifling pleasure . happy were man , if sinne had neuer bin , thrise happie now , if sinne he would for sake ; but happier farre , if for his wicked sinne he would repent , and hearty sorrow make : leauing this drosse and fleshly delectation , to gaine in heau'n a lasting habitation . there is the place wherein all sorrowes die , where ioy exceedes all ioyes that euer were ; where angels make continuall harmony , the minde set free from care , distrust , or feare : there all receiue all ioyfull contentation , happied by that most heau'nly contemplation . now see ( alas ) the change we make for sinne , in steede of heau'n , hel is become our lot ; for blessed saints , damned fiends we euer winne ; for rest and freedome , lasting bondage got : for ioy , content , eternall loue and peace , griefe , dispaire , hate , iarres that neuer cease . the worme of conscience stil attendeth on vs , telling each houre , each instant we shall die ; and that our sinnes cannot be parted from vs , but where we are , thither they likewise flie : still vrging this , that death wee haue deserued , because we fled from him we should haue serued . what greater sinne can touch a humane hart ? what hellish furie can be worse tormented ? what sinner liues that feeleth not a part of this sharpe plague , vnlesse he haue repented ? and yet repentance surely is but vaine , without full purpose , not to sinne againe . and is it not then plaine follies error , to couet that that brings with it contempt , and makes vs liue in feare , distrust , and terror , hating at last the thing wee did attempt ? for neuer sinne did yet so pleasing taste , but lustfull flesh did loathe it when t' was past . witnes my wofull soule , which well can tell , in hiest top of sinne 's most fresh delight ; although my frailety suffred mee to dwell , yet being past , i loath'd it with despight . but like the swine , i fed mine owne desire , that being cleane , stil coueteth the mire . so greedy is mans beastly appetite , to follow after dunghill pleasures still ; and feede on carrion like the rauening kite , not caring what his hungry maw dooth fill : but worketh euermore his wills effect , without restraint , controlement , or respect . o , why should man , that beares the stamp of heauen , so much abase heauens holy will and pleasure ? o , why was sence and reason to him giuen , that in his sinne cannot containe a measure : he knowes , he must account for euery sinne , and yet committeth sinnes that countlesse bin . this to peruse ( deere god ) doth kill my soule , but that thy mercy quickeneth it againe ; o , heare me , lord , in bitternesse of dole , that of my sinnes do prostrate heere complaine ; and at thy feet , with mary , knocke for grace , though wanting maries teares to wet my face . she , happy sinner , saw her life misse-led , at sight whereof , her inward hart did bleede , to witnes with her outward teares were shed . o blessed saint , and o most blessed deede : but wretched i , that see more sinnes than she , nor greeue within , nor yet weepe outwardly . when she had lost thy presence but one day , the want was such , hir heart could not sustaine ; but to thy tombe alone she tooke her way , and there with sighs and teares she did complaine : nor from her sense , once moou'd or stirr'd was shee , vntil againe she got a sight of thee . but i haue lost thy presence all my dayes , and still am slacke to see thee as i should ; my wretched soule in wicked sinne so stayes , i am vnmeete to see thee , though i would : yet , if i could with teares thy comming tend , i know i should ( as she ) finde thee my frend . teares are the key that ope the way to blisse , the holy water quenching heau'ns quicke fire ; the attonement true twixt god and our amisse ; the angels drinke , the blessed saints desire : the ioy of christ , the balme of grieued hart , the spring of life , the ease of eu'ry sinart . the second king of israel by succession , when with vriahs wife he had offended , in bitter teares be waild his great transgression , and by his teares found grace , and so repented : he , night and day in weeping did remaine ; i , night nor day to shed one teare take paine . and yet my sinnes , in greatnesse , and in number , farre his exceede ; how comes it then to passe , that my repentance should so farre be vnder ; and graces force , deere god , is as it was : truth is , that i , although i haue more neede , do not , as he , so truely weepe indeede . o wherfore is my steely heart so hard ? why am i made of mettall vnrelenting ? why is all ghostly comfort from me bard ? or , to what end do i deferre repenting ? can lustfull flesh , or flattring world perswade me , that i can scape the power of him that made me ? no , no , the secret searcher of all hearts , both sees , and knowes each deede that i haue done , and for each deede wil pay me home with smart , no place can serue , his wil decreed to shunne ; i should deceiue my selfe , to thinke that he for sinne would punish others , and not me . our first borne sire , first breeder of mans thrall , for one bare sinne was of perfection reft , and all mankinde were banisht by his fall from paradise , and vnto sorrowe left : if he for one , and all for him feele paine , then , for so many , what should i sustaine ? the angells made to attend on god in glorie , were thrust from heau'n , and only for one sinne , that but in thought ( for so recordes the storie ) for which they still in lasting darkenesse bin : if those , once glorious , thus tormented be , i ( basest slaue ) what will become of me ? what wil become of me , that not in thought , in thought alone , but in each worde and deed ; a thousand thousand deadly sinnes haue wrought , and still doe worke , whereat my hart doth bleed : for euen now , in this my sad complaining , with new made sins , my flesh my soule is staining . o that i were remou'd to some close caue , where all alone retired from delight , i might my sighes and teares vntroubled haue , and neuer come in wretched worldlings sight ; whose ill bewitching company still brings deepe prouocation , whence great danger springs . ill company , the cause of many woes , the sugred baite , that hideth poysned hooke ; the rocke vnseene , that shipwrackt soules o'rethrowes , the weeping crocodile , that killes with looke , the readiest steppe , to ruine and decay , graces confounder , and helles nearest way . how many soules do perish by thy guile ? how many men without all feare frequent thy deadly haunts , where they in pleasure smile , taking no care such dangers to preuent ? but liue like belials , vnbrideled or vntamed , not looking they shall for their faults be blamed . alas , alas , too wretched doe we liue , that carelesly thus worke our owne confusion , and to our willes such libertie doe giue ; ay me , it is the diuells meere illusion , to flatter vs with such sense-pleasing traines , that he thereby may take vs in his chaines . this well foresaw good men of auntient time , which made them shunne th' occasions of foule sinne , knowing it was the nurse of euery crime , and syren-like would traine fond worldlings in : alluring them with shew of musickes sound , vntill on sinnes deepe shelfe their soules be drownd . but he is held no sotiable man , in this corrupted age , that shall refuse to keepe the cursed company now and than ; nay but a foole , vnlesse he seeme to chuse : their fellowship , and giue them highest place . that vildest liue , and furthest off from grace . but better t is , belieue me , in my tryall , to shun such hel-hounds , factors of the diuell ; and giue them leaue to grudge at your deniall , then to partake with such in sinne and euill : for if that god ( in iustice ) then should slay vs , from hell and horror , who ( alas ) could stay vs ? good god ; the iust ( as he himselfe hath spoken ) should scarce be saued , o terror vnremouable , what then should they that neuer had a token , or signe of grace ( soules comfort most behoueable ) but gracelesse liu'd , and all good deedes did hate . what hope of them that liue in such a state ? o who will giue meteares , that i may waile both nights and dayes , the dangers i haue past ; my soule , my soule , t is much for thy auaile , that thou art gotten from these straits at last : o ioy , but in thy ioy mixe teares withall , that thou hast time to say ; lord heare me call . i might as others ( lord ) haue perished , amid my sinnes and damnable delights ; but thou ( good god ) with care my soule hast cherished , and brought it home , to taste on heau'nly lights : ay me , what thankes , what seruice can i render to thee , that of my safety art so tender ? now doe i curse the time i euer went in sinnes blacke path , that leadeth to damnation : now do i hate the houres , i haue misse-spent in ydle vice , neglecting soules saluation , and to redeeme the time i haue mis-worne ; i wish this houre , i were againe new borne . but vaine it is , as saith the wisest man , to call againe the day that once is past , o let me see what best is for me than , to gaine thy fauour whil'st my life doth last ; that in the next i may but worthy be , eu'n in the meanest place to waite on thee . i will , as did the prodigall sonne sometime , vpon my knees with harty true contrition , and weeping eies , confesse my former crime , and humbly begge vpon my low submission , that thou wilt not of former faults detect me , but like a louing father now respect me . or , as the wife that hath her husband wronged , so wil i come with feare and blushing cheeke : for giuing others what to thee belonged ; and say , my king , my lord , and spouse most meeke , i haue defil'd the bed that thou didst owe ; forgiue me this , it shall no more be so . yet , for the world can witnes mine abuse , i le hide my face from face that witcht mine eies ; these gracelesse eies , that had my bodies vse , till it be withred with my verie cries : that when my wrinckles shall my sorrowes tell , the world may say , i ioy'd not , though i fell . and thus will i , in sorrowing spend my breath , and spot my face with neuer-dying teares , till aged wrinckles messengers of death haue purchasde mercy , and remou'd my feares : and then the world within my lookes shall read , the piteous wracke vnbrideled sinne hath bred . and that which was a pleasure to beholde , shal be to me an euer-griping paine ; all my misdeedes shall one and one be tolde , that i may see what tyrants haue mee slaine : and when i haue thus mustred them apart , i will display on each a bleeding hart . and lest my teares should faile me at most need , before the face of faith i le fix my sauiours passion ; and see how his most pretious side did bleed , and note his death and torments in such fashion ; as neuer man the like did vndertake , for freely he hath done it for my sake . if this his kindenesse and his mercy showne , cannot prouoke me vnto tender crying ; then will i backe againe turne to mine owne , mine owne sinne , cause of this his cruell dying : and if for them no teares mine eies can find , sighs shal cause tears , tears make my poore eies blind . no farre fetcht story haue i now brought home , nor taught to speake more language than his mothers , no long done poem , is from darkenesse come to light againe , it 's ill to fetch from others : the song i sing , is made of heart-bred sorrow , which pensiue muse from pining soule doth borow . i sing not i , of wanton loue-sicke laies , of trickling to yes , to feed fantasticke eares , my muse respects no flattring tatling praise ; a guiltie conicience this sad passion beares : my sinne sicke soule , with sorrow woe begone , lamenting thus a wretched deede mis-done . finis . the soules heavenly exercise set downe in diuerse godly meditations, both prose and verse, by nicholas breton gent breton, nicholas, ?- ? approx. kb of xml-encoded text transcribed from -bit group-iv tiff page images. text creation partnership, ann arbor, mi ; oxford (uk) : - (eebo-tcp phase ). a stc . estc s this keyboarded and encoded edition of the work described above is co-owned by the institutions providing financial support to the early english books online text creation partnership. this phase i text is available for reuse, according to the terms of creative commons . universal . the text can be copied, modified, distributed and performed, even for commercial purposes, all without asking permission. early english books online. (eebo-tcp ; phase , no. a ) transcribed from: (early english books online ; image set ) images scanned from microfilm: (early english books, - ; : ) the soules heavenly exercise set downe in diuerse godly meditations, both prose and verse, by nicholas breton gent breton, nicholas, ?- ? [ ], p. [by r. bradock] for vvillam leake, imprinted at london : . in prose and verse. running title reads: the soules exercise. identified as stc a in reel guide. imperfect; pages - fragments; pages - bound out of place. reproduction of the original in the folger shakespeare library. created by converting tcp files to tei p using tcp tei.xsl, tei @ oxford. re-processed by university of nebraska-lincoln and northwestern, with changes to facilitate morpho-syntactic tagging. gap elements of known extent have been transformed into placeholder characters or elements to simplify the filling in of gaps by user contributors. eebo-tcp is a partnership between the universities of michigan and oxford and the publisher proquest to create accurately transcribed and encoded texts based on the image sets published by proquest via their early english books online (eebo) database (http://eebo.chadwyck.com). the general aim of eebo-tcp is to encode one copy (usually the first edition) of every monographic english-language title published between and available in eebo. eebo-tcp aimed to produce large quantities of textual data within the usual project restraints of time and funding, and therefore chose to create diplomatic transcriptions (as opposed to critical editions) with light-touch, mainly structural encoding based on the text encoding initiative (http://www.tei-c.org). the eebo-tcp project was divided into two phases. the , texts created during phase of the project have been released into the public domain as of january . anyone can now take and use these texts for their own purposes, but we respectfully request that due credit and attribution is given to their original source. users should be aware of the process of creating the tcp texts, and therefore of any assumptions that can be made about the data. text selection was based on the new cambridge bibliography of english literature (ncbel). if an author (or for an anonymous work, the title) appears in ncbel, then their works 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reviewed and edited - pfs batch review (qc) and xml conversion the sovles heavenly exercise set downe in diuerse godly meditations , both prose and verse , by nicholas breton gent. ¶ imprinted at london , for vvillam leake , . to the right honorable william rider , lord maior of the citie of london . right honorable , i haue read , that newely after the coronation of alexander the greate , diuers of his subiectes , as well of the nobilitie , as meaner condition , did present his greatnesse , with such giftes as their abilities could purchase , to manifest the na ture of their loue , or seruice : among all which , a poore mason , not so rich as cunning , in his arte ; and yet as willing as any , in some token of his seruice , to make some manifestation of his humble loue , brought into the court a bagge full of stones ; but what they were , or how they were wrought , was not knowen to anie , neither would hee let any man see them , till hee was brought vnto the emperour : where , vpon a table , hee laid before him his owne image , but in so deade a colour , as if hee were to be laid in his graue , with these words written vpon his breaste , talis eris . diuers of his court , at the beholding thereof , began to frowne at the poore mason , that hee durst at such a time of pleasing triumphes , present his maiestie with a picture of such melancholy : but the emperour , taking by the inspiration of gods holy spirit , a gratious apprehension of the poore mans loue , not only did thankfully accept the present , which he caused to be set vp in his owne chamber , euer after , as a cōtinual glasse for him euening & morning , & at all houres to looke vpon , but after a bountifull reward , entertaining him for his owne mason , vsed these wordes of him vnto al those that did attend in his presence : here are many of yee , that i am beholding to , for many tokens of your loue and seruice , but chiefely vnto this man : for some of yee haue beene sent by your fathers , some , by your friends , some from your own spirits , with such thinges as ye haue presented : but this man neither from father , friend , nor from himselfe ; but onely from god of heauen was sent vnto mee , not with a toy to delight mee , nor a iewell to enrich mee , but with a continual warning , not to sinke in the delight of vanitie , nor to trust in the drosse of this worldly treasure , but in the greatest of my greatnesse , to humble my selfe , to him that is greater than i , & who hauing made me greate , can bringe mee to nothing at all ; and whatsoeuer , i am , or may be , doth she we mee what in the end i shall be . thus farre of this historie i haue set downe for my purpose . your lordship , newly stept vp vnto the state of honour , i know shall be followed with many friends , and gratified with many presents , which i know you will not receiue vnthankfully : but among all , i beseech you not to refuse , at the hands of an humble heart , the passionate meditations of a patient spirite : which , in the euening , and morning , and at all houres , if your lordshippe wil vouchsafe at your leasure to looke vpon , yee shall see , that whosoeuer hath come to you , and whatsoeuer is brought you , god that set mee to worke , hath sent mee vnto you , to present you with such a glasse , as will shewe the great comfort of his grace . by which i humbly beseech his eternall maiestie , to guide your thoughtes , wordes , and deedes , to his infinite glorie , the contentment of her maiestie , the increase of your owne honour , and the comfort of all that loue you : among whome , the least worthie to bee named , i humbly rest your honours , in all humblenesse , n. b. the sovles exercise . a prayer for the lord maior . in the morning . oh blessed , gratious , most merciful & glo rious good god , whose only eye of mercie beholdeth all the dwellers vpon y e earth , & out of the bounty of thine only blessing , dost elect thy creatures to thy seruice , my deare god , that tookest moses out of the water , to leade thy people through y e wildernesse , dauid from y e sheepefolde , to sway the scepter ouer thy people israell , and ioseph from the prison , to be gouernor ouer many people ; & now out of meane estate hast aduanced me , among many , thy most vnworthy seruant , vnder y e scepter of my gratious soueraigne , to sway the sword of iustice ouer this thy blessed city , let not sweet lord , this great blessing of thy goodnesse be lost in my vnthankfulnesse , but so inspire my hart and soule w t y e grace of thy holy spirit , y t by the rules of thy direction , i may discharge the care of my duty , by thy mercy , & my soueraigns boūty cōmitted vnto mee ; y t thy name may be glorified , her maiesty pleased , & thy people preserued . blessed god , blesse , i beseech thee , all thy people of this cyty & land ; but especially , thy gratious and chosen seruant , and our most gratious and soueraigne queene , elizabeth : inspire her with the speciall grace of thy holy spirit , that in the wisdome of thy will , she may direct the course of her happie daies , and by the mercy of her iustice , she may so carry the scepter of her gouernement , that thy glory may be encreased , her maiesty admired , and vnder thee , her people be blessed . blesse oh god all her honorable counsell , that they may vnfainedly discharge the care of their dueties , in the true honour of their places : blesse the preachers of thy holy worde , with the true knowledge and deliuery of thy holy word , and giue them that inwarde care of thy holy will , that , by the faithfulnesse of their loues vnto thee , they may be lights of good life vnto thy people . blesse all the magistrates , not only of this place , but wheresoeuer , w t a good and dutifull care of their charge committed vnto them : and giue me , in the grace of thy holy spirit , that true feeling of thy goodnesse , that in the sway of iustice , i may not swarue from thy lawe , but with continuall care of thy will , i may so discharge the duety of my seruice , that in all my courses i may seeke to glorifie thy holy name , the contentment of my gratious soueraigne , and the benefit of this , thine , and her citie . oh gratious god , holde thy hande of mercie ouer it , destroy it not with sodome and gomorrah , for the sinnes that raigne in it : but like niniue reforme it , and in thy mercie , preserue it : make many good gouernours ouer it , and thy people obedient vnto authoritie : oh gratious god , encrease the happie daies of our gratious soueraigne queene elizabeth , not as thou didst hezekiahs , with fifteene yeares , but many fifteens : continue her faithfull , and honourable counsellours , this and all her cities and townes , discreete and carefull magistrates , and euery where , true louing & obedient subiects : preserue not only this city , but the whole realme , w t y t gratious plentie and blessed peace , wherein it now liueth , and giue me grace to my vttermost power , to labour for the preseruation of this place . oh lord let not this my aduancement make me vnthankfully forget thee : but acknowledgeing thy goodnesse , be euer mindefull of thy mercie , neither let the pride of authoritie , the masse of treasure , nor any worlds felicitie , haue power to draw mee from thee , but that thankfully accepting thy blessings , and carefully discharging y e duty of thy seruant , whensoeuer it shall please thee to call mee , i may willingly leaue the worlde for thy loue : oh god heare mee i humbly beseech thee , be thou a wall vnto this citie , to defende it from foraine force , and blesse it with that ioyfull peace , that may cōtinue the concorde of thy people . graunt this oh god , and whatsoeuer else thy glorious maiesty , in thy gratious mercy , shall thinke needefull for mee ; that after i haue passed my pilgrimage in this vale of misery , i may by the merite of thy mercy , obtaine a place , in that true paradise , where , with thy saintes and angels , in the traine of thy beloued , though the least in thy kingdome , in thy heauenly ierusalem , i may be one of thy blessed citizens , where in the ioy of my soule , i may sing to thy glory . amen . another for the euening . oh gratious god , with most humble , thākfulnesse to thy holy glorious maiesty , for thy heauenly preseruation of mee , this day , and all the daies of my life , i humbly beseech thee receiue me with all the magistrates and members of this citie , into the heauenly guard of thy holy grace , be thou a continuall watch ouer it , that none of thy people doe perish in it : awake those that sleepe in their sinnes and take them againe vnto thy grace , confound the deuises of the wicked , that seeke the destruction of thy people . blesse the labours of the vertuous , preserue my gratious soueraigne , and withall her faithfull counsellours , and louing & obedient subiects , blesse mee and my house , make vs , and continue vs , thy humble and faithfull obedient seruants , and in the peace of thy mercie , receiue vs into the almightie hād of thy holy preseruation ; y t waking or sleeping , vprising , downelying , going forth and comming in , being preserued by thine only goodnesse , wee may glorifie thy holy name , thorough our only lord , and sauiour , iesus christ. amen . o almighty god , and heauenly father , from the hande of whose onelie bounty floweth the riuer of all comfort , and , in y e foūtain of whose grace , is foūd y e only water of life ; d eternall god , father of all mercy , and god of all glory , who knewest mee before i was , hast made me that i am , and art not ignorant what i shall be , in y e worke of thine only will , to the only glory of thy holy name ; how shall i vile and wretched worme of this earth , & wicked , sinfull creature of this world , humble my selfe enough at the feete of thy mercy , to offer vp vnto thy holy maiesty , with y e teares of my heart , the sacrifice of my soule ? sweete lord , i am foule , and polluted with iniquitie , & am therfore ashamed to come before thee : i haue beene a rebell to thy lawes , and am therfore worthy to be banished from thy presence : yea , i haue so delighted in sinne , that i am afraide of thy iudgement . oh lord , i am full of feare , my sinnes are before mee , my conscience doth condemne me , and thy iustice falleth heauily vpō mee , and whither then shall i fly to helpe mee ? if to heauen , i knowe the aungels will abhorre mee , if to the worlde , it will but further infect mee , and if to hell , it will but torment mee . is there then no helpe for me ? yes sweet lord : in iudgemēt hath iustice her grace , but in mercie hath iustice her glorie : in y e glorie therefore of thy mercie , i humbly beseech thee looke vpon me : of nothing thou madest me , & being worse then nothing without thee , let me ioy in nothing but thee : be thou the strēgth of my hart against the enemies of my soule , and the life of my loue in the ioy of my spirit ; that , being defēded by thy mighty arme , and preserued by thy bolie spirite , in y e gladnesse of my hart , i may sing to thy glory . amen . most mercifull , and almighty glorious euerliuing and euerlouing god , y e comfort of thy sorowfull , the ioye of thy faithfull , & life of thy beloued , heare , i humbly beseech thee , the humble praiers , of a penitent sinner , from the high throane of thy holy mercy , cast one good looke of thy comfortable pitty , vpon the wounded soule of thy vnworthy seruant . o deere lord , thou knowest my sins , and my sorrows are not hid from thee : what shall i doe to be ridde of this foule euil ? no surgeon can launce it , phisicke can cure it , nor salue can heale it . oh the wounde of sinne , that corrupteth the heart , cankreth the flesh , and eates into the very soule : is there no way to kill it ? shall thy seruant liue in it ? and his life die in it ? sweete lord say no , for thou only canst say no : thou hast conquered the author of it , thou hast a remedy against it , & canst wholly consume it : sweete christ therefore , that knowest my hurte , & hast my helpe , heare my cry , & send me comfort ▪ in thine vnspeake able good nesse looke mercifully vpon me , with one droppe of thy deare blood , wash me cleane frō my iniquities , with one spark of thy grace , enter into my soule , and rebuke the wicked fiend that he follow me no more : saue me out of the y e claws of the serpent , keepe from the assaults of the diuell , and deliuer mee from the malice of the wicked : let me humbly seeke thee , truely finde thee , faithfully loue thee , and continually liue to thee : make mee hate the worlde for thy loue , and forsake my selfe to follow thee : dissolue me intoteares , to fill the bottle of thy mercie , consume me into sighs to make a sacrifice to thy glory , make me nothing my selfe to be wholly thy seruant : do with me what thou wilt ▪ so i may be to thy holy will , let me die to sinne , & liue to grace , that in y e true fruits of repentance , i may glorifie thy holy name : and in the ioy of my soule , i may sing to thy glory . amen . o most mercifull and almighty god , lord of all comfort , loue , and life , in whose holy sight is no mārighteous , whose wrath no man is able to abide , & whose power no man is able to resist : o glorious king , before the feete of whose eternall maiestie , the very angels doe tremble , the powers of heauen doe shake , and the mountaines are readie to melt , how shal this sinfull and wretched soule of mine , that with so many horrible sinnes hath offended the glory of thine vnspeakeable goodnes , presume before the seate of thy sacred pittie , w t the least hope of thy mercy . in my selfe is nothing but sin , & ini quity , both hatefull in thy sight : to my sin belōgeth nothing but horror & cōfusion , by y e iudgemēt of thy vnpartiall iustice : and how then can i looke for any thing in my selfe , but hel , & dānation ! dear god , i cōfesse vnto thy diuine maiestie , such is y e nature of my corruption , as giues me no other expectation , whiles i looke vpō mine owne desert : but when againe , with the humble eye of a penitent heart , i beholde the bleeding wounds of the blessed bodie of thy dearely beloued sonne iesus christ , and see in his merite a present helpe for all my hurte , in his death , my life , and in his loue , my eternall consolation ; how can i despaire of one droppe of comfort ? where i see a fountaine of so much grace , as quencheth y e thirst of all y t come vnto it , ioyeth y e harts of all that taste of it , and reuiueth the soules of all that drinke of it : no , my deare lord , in him alone , i humbly beseech thee , looke vpon mee , in his woundes let me hide me , till in his merite , thy mercie heale mee : i dare not speake to thee : let him onely speake for me , beholde his goodnesse , and not my wickednesse , looke on him that hath pleased thee , and for his sake forget mee that haue offended thee : it is i that haue deserued death for my sinnes ; but it is he that hath dyed for thē ; and since hee hath satisfied thy iustice , in him let mee begge mercy : mercy good lord , lord of all mercy be merciful vnto me , in christ his passion forgiue mee , in his loue looke vpon me , let his bloode wash mee cleane from my sins , and his kindnesse be a mediatour for my comfort ▪ that , being by him redeemed to thy seruice , i may in his loue , liue to thy glorie , and in the comfort of thy holy spirite , in the blessing of his merit , and ioy of thy mercie , i may sing to thy holie maiestie , the eternall halleluiah . amen . o blessed lord , father of all goodnesse & mercie , who seest the very thoughts of men , before they be effected , and knowest the world before it was created ; o incomprehensible god , whose vnsearchable wisdome is vnspeakeable in all goodnesse , who hast made the heauens for thy beloued , and beholdest on earth the teares of thy afflicted ; who onely canst doe all things at thy good pleasure , & art plesed in nothing but goodnes : sweete lord y t hast mercy ouer al thy works and art the onelie worker of all mercie , who hast commaunded al to come vnto thee , hearest all that cry vnto thee , and helpest all that trust in thee ; deare god among the humble heartes of those penitēt soules , that , with the teares of true repentance , in the faith of thy sonnes merit , fly onely to thy sacred mercy , i most humbly beseech thee , vouchsafe thy gratious eare , to y e grieuous complainte of my tormented spirit : oh lord , that hast enlightened my soule w t the shining beames of thy grace , that hath taken awaie the scales from mine eyes , that would not let mee see the heauen of thy holy loue , hast , in the pretious blood of thy deare beloued sonne iesus , cleansed mee from my sinnes , and in the sweetenes of thy loue giuen me a taste of thy selfe , hast reformed my soule to thy seruice , & anewe moulded my minde to thy mercy , sweete lord i humbly beseech thee , let not all this good be lost in me , that thou hast done for me ; giue mee not ouer to my selfe , that sinne doe not ouercome me , but keepe mee so vnder thy winges , that no wicked spirit may haue power ouer mee . thou knowest my tēptations , oh deliuer me from them : rebuke those wicked spirits , that i may be ridde of them , and confound their illusions , that i be not deceiued by them . o lord cōsider my miseries , i am a wretched sinner , dust and ashes , f●● of nothing but corruptiō , weaknes & iniquity , & thou art a glorious god , spirit & life , creator of al cōfort , & only ful of al power , goodnes , & glory : sweet lord therfore in thy pitty looke vpon me , make me strong in thee , y t am weak in my selfe , wise in thee , y t am foolish in my selfe , & holy in thee , y t am wicked in my selfe ; be merciful vnto me , & helpe mee , plague thē y t seeke y e hurt of mysoule , & confound them y t seeke to drawe me from thy loue . from the loue of this worlde , from the delight of sinne , and from the assaults of the diuell , good lord deliuer mee : from presumptuous sinnes , and despaire of thy mercy , sweete iesu preserue mee . hate me not for my sinnes , but pittie mee for thy selfe ; oh saue me , for i am thy seruant : beholde the sorrowes of my soule , i haue roared for the very disquiet of my heart ; oh blesse mee with the peace of thy holie spirite , that i may sing to the glory of thy mercy . amen . o blessed god , father of all power , mercy , & comfort , whose graces are infinite , and whose glory is vnspeakeable : o god of all goodnesse , who canst not be but good , whose goodnesse is almighty , & whose power is ful of mercy : sweet lord that seest the misery of man , without the comfort of thy grace , the weakenes of man , without y e assistance of thy holy spirit , and the sorrowe of man , without the ioy of thy loue , let not the burthen of sinne , lie so heauie vpon the wounded conscience of thy wretched creature , that harty praiers may obtain no hearing , true repentance may gaine no comfort , nor bitter teares moue any compassion ; let not the wicked fiend so haūt y e soule of a sinner , y t he haue no thought of thy grace : let not the cares of this world , y e feare of death , the sorrow of sinne , nor the suggestion of the diuell driue him into despaire of thy mercy : looke on him whome thou hast made , hear him whom thou hast called , and saue him whom thou hast redeemed , heale the heart that is wounded , and comforte the soule that is full of sorrowe ; in thy power fight for mee against the enemy that doth assault my soule , in thy goodnesse cure me of thei ll wherwith he hath infected mee , and in thy mercie defende mee from the temptations , wherewith hee seeketh to destroy mee . thou art my life , oh let mee liue in thee : thou art my loue , let me neuer be from thee : thou art my lord , let me liue but to thee : thou art my god , oh let mee euer be with thee : i haue sinned , and woe is mee , but i am sory , & well is mee : for in the sorrowe of my sinne , is my hope of thy mercie , and in the hope of thy mercie , is the ioy of my soule . thou biddest mee repent , and i shall haue mercie , aske , and i shall haue , knocke , and it shall be opened vnto mee : o my deare god , with the deepe sighes of vnfained sorrowe , and the true teares of my hearts repentance , haue i knocked at the gates of thy gratious mercie , begging an almes from y e hand of thy blessed bountie , one crumme of comfort from the table of thy mercie , one looke of pittie from the eye of thy loue , one droppe of thy bloode to cleanse mee from my sinnes , one droppe of thy grace to feede the lampe of my loue , and one looke of thy loue to make me liue for euer . sweete iesu seeme not deafe to me , who hearest all that cry vnto thee , but open the gates of thy mercie , and let in the soule of thy vnworthy seruant : that being rauished with the ioy of thy presēcc , i may sing aloude , to thy glory . amen . o most mercifull god , the fountaine of all goodnesse , and glorie of mercie , who seest y e ioyes of the soule , that is touched w t the finger of thy loue , and knowest the sorrowes of the heart , that languisheth in the griefe of thy displeasure : i humbly beseech thee haue mercy vpon the afflicted spirite of thy poore vnworthy creature : who sometime is rauished with the admiration of thy goodnesse , but no sooner falleth from the hande of thy mercie , but is readie through the illusion of sinne , to drowne in the sea of iniquitie ; where , how deepe are the sorrowes of the repentant , let thy seruant peter be a witnesse . but , what is a plant , that hath no earth to growe in ? what is a fish that hath no water to swimme in ? what is the heart that hath no loue to liue in ? and what is the soule , that hath not thy spirite to ioy in ? oh , when thy seruant peter was rauished , in the sweetenesse of his ioy , he forgat y e greatnesse of thy goodnesse ▪ when presuming of his owne power , he remembred not the gift of thy grace : who then saide , hee would die for thy loue , but shortly after denyed thee , & thy loue : in the feeling time of thy loue , death was sweete to his imagination , but in y e withdrawing time of thy mercy , life was sweet to his corruption ; in y e ioyfull time of thy loue , hee was like a plant y t florished by the river side , who , in the groūd of thy grace did prosper w t the deaw of thy mercy : but no sooner fell from the blessing of thy holy spirit ▪ but he was like a blasted stock , y t loosing his sap was ready to be cut down , & cast into y e ster : but sweete lord , thou didst tel him his folly , & correct him for his fault : thou shewedst him his weak nesse , and thou gauest him strēgth , he loued thee , & thou knewst it ; yet he forgot thee and thou sawest it ; but how sweetly didst thou deale w t him ? thou didst loue him euer , & didst leaue him but for a while . thou keptst sap in y e roote , that made the tree to flourish , and to bringe forth much fruite : yea to him , who had thrust himselfe out of paradise , thou gauest the keies of heauen gates . howe greate then is thy goodnesse ? that forgiuing offences , wilt ioy the hearte with such gladnesse . sweete christ , thou sawest his sorrow with his sinne , and setting the one against the other , diddest cure him of both ; his words were heinous in denying of thee : but his teares were bitter that hee shedde for thee : when thy hande of mercie wiping away y t one , would not let thee looke on the other : such was thy regarde of his loue , as put his sinnes out of thy remembrance . o sweete iesu , is thy mercie closed vp into so narrowe a compasse , that only peter hath the benefit of thy blessing ? no , my dear loue , i know thou art almighty , all good , & all glo rious : thy mercie is ouer all thy workes ▪ and i am one of them whom thou hast made : thou camest to call sinners to repentance , and with confession of mine vnrighteousnesse , i cry vnto thee for mercy : thine eares are open vnto all , and therefore i know thou wilt heare me , thine eyes beholde all things , & therefore i know , with my sins my sorrowes are not hid from thee : thou art good to all that trust in thee , and therefore my hope is onely in thee : but where peter denied thee once , i haue denyed thee too often , & where he repēted in tears , i haue continued in sins , he therfore obtained mercy , & i haue deserued punishmēt : but yet at what time soeuer a sinner repēteth him of his from the bottom of his hart , thou hast promised , sweete lord , that thou wilt put all his wickednesse out of thy remembrance : thy promise is trueth , & thy truthe can not faile , and therefore in the faith of thy trueth , w t the teares of sorrowe i fly to the comfort of thy mercy : i dare not boast of my loue , my soule hath beene so blotted with iniquitie ; but cry in the sorrowe of my sinne , o lord thinke vpon mee in thy mercie , and though i be not peter , yet be thou christ. i come not to him to be let in at thy gates , but cry vnto thee for the comfort of thy mercie , most humbly beseeching thee , to forgiue me my wickednesse , and to inspire mee with thy goodnesse ; that if i slide , yet i may not greatly fall , but in the feeling of thy mercie , i may lay downe my life in thy loue , and in the comfort of such grace , giue thee wholly y e glory : let no cocke crowe at my deniall of thee , but the angels reioyce at my confession of thee : yea let my soule be so rauished with the loue of thee , that i may ioy in nothinge but thee , and in the ioyfull ioy of my soule , sing to thee , the onely true , due , and eternall halleluiah . amen . blessed lord , and lord of al blessednesse , father of all mercy , and god of all goodnesse , who out of the aboundance of thy heauenly store , dost enrich the soules of thy belooued seruantes , and sufferest none to perish , that put their trust in thy mercie , looke i humbly beseech thee , vpon the miserable neede of my distressed soule , which pining thoroughe the wante of thy grace , cryeth vnto the glorie of thy pitty ; merciful lord , be mercifull vnto me , the sorrowes of my hart are enlarged , oh bring thou me out of my troubles : many are the sorrowes , that i endure , but most in the cold feeling of thy comfort ; for , when i faine would seeke after thee , the cares of this worlde , the corruption of the flesh , and the illusions of the diuell are readie to drawe mee from thee : in thy word i haue beene vnfaithfull , for thy blessings vnthankefull , and if thy seruice vndutifull : if thou correct me , i am vnpatient , if thou forbeare me , i am vngratious , and in thou entreate mee , i am vnkinde . thus euery way , wo is me , i am so full of iniqnitie , that goodnesse hath almost no place in me : sinne hath taken such holde vpon mee , that despaire hath almost possest mee ; but yet sweete lord , if thou but touch y e heart , al the bodie wil haue health , and if it please thee to comfort the soule , how can the heart be agrieued ▪ o deare god , at thy rebuke the windes were downe , the waues were calme , the ship was safe , and thy disciples were ioyfull : at the touch of thy finger , the blinde receiued their sight , and at the sounde of thy voice , a legion of diuels ranne away . o lord , all power is in thy will , and all glorie is in thy mercie : in thy glorious mercie therefore i humbly beseech thee looke vpon me , deliuer me from y e troubles that in the depth of sorrow seeke the drowning of my soule , touch the eyes of my heart with the finger of thy mercie , that beholding the glorie of thy goodnesse , it may humble it selfe to thy seruice , and driue from mee all those wicked spirites , that doe hourely torment mee with temptations : o lord thou knowest my heart , & hast seene my soule in aduersities : thou hast euer been my comfort in my troubles ; oh leaue mee not to the will of mine aduersaries . o deare god , thou hast created mee for thy selfe , and wilt thou not knowe mee in thy selfe ▪ thou hast redeemed me by thy selfe , and wilt thou put mee from thy selfe ? yea thou hast comforted me with thy selfe , and wilt thou not take mee to thy selfe ? yes , my sweete lord , though sinne hath woūded mee , thy mercie can heale mee , and thy word doth assure mee , that thou wilt haue mercie vpon mee ▪ thy blood is not so dry , but thou hast one droppe for my comfort . thou art the good sheepeheard ▪ that wilt loose none of thy flocke , and thou art alwaies with mee , for thy right hand doth vphold me : great are my troubles , but thou canst deliuer me out of al : yea in the midst of my calamities , thy rod and thy staffe doe comfort mee : sweete lord , therefore beholde my confession , and accept my submission , forgiue mee my sinnes , and comfort mee with thy graces , strengthen my faith , and blesse my beliefe in thee : humble my soule in thy mercie , and let mee not bee vndutifull in thy seruice : make me thankefull in the labour of my loue , vnto the mercie of thy holie maiestie ; giue mee patience in thy correction , repentance in thy forbearāce , and true ioy but in thy loue : so being wholly wrought vnto thee , longing euer for thee , and ioying onely in thee , i may most ioyfully sing with thy seruant dauid ; the lord is the portion of mine inheritance . goe the worlde to whom̄e it will , my soule , ioy thou onely in the lord , knowing that hee hath giuen himselfe to the crosse for thy comfort : him onely loue , him onely serue , and to him onely giue all glory , worlde without end . amen . be mercifull vnto mee , o god , be merciful vnto me , for man goeth about to deuoure me , he is dailie fighting , and troubling me : so many are the occasions of euill that drawe mee from thee , that i knowe not almost how to come to thee : yet sweete lord , though i am fearefull of thy displeasure , i despaire not of thy mercie ; for though thou awest thy children , yet dost thou not terrifie thy seruants , & whom once thou hast chosen , they can neuer be forsaken : for thou art the comfort of the afflicted , and the ioy of thy sorrowfull : and therefore in the sorrowe of my soule doe i flie onelie to thee to thy mercy , for my cōfort : thou cleansest their eyes , y t wold , & cānot see thee , thou openest their ears , y t would & can not heare thee : yea , thou strēgthenest their faith y t cōfes their vnbelief vnto thee ▪ o lord therfore of thy goodnesse , cleare my blindnes , y t haue wandred awry from y e way of thy ▪ holy will , heale me of my deafenesse , y t haue too long harkened vnto the follies of y e world , & strengthen my beliefe , that hath bin too weake in thy holy word : so shall mine eies be euer looking towards thee , mine eares shal be delighted with y e hearing of thy voice , and my soule shal reioyce in the faith of thy mercie : yea my hart shall loue thee , and my lips shal praise thee : hear me therefore sweet lord & helpe me , haue mercy vpon mee , & bring me out of my troubles , that in the rest of thy mercy , i may sing to thy glory . amen . my god , my god , looke vpon mee take not vengeance of my sins , but spare mee whom thou hast redremed with thy most pretious bloode , and be not angry w t mee for euer : so many are y e sorrowes that compasse mee in on euery side , as without the greater feeling of thy mercy , wil confound y e hope of my comfort . o sweete lord , i goe mourning all the day long , and all with feare of thy displeasure , which i confesse i haue deserued , & therfore am iustly punished ; but sweete father haue mercie vpon mee , beholde the teares of true repentance , that in the bitternesse of vnfained sorrow , in the humilitie of my soule , cry vnto thy blessed patience for one droppe of thy pittie : louing father , looke vpon mee , and stroake mee with the hand of thy cōfort , whom thou hast stricken , with the rodd of thy correction : chide but be not angry , let not thy wrath burne like fire , that art so glorious in thy mercie : turne thy face from my sinnes , and blot out all mine iniquities out of thy remembrance , out of the hel of my miseries , take mee to the heauen of thy mercies : let mee feele thy louing kindnesse in the morning , that i may sing all day of thy goodnesse : woe is mee that euer i swarued from thee , and well onely were it with me , if i could euer be with thee : o god of all perfection haue patience with my corruption , o lord of all goodnesse forgiue mee my wickednesse , and o king of all glorie , comfort me with one crūme of thy mercie : thou hast created mee in thy power , redeemed mee in thy loue , and in thy holy spirite sanctified mee ; and wilt thou now forsake mee , that hast done all this good for mee ▪ no , sweety lord , thou art wise , and knowest what is meete for me ; though i knowe not what is good for my selfe ; but , sweete lord , i humbly beseech thee , helpe mine ignorance , and make mee to knowe what is conuenient for mee , in thy holy will , y t thou chastenest , whom thou louest , and therefore i may take comfort in thy correction : that scourges are but trials of thy loue , where patience is a blessing of thy mercie ; while faith is neuer destitute of comfort , that is laid vp for euer in thy loue : thus deare lord i humbly beseech thee to deale with thy vnworthy seruant , that if i be plagued with iob , i may haue patience w t iob , if i haue paules troubles , i may haue pauls faith , and pauls loue : so in the feeling of my ioyes wil my sorrows be forgotten , and in the ioy of thy loue shall i reioyce for euermore : but , my deare lord , iob was a iust man , and feared to offend thee , & i am a wicked wretch that haue not feared to displease thee : paul was faithful thorough thy grace , and i am fearefull through my sinne , and therefore their troubles turned to their ioyes , while my punishments are continuall torments : yet sweete lord iesu , i can not so forget thee , but i must needes come to thee ; and though ashamed to come before thee , yet behinde thee , to touch y e hemme of thy garment : i haue beene vnfaithfull , oh helpe my vnbeliefe , and in the sweetenesse of thy mercie , shewe the greatnesse of thy glorie : thou sauedst peter frō drowning in the sea , oh saue me from sinking into sinne , thou sauedst daniel in the lyons denne , oh saue mee from the mouthes of my lyonishe enemies , thou tookest ionas out of the whales belly , oh take mee out of the whale of this hellish world : thou sauest all that trust in thee , oh saue mee that trust onely but in thee : in thee sweete lord , the onely life of my loue , & whole ioy of my heart ▪ heare me therfore , i beseech thee , and in thy mercie helpe me ▪ among the number of thy elected , let mee be one of thy belooued , that in the traine of thine aungels , though y e least in thy kingdome , yet in the ioy of my soule i may sing to thy glorie . amen . eternall power of eternall peace , holy , and almightie glorie of incomprehensible maiesty , most mercifull and only good god , who hast made all thinges by thy power , by thy mercie preseruest them , and by thy wisdome dost gouern them , sweete lord , deare life ▪ liuing loue , who hast created all thinges for man , and man only for thy seruice ; who lettest nothing be idle that may worke to thy glory , and art thyselfe euer in working to the only glorie of thy goodnesse , who causest the windes to blowe , the clowdes to raine , and y e earth to giue her increase , and all for the seruice of man , and him only , aboue all creatures thou hast blessed with reason to iudge betwixt good and euill , and hauing gouernment ouer all things on earth , to be gouerned only by thy most gratious goodnesse ; sweete lord , that seest the very senselesse creatures all in their natures , holde the due of their obedience , in their seruice to thy glorie , onely man , to whom the mercie of thy holie maiystie , hath giuen a spirit of higher blessing , wherwith to glorify thy holy goodnesse , and for that thou hast done for him , askest nothing , but to acknowledge thy bounty , and to giue thankes to thy glory yet seest how this creature of thy loue , framed nearest to thine owne image , in forgetfulnesse of thy grace , is become vnthankfull to thy glorie , giues ear to illusiōs breaks thy commaundement , and runnes headlong to destruction , without the greater holde of thy mercie , yet in that thou hatest nothing y t thou hast made , delightest not in the death of a sinner , but art glorious in thy mercy , sweete iesu , suffer not sathan , nor any wicked spirit , so to gouerne in the worlde , as to drawe thy people from thee : but blesse them with thy holy spirite , that they may knowe thee for and all the creatures therein power to giue their encrease , yea and themselues to the seruice of man , giue him power in the humilitie of his soule , and thankfulnesse of heart , to giue thy gratious maiesty , some fruits of thy blessing , yea & w t all that he hath to giue himselfe wholly to thy ser who was made only by thee and for thee . let him not liue in corruption , that was framed in perfection ; thou art his god , and hee is thy creature , thou art his father , make him thy childe , thou art his lord , keepe him thy seruant , thou art his euer life , oh let him not die for euer : no creature on earth , that liueth only to it selfe , but all to thy glorie , and shall onely man liue onely to himselfe , and so be vnthankfull to thy goodnesse ? sweete lord forbid , hatefull be that nature of iniquitie , that draweth man out of paradise , and throweth him headlōg into hell , fie on that accursed fiend , that so be witcheth the soule with the delight of sin , and wo be to vnhappy man that so forgetteth y e godnes of his god : but yet sweete iesu , my lord , my master my father , my king , and my god , looke i humbly beseech thee , vpon thy wretched creature , thy vnworthy seruant , thy vngodlie childe , and thy rebellious subiect : in thy mercy looke vpon mee , looke vpon myrepentance , not my rebellions ; my sorrowes , not my sinnes ; my teares , not mine iniquities : heale my woūds , for they are corrupted , and wash me cleane , for i am fowly infected : keeps mee from the in chaunting charmes of all wicked spirites , and in the wisdome of thy holy spirite , deliuer mee from the illusions of the wicked fiende : make sinne hatefull vnto my soule , and in the wisdome of thy grace , make the whole ioy of my life : oh let mee loue thee aboue my selfe , aud hate my selfe , but in thy loue : let mee not see the labour of all thinges , and thy labour in all thinges , and my selfe idlely doe nothing , that may glorifie thy goodnesse : the earth giues mee of her fruite , and shall i giue thee no fruite ? thou hast in heauen a place for mee , and shall i not seeke the way to thee ? o my deare god haue mercie vvpon mee , better had i neuer beene borne , then to liue to be borne away frō thee . what is the whole world to mee , if i loose mine owne soule ? & in what case is my soule , if i want the blessing of thy grace ? haue mercy therefore vpon mee , i beseech thee , and preserue my soule , for i am thy seruant : make mee to labour in the vertuous vineyard of thy holy will● , and by the inspiration of thy holy spirit , bring forth of my heart the humble fruites of thy holy loue ; that in profiting my neighbour , in the blessing of thy grace , i may glorifie thy holy maiesty , and in the ioy of my soule in the peace of thy mercie , i may sing to thy glory . amen . o glorious god of all power and pittie , to whose onely mercie belongeth the title of eternal maiesty , who by the wisdome of thine owne will hast framed all things to thy seruice , and workest in them all to the glorie of thine only worthinesse , o deare god , that art the true substance of comfort , to the humble soules of thy beloued , and seest the sorrowes of thy humble seruautes , when thou withdrawest thy hande of thy mercie ; in the glorious goodnesse of thy grace , i beseech thee , thinke on the number of thy afflicted creatures , amonge whome , most needefull , though most vnworthie thy mercie , let this poore wretched , wounded , and afflicted soule of mine begge one beame of thy blessed pittie , to reuiue this dolefull , and halfe deade heart of my almost despairing spirite ; oh strengthen my faith in thy holie worde , washe mee cleane from my sinnes , and make mee to feele the ioye of thy mercie : let thy worde bee a lanthorne to my feete , and a lighte vnto my pathes , and teach mee the way that i shall walke in , for i betake my selfe wholly vnto thee : let mee say with thy seruant dauid , o thar my waies were made so direct , that i might not offend my god. o deare lord , great was his happinesse in thy grace , that had such a feeling of thy blessing , to haue such a loathing to the worlde , for thy loue : blessed , and ten times blessed were my soule , had it such a feeling of thy grace : but i may rather cry , woe is mee that euer i was borne , to liue so long in the sinke of so much sinne , that looking on the filth of my soule , i am ashamed to looke vp toward thy mercy : yet when againe i remember the leapers that thou hast cleansed , the sins that thou hast pardoned , and the soules that thou hast comforted , i can say to my selfe , oh my soule , why art thou so disquieted within mee ? knowing the goodnesse of thy god : and then in the teares of true repentance on the knees of my hearte , in the humilitie of my soule cry vnto thee : o deare god , remember not the sinnes of my youth , forgiue mee all my offences , cleanse mee from my iniquities , & take me againe vnto thy grace : o lord , let me feele a little of y t louing kindnesse , wherwith thou dost glad the heart of thy beloued , let me think w t thy seruant paul , y t all the treasure of this world is but trash , compared to the rich iewell of thy loue : o sweete christ , so comfort me w t thy selfe , y t in the gladnesse of thy goodnesse , i may sing with thy seruant simeon , whē he had the in his arms : lord , now lettest thou thy seruant depart in peace , according to thy word , for mine eyes haue seen thy saluation . blessed were his eyes y t so liued to beholde thee , and blessed were my soule , if it could so liue to embrace thee : but my deare god , since the corruption of sinne will not suffer mee in this world to beholde thee , i humbly beseech thee , mortifie the delight of sinne in mee , that it may haue no power to drawe mee from thee , that when i haue finished the daies of the imprisonment of my soule in this darkesome caue of this my wretched carkas being freed from the hell of sinne , by the merit of thy mercie , in the libertie of my loue , i may see the ioy of my soule , and in the ioy of thy gratious goodnesse , i may sing , to thy glorious maiestie , the only endlesse halleluiah . amen . o glorious god , who from y e heauēly throne of thy holy mercie , beholdest all the dwellers vpon y e earth , and seest the essence of euery substance , which no shadowe can hide from thy sight , o god of al true wisdome and goodnesse , who seest the very hearts of all creatures , and knowest the thoughts of all y e world , yea before the worlde was , in the aboūdāce of thy mercie , cast one look of thy gratious eye , vpon the sorowfull soule of thy vnworthie seruant : vnworthie i confesse my selfe to appeare before thy presence , so hideous is the horrour of my sinne in thy sight : yet when i knowe , that from corruption thou canst looke for no perfection , and that mercie in iustice sheweth the glorie of thy goodnesse , i had rather say with thy seruant dauid , if my sinnes were as red as scarlet , thou canst make me as white as snow , then to cry out with cain , my sins are greater thē i can bear : o my dear lord thou hast called al vnto thee that are laden , & thou wilt ease them : and to thee i come so laden with sinne in my soule , that i can scarce looke vp to thy mercie : hear mee therefore i humbly beseech thee , and in the greatnesse of thy mercie , ease me of this heauie burthen of my sinne : o lord , i confesse to thee , i was conceiued , and borne in sinne , and in transgressions of thy commandemēts , haue i wasted the weary daies of my life : yet , sweete lord , when i knowe , thy wisdome beholdeth the weakenesse of my corruption , and thy mercie considereth the sorrowe of my repentance , i am emboldened in thy worde to come vnto thee , and on the knees of my heart to cry vnto thee ; o lord haue mercie vpon mee , beholde the worke of thine own hands , lose not whome thou hast redeemed , regenerate whom thou seest corrupted , heale him whome sinne hath wounded , and performe the grace that thou hast promised ; that being cured of sinne , and with thy grace comforted in the loue of my hart , & ioy of my soule , i may sing to thy glorie , the eternall halleluiah . amen . the lord he is my sheepheard , that doth feede my soule full sweetely by the riuer side , and will not let mee nibble on a weede , where hee doth knowe there may my hurt abide . he will not let the wolfe come neere the folde , where he hath laide his louing flocke to rest , nor will hee let them bide the bitter colde , but sweetly warmes them from his sunny breast . along the pastures faire , and fresh , and greene , he leades them forth , for their best liues behoue , nor euer yet was there confusion seen ▪ of any flocke , that hee doth fairely loue . hee doth not robbe them of a locke of wooll , but kindely calles them to their fairest folde , nor doth he vse the cunning how to cull the fat from leane , nor yoūg ones frō the old ▪ but all alike hee loues whom he doth keepe , and if that any stray out of the plaine , vpon his shoulders hee brings home that sheep , and sings for ioy to haue his lambe againe . the winters worme , nor yet the summers flie can once anoy the smallest lambe of his : but they shall still encrease , and neuer die , but euer liue in euerlasting blisse . he giues them water from the liuing rocke , where neuer yet did harmefull thought arriue : yea hee so dearely lou'd his little flocke , that hee did die , to saue his sheepe aliue . but shall ( oh lord ) this sinfull soule of mine , so many waies with miseries opprest , become a lambe of that faire flocke of thine , and feede with them when they are fairely blest ? then , when i heare my louing sheepeheard call , my faithfull soule vnto her fairest folde , i will forsake these worldly pleasures all , and only ioy my iesus to beholde . finis . the foole hath saide within his heart , hee thinks there is no god. but hee shall finde for his desart , the lord his heauie rodde . for when the lord beginnes to frowne , but with an angry eye , then sathans power shall all goe downe , and all his dogges shall die . and then the reprobate shall finde there is a god indeede , who at his pleasure with a winde , can shake thē like a reede . and by the rootes can teare them vp , and fling thē down again , and make them taste the fiery cuppe of euerlasting paine . for though a while god lets them liue , and in their brauery bide , yet in the end his hand will giue a plague to all their pride : till when he lets them walke the path their wickednesse hath trod , vntill , by feeling of his wrath , they know there is a god. and then too late they howle and cry , and gnash their teeth for grief and euer liue , and euer die , and neuer haue reliefe , when they shall see before their face the ougly shapes of sinne , that on the earth in euery place , they tooke their pleasurs in : where euery diuell shall haue power the damned to disease , and not a minute of an hower shall giue thē hope of ease . while in the heauens the chosen folke , without althought of strife , shall sit aboue the mountaine rocke of euerlasting life . and virgins , with the angels sweete , shall sit , and play , and sing : and mercie , grace , and truthe shall meete to glorifie their king . and my poore soule , that hath no ioy , but in my liuing lord , shall ioy to see my god destroy the scorners of his word . o that my heart coulde hit vpon a straine , would strike the musick of my soules desire : or that my soule could find that sacred vaine that sets the consort of the angels quire . or that that spirit or especiall grace , that cannot stoupe beneath the state of heauē within my soule wold take his settled place , with angels ens , to make his glory euen . then should the name of my most gratious king , and glorious god , in higher tunes be sounded of heauenlie praise , then earth hath power to sing : where earth and heauen and aungels are confoūded , and soules may sing while al hearts strings are broken . his praise is more thē can in praise be spokē . if i could set downe twenty thousand waies , and twentie thousand thousand , thousand moe , to penne his highest heauenly comforts praise , that will not see my spirits ouerthowe : if i could thinke of nothing els but glory , and in the highest , highest , highest height , to shewe the state of that celestiall story , where aungels wonders in their honours waite : if all the powers of heauen & earth would meete , and all acknowledge all their powers too little , to shew the smallest of his smallest sweete , yet , to his title , all were but a title ▪ then since no thoughts can to his praise be raised , aboue all praises let my god be praised : while the aungels all are singing , all of glory euer springing , in the grounde of high heauens graces , where all vertues haue their places , oh that my poore heart were neare them , with an humble soule to heare them . then should faith in loues submission , ioying but in mercie : blessing , where that sinnes are in remission , sing the ioyfull soules confessing of her comforts high commending , all in glory neuer ending , but ah wretched , sinfull creature , how should the corrupted nature of this wicked heart of mine thinke vpon that loue diuine , that doth tune the aungels voice , while the hoastes of heauen reioyce ! no , the songe of deadly sorrowe , in the night , that hath no morrowe , and their paines ( not eas'd , not ended ) that haue heauenly powers offended , are more fitting to the merit of my foule infected spirit . yet , while mercie is remoouing all the sorrowes of the louing , how can faith be full of blindenesse , to despaire of mercies kindnesse , while the hande of heauen is giuing comfort , from the euerliuing ? no , my soule be no more sory , looke vnto that life of glory which the grace of faith regardeth , and the teares of loue rewardeth : where the soule the comfort getteth that the aungels musicke setteth . there , when thou art well conducted , and by heauenly grace instructed , how the faithfull thoughts to fashion of a rauisht louers passion , sing with saints , to aungels nighest , halleluiah , in the highest . oh that my heart could neuer cease to sing the holy praises of my heauenly king : and that my minde could think vpon no blisse , but of the grace wherein his glory is . and that my tongue could talke of nothing else , but of the wonders of his worthinesse : and that mine eye could see but where hee dwels , who is the height of vertues holinesse , and that my tongue could like no other taste , but of his flesh that is the spirits foode : and that my soule might sweare a solemne fast for one pure droppe of his deare pretious blood . that at my song the aungels might reioyce , to heare the musicke of a sinners voice . helpe , cryes my hearte , not frō the hellish place this wretched world nor all the wealth therein , but from the god of that high heauenly grace whose only mercie doth all glory winne . hee , hee alone , that sees the sinners teares distilling from a true repentant heart , and will not let him perish in those feares , that make the waie to an infernall smart : that onely lord , of onely life and loue , who doth forbeare , forgiue and quite forget all those misdeeds that his displeasure moue , while sorrowes faith is fast by mercy set . hee , hee alone , in spight of death and hel , blesse my poore wounded soule , and all is well . emmanuell . come liue with mee , and be my loue , my loue , my life , my king my god , and let mee now thy mercy prooue , that long haue felt thy heauie rodde . thy heauie rodde , ah woe is me , a rodde of rushes , t is no more , who highly for offending thee , might haue beene shutte from mercies dore . but thou art hee , whose glorious eye beholdes the sorrow , not the sinne of him who doth for mercie cry while teares of faith doe fauour winne . thou dost not wish a sinners death . to liue , and loue is thy delight : while in the blessing of thy breath , is euer day , and neuer night . oh thou more faire then fairenesse is , more sweete , then sweetenesse can be thought , more kinde then louers , when they kisse , that with thy death , thy loue hast bought . oh truth of trueth , and yet more true , then time can try , or tongue can tell , whose grace and glorie still renewe in heauenly praise , in spight of hell . oh power of powers , aboue all power , oh constant faith for euer fast : oh onely sweete without all sower , oh endlesse ioyes that eue●last . in thee my loue , and but in thee , doe euer spring , that euer were , and at thine only pleasure , bee to bee disposed euery where . oh , thou that werte , before what was , in essence of all excellence , and in thy wisdome dost surpasse the reach of knowledge quintessence ▪ who all of nothing didst create , but by thy worde , and to thy will : and so didst order euery state , as shewes thy high supernall skill : who , hauing all thinges set in frame , didst shewe what loue to man thou hadst , to giue him power each thing to name , and make him lord of all thou mad'st . and more then that , to shewe thy loue , thou mad'st him like vnto thy selfe : till iack an apes of hell did prooue to make a monkie breede an elf . oh god , had that sweete grace of thine , in adam , neuer beene abused , our nature then , in him diuine , the diuels apple had refused . but ease begat such idlenesse , and idle ease such wantonnesse , and wantonnesse such wickednesse , as wrought in him our wretchednesse . hee did forget thy goodnesse first , wee follow him , and fly from thee : hee for his folly was accurst , and so ( in iustice ) lord are wee . but hee with shame beheld his sinne , and flewe to mercie for reliefe : whose woefull state all wee are in , that to thy mercie shewe our griefe . hee stucke vnto rocke of strength , that after labour gaue him ease : and wee in loue doe hope at length that sorrowes teares will wrath appease . oh god , thou knowest that only knowest what knowledge is , and what to knowe , and by thy mercie onely showest , what only pleaseth the to showe , that as of dust , wee came at furst , vnto the dust we shall againe : the belly of the world shall burst , when sinne , and sorrow shall be slaine . a time will be when that all time shall see his longest thread will breake : when gratious loue , in praises prime , shall only of thy glory speake : when graues shall ope and bodies rise , and hell shall shake , and fiendes shall roare , and soules ascende vnto the skies , to sing thy glory euermore . and oh , that that sweete time were come , that saints and aungels might accord , while earth and hell are striken dumbe , to sing thine onely glory , lord. for here , alas , while here wee liue , or rather die by hurt of sinne , the pleasures that the world doth giue , doe but the way to hell beginne : where , by abundance growes excesse , and so forgetfulnesse of grace , or else by want , so great distresse , as brings the soule in desperate case . which , while the heart tormented stands , in helpelesse cares calamitie , helde all too harde in sorrowes hands , doth long to be at libertie : that by the blessing of thy grace , deliuered from this earthly hell , it may beholde thy blessed face : where all contentments euer dwell . for truely loue in only thee , doth liue all comfort , ioy and blisse , and where thou art not , what can bee , but shewes what shame and sorrowe is ? and since in thee , doth only liue the ground of the eternall good , and thou alone canst only giue the faithfull soule her heauenly foode : vouchsafe me leaue to thee to cry , oh let my teares thy mercie moue , who for thy loue , would gladly die : come liue with mee , and be my loue . but i am vile , and foule , and blacke , vnworthy obiect for thine eyes , yea worthy to be beaten backe , euen from the blessing of the skies . but thou canst make mee white as snowe , by one pure droppe of thy deare sonne : and being purified so , thou wilt forget what i haue done . had i a heauen to entertaine thy holy presence , it were thine : but thou a king , and i a swaine , take pittie on this loue of mine . thy greatnesse was in goodnesse such , as did the poorest loue embrace : and is not thy worde true in tutch , that humble loue gets heauenly grace ▪ wherefore on knees of humble heart , let mee thy gratious mercie moue , put all my sinfull shame apart , and liue with mee and be my loue . for thou art wise , though i am fond , and thou canst make mee wise in thee , and thou art free , though i am bond , and thou alone canst make me free . thou art all good , and i so ill , i know not how to come to thee : but worke mee wholly to thy will , then be my loue , and liue with mee ▪ in sorrowes deepe , my spirit all appalde , seing the worlde , an only sinke of sinne , vnto the lord of heauen for mercy cald , and in her teares , did thus her suit beginne : if euer , lord , a poore repentant wretch , whose bleeding heart can hardly speake for grief , but from his soule those sobbing sighes doth fetch , that may in silence , sue for thy reliefe . my gratious lord and euerlasting god , in pittie looke a little on my paine , beholde my faith , forbe are thy heauie rodde , and let thy mercie heale my soule againe . i must confesse i haue offended sore that gratious will , and glorious loue of thine , i see my sinnes are euermore before this wretched soule , and wicked eyes of mine . nor day nor night my spirit taketh rest , for feare of thy too much deseru'd displeasure : such bitter sorrowes boyle within my breast , as prooue my torments haue no little measure . but lord that seest , how i am wo begon me , the deadly hurt , wherin my hart doth dwel , in thy sweete mercy once but looke vpon mee : say but thou art my helpe and i am well . when that i felt my soule with sorrow sokē , my wofull minde with miseries opprest , my pining heart with bitter passions broken , and euery way my spirit all distressed , vpon my knees vnto my god i went , and in my teares i told him of my griefe , and with a heart almost in peeces rent , repentance sued to pittie for reliefe : when to his eares , my praiers did ascende and from his holy hill his mercie heard me , and to my soule such comfort did descend that i did see , that mercy did regard mee , for i did finde how hope bad feare depart : my heartie sorrowe had obtained grace , and i did feele such comfort in my heart , that sodaine ioy , was set in sorrowes place . when , god he knowes , that with no little ioy my soule was rauisht with his sacred loue , that bad my heart abandon all annoy , i should in heauen a sweter comfort proue . oh god , sweete god , more sweet then can be thought , when hope is least , that giues thy comfort most , whose mercie hath so with thy iustice wrought , as will not see thy faithfull seruants lost : among thy saintes , and angels that does it , about thy throne to glorifie thy name , vouchsafe me grace to say amen to it , although vnworthy once to heare the same . finis . a poste vvith a madde packet of letters post with a packet of mad letters. part breton, nicholas, ?- ? approx. kb of xml-encoded text transcribed from -bit group-iv tiff page images. text creation partnership, ann arbor, mi ; oxford (uk) : - (eebo-tcp phase ). a stc estc s this keyboarded and encoded edition of the work described above is 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(eebo-tcp ; phase , no. a ) transcribed from: (early english books online ; image set ) images scanned from microfilm: (early english books, - ; : ) a poste vvith a madde packet of letters post with a packet of mad letters. part breton, nicholas, ?- ? [ ] p. printed [by thomas creede] for iohn smethicke, and are to be sold at his shop in s. dunstons church-yard in fleetstreet, london : . "to the reader" signed: nicho. breton. subsequent editions published as: a post with a packet of mad letters. the first part only. printer's name from stc. signatures: a-f⁴ (-a ). the last leaf is blank. running title reads: a packet of letters. reproduction of the original in the henry e. huntington library and art gallery. created by converting tcp files to tei p using tcp tei.xsl, tei @ oxford. re-processed by university of nebraska-lincoln and northwestern, with changes to facilitate morpho-syntactic tagging. gap elements of known extent have been transformed into placeholder characters or elements to simplify the filling in of gaps by user contributors. eebo-tcp is a partnership between the universities of michigan and oxford and the publisher proquest to create accurately transcribed and encoded texts based on the image sets published by proquest via their early english books online (eebo) database (http://eebo.chadwyck.com). the general aim of eebo-tcp is to encode one copy 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proofread - olivia bottum text and markup reviewed and edited - pfs batch review (qc) and xml conversion a poste vvith a madde packet of letters . london printed for iohn smethicke , and are to be sold at his shop in s. dunstons church-yard in fleetstreet . . to the reader . gentle if you be , be you so gentle reader , you shal vnderstand , that i know not whē , there came a post i know not whence , was going i know not whither , and carryed i knowe not what : but in his way i knowe not how , it was his happe with lacke of heed , to let fall a packet of idle papers ; the superscription whereof , beeing onely to him that findes it , beeing my fortune to light on it , seeing no greater stile in the direction , fell to opening of the enclosure , in which i founde diuers letters written , to whom , or from whom , i could not learne . now for the contents of the circumstances , when you haue red them , iudge of them : and as you like them , regard them . and for my selfe , if i heare you like well of them , when i meet next with the poste , it may be i will cast about with him for more of them : till then , fearing to be too tedious in this letter , lest you like the worse of that which followeth : i rest as i haue reason . your louing friend , nicho. breton . the contents of this booke . a letter of comfortable aduise to a friend , and his answere . a letter of aduise to a yong cour●er , and his answere . a mournfull letter to a brother , and his answere . a letter of a iealous husband to his wife , and her cunning answere . a letter of kind complements to a friend , and his answere . a letter of loue to a gentle woman and her answere . a letter of scorne to a coy dame , and her answere . a letter to a fowle dowde , and her answere . a letter for the preferring of a seruant , and the answere . a letter of counsell to a friend , and his answere . a letter of comfort to a sister in sorrow , and her answere . a letter of counsell from a kind father . a kind answere of a louing sonne . a merchants letter to his factor , and his answere . a letter of challenge , and the answere . a merry letter , or newe● of complaints . the answere of the laughe . a letter to a friend for newes , and his answere . a disswading from marriage , and the answere . a kind letter of a creditor for mony . the debters answere . a letter of newes , and the answere . a poste with a mad packet of letters . a letter of comfortable aduise to a friend . hones● alexander , i heare thou art of late tallen into an extreame melancholy , by reason of the suddaine departure of pannella out of this life : for thy sake i am sorie shee hath left her passage on this earth , though being too goo●●or this worlde , she be surely gone to a better ; now , if thy mourning could recouer her from death , i could willingly beare part of thy passion , but when it doth her no good , and thy selfe much hurt , let not a wil●ull humour leade thee into a wofull consumption . thou knowest she is senceless● in the graue , and wilt thou therefore be witlesse in the world ? say thy loue is extreame , and l●t me beleeue it , wilt thou therefore depriue nature of reason ? god forbid it : well , thou knowest i lent thee , and in my loue let me adu●se thee , not to goe from thy selfe , with an imagination of what was , to looseth it which is : because she is in heauen , wilt thou be in hell ? or if sh● be h●lfe an angell , wilt thou be more then h●lfe a diuel ? ●● spend thy spirit in a better humour : let not the rem●mbrance of her perfection driue thee into unperfections : nor make loue hatefull to oth●r , by seeing the vnhappinesse in thy selfe . o● let not sancte shew folly in thee , howsoeuer vertue deserued honour in her : leaue thy solitary humor , and come and liue with me , we will d●●nse some good meane● for the remoue of this melancholy : in the meantime make not too much of it , least it proue to a madnesse : loue thy selfe , and belee●● thy friend , and what is in me to too thee good , commaund as thin● owne : glad i would be to see thee , as he who defy entierly lous thee : and so desirous to heare from thee , to the almightie i leau● thee . farewell . thine as his owns . d. f. his answere . kinde francke , i haue receiued thy friendly letter , and note thy carefull loue : but pardon me , if i do not answere thee to thy liking : alas , how can he truly iudge of life , that neuer kindly was in loue ? or know how soundly to help a sorrow , that neuer inwardly felt it ? reading makes a scholler by rule , and obseruation i know doth much in the perfecting of art , but experience is that which toucheth knowledge to the quicke ; my mistresse beautie was no moone shine , whose vertue gaue light to the harts eye , nor her wisdom , an ordinary wit , which put reason to his perfect vnderstanding : and for her graces , are they not written among the vertuous ? thou sai●st well , she was too heauēly a creature to make her habitatiō on this earth , & is it not then a kind of hell , to be without her in the world ? imaginations are no dreames , where substances are the obiects of the sences , while the eye of memorie , is neuer weary of seeing . oh honest francke , thinke thou hast not liued , that hast not loued , nor canst liue in this world to haue such a loue to die in : it is a dull spirit that is fed with obliuion , and a dead sence , that hath no feeling of loue : thinke therefore what was , is with me : and my selfe as nothing , without the enioying of that something , which was to me as all in all . is not the presence of an angell , able to rauish the sight of a man ? and is not the light of beautie the life of loue ? leaue then to burthen me with imperfections in my sorrow for her want , whose presence was my paradise , and whose absence , my world● hell : thou doest misconstrue my good , in languishing for her lacke , and knowest not my hurt , in thinking of any other comfort : ●o francke , let it suffice , though i loue thee , i cannot forget her : and though i liue with thee , yet will i die for her : haue patience then with my passion , till time better temper my affection , in which most diuoted to thee of any man liuing , til i let thee , which shall be as shortly as i well can , i rest . thine as thou knowest . d. e. a letter of aduise to a yong courtier . my good cousen , i heare you are of late growne a great courtier , i wish you much grace , and the continuing of your best comfort : but for that your yeares haue not had time to see much , and your kindnesse may hap to be abused , let me intreat you a little now and then to looke to that which i tell you : keep your purse warily , and your credit charily , your reputation valiantly , and your honor carefully : for your friends , as you finde them , vse them : for your enemies , feare them not , but looke to them : for your loue , let it be secret in the bestowing , and discreet in the placing : for , if fansie be a wanton , wit will be a foole : scorne not ladies , for they are worthy to be loued : but make not loue to many , left thou be beloued of none : if thou hast a fauour , be not proud of thy fortune , but thinke it discretion , to conceale a contentment : goe neat , but not gaie , left it argue lightnesse , and take heed of lauish expence , left it begger thy state : play little , and loose not much , vse exercise , but make no toyle of a pleasure : reade much , but dull not thy braine , and conferre but with the wise , so shalt thou get vnderstanding . pride is a kinde of coynesse , which is a little too womannish , and common familiaritie , is too neare the clowne for a courtier : but carry thy selfe euen , that thou maist fall on neither side : so wil the wise commend thee , and the better sort affect thee : but let me not be tedious , left it may perhaps offend thee : and therfore as i liue , let it suffice i loue thee , and so wishing thee as much good , as thou canst wish to be wished , in praier for thy health , and hope of thy happines , to my vttermost power , i rest , in affectionate good will. thine euer assured : h. l. his answere . swéete cousen , i thinke you haue either some court in the country , or else you are much studied in the courtier , that you can set downe such rules , as are no lesse worthy the reading , then obseruing : beleeue me , they shall be my best leizures studies , and in my daily courses my counsellors , my solicitors in loue , and my judges in honor , my guiders in greatest hopes , and my admonitions in greatest dangers : for your paines in them , i thank you , and for your kindnesse , i loue you : your care of me , i see by them , and wil not vnkindly forget them . i must confesse , i finde courtiers close people , and ladies strange creatures , and loue so idle an humor , that i am afraide to loose time in it : but the better by your aduise i hope to carry a hand ouer it . for apparel , i wil keepe my stint , and care for no fond fashion : and for exercise , nature is so giuen to ease , that good qualities are almost cut of vse : and for vertue , poore lady , she is scarce able to liue with her pension : but for study , i haue litle time , so much company withdraweth me●a●d for a booke , next the bible , your letter shall be my library . and thus smiling at such g●lls , as think no grace , but in a gay coat , nor wit , but in a stale iest , noting many a begger like a king , and many a lord like a poore gentleman , seeing the truth of salomon , in his conclusiō of all earthly comforts that all vnder y t sun is vanitie : meaning not to be a seruant to a base humor , nor to reach higher thē i may hold 〈◊〉 thankful kindnes for thy carefull letter , and faithfull affection to thy worthy selfe , wishing thee so neare me , that i might neuer be from thee , i rest . thine what mine owne . n. b. a mournfull letter to a brother . good brother , the misery of my home life , the crosnesse of my cruell fortune , and the vnkindnes of my vnnatural kin , haue made me so weary of this world , that i long for nothing but my latest houre , and yet loth to dispaire of gods mercies , willing , to take any good course for my commoditie , i haue of late bin perswaded by some of experience in their trauailes into those parts , that my trauaile into the lowe countries would be much to my commoditie , as wel for my language as my skil in such traffique , as i wold make vse of in those places : but my state being so down the wind , that i know not how to get vp the weather , hauing no stock to laie out , to giue me hope to bring in , i wil euen set vp my rest vpon my resolution o●sc●une , and thrust my selfe into some place of seruice , where i will either win the horse , or loose the sad●ell as if j d● , mercie is my comfort , if i liue , desert is my hope : but to the h●lping forth of this my forlorne spirit , good brother put too your hand , assuring your selfe , that i wil not liue to be vngratefull : for as my heart loueth you , my soule shall pray for you , and when i haue time to see you , i wil not be from you . and thus agreeued to charge you , neuer more meaning to trouble you : beseeching god to enable me to requite you , in the true loue of a naturall brother : i rest . yours as mine owne . n. b. his answere . deare brother , as i grieue at your crosses , so would i that i could as wel procure your comforts . but my state much inferior to my wil , makes me vnable to satisfie your expectatiō : & yet wil i hurt my self , rather then you should perish : for you shal receiue by this bearer , what i am able , and more , as i shal be better able . but touching your courses for the low countries , i fear your traffiqu● wil be but litle gainfull , the warres so eate vp the wealth of the country : and for your intent touching armes , i feare your forwardnes is too great for your experience . yet do i so farre allow of your good mind herein , as i should lesse grieue to heare of your honorable death abroad , thē see your discōtented life at home : and therefore for winning the horse , or loosing the saddle , leaue that to gods blessing , who wil bestow honor as it shall please his diuine prouidence : but good brother , haue patience with thy crosses , attend mercie for thy comforts , & haue a care of home , howsoeuer thou farest abroad : i know thy mind is great , but take heed of pride lest it be a bar to all thy fortune , and ouerthrow of all thine honor : i see thou art weary of y e world , make thē thy way toward heauē , that god , who hath tried thée with calamities , may blesse thée with eternall comforts . in hope whereof , willing in all i can to helpe thée , praying hartily for thee , with my vnfained hearts loue vnto thee , to the lord of heauen i leaue thee . thy louing brother , d. s. a letter of a iealous husband to his wife . wife , in as much kindnesse as i can , i aduise you to leane such courses , as are neither to your credit , nor my contentment : you know , much company , causes many occasions of idle spéeches , and yong men are not in these daies , giuen to speak the best of their kind friends : trifles and toies , were better refused , thē accepted , and time i●lely spent , brings but beggery , or a worse blot : of all the birds in the field , i loue not a cu●koe in my house : truly i do not dissemble with you , your light behauiour doth much dislike me , and how glad i would be to haue it reformed , you shall know when i s●e it : shall i make you fine , to please an other , and displease my selfe ? shall i leaue you my house , to make an hospitalitie of ill fellowship ? ●it me not so with the foole , how euer you feed your selfe with a foule humor : shake off such acquaintance , as gaine you nothing but discredit , and make much of him that must as well winter you as sommer you : looke to your house , haue a care ouer your children , set your seruants to worke , and haue an eye to the maine chance , leaue tatling gossips , idle hus wiu●s , vaine headed fellowes and néedlesse charge , so wil god blesse you , and the world wil thriue with you , your neighbours speake well of you , and i shall truly loue you . and thus , hoping that you wil by this my secret admenition , haue a care of your good carriage , i rest in hope of your well doing . your louing husband ▪ t. f. her cunning answere . husband , with as much patience as i can , i haue red ouer your vnwise letter , wherein iealousie kéepes such a stirre , that loue doth but laugh at such iolenesse : much company driues away idle thoughts , and for fooles it is good to be afraide of had i wist : ill thoughts beget ill speeches , and an olde dog bites sorer then a yong whelpe : for beggery , let it fall vpon the slothfull , i know how to worke for my ●uing : and for blots , speak to scribblers , for i haue no skil in writing . now for the bird , to answer you with the beast : i thinke a calfe in a closet , is as ill as a cuckoe in a cage : if i were sullaine , you would sure suspect my humor , and doo you mislike my merrie behauiour ? wel , your conceit may be deformed , in being so wrongfully informed , to haue me so suddeinly reformed . my finenesse , is your countenance , and my conuersation , your credit : and therefore do you shake off your lowzie humors , i wil make choyse of better company : your house wil stand fast , if it fall not , and your children be quieter then their father , your seruants earne their wages , and the maine chaunce , is nicked w●ll inough : wemen must talke when they méete , and men not be scorned , though not entertained : and hée that kéepeth a house , must seeke to defraie the charge . and so hoping that you wil leaue your iealouzie , and thinke of some ma●ter of more worth , as carefull of my carriage , as you of your credit , meaning to ●o as well as i can without your teaching , and as well , as if you were at home . i rest . your too much louing wife . i , f. a letter of kind complements to a friend . where i loue much , i speak little , for affection hath smal pleasure in ceremonies , your kindnesse i haue found , my desert i dare not speake of , least it more offend my selfe to thinke on , then you to looke on , but since you haue made me happie in your acquaintance , let me not too long lacke your company , for though i liue among many good neighb●urs ▪ yet do i much want the comfort of so good a ●riend , by wh●m i should not only gaine the vse of time , but fin●● the pr●fi● of my desire : which ioyning issue with your humors , cannot ●ut so concurre with your contentment , that if there be a paradise on the earth , i hope to finde it in the faire passages of our loues , which grounded on vertue , and growing in kindnesse , cannot chuse but be blessedly fruitfull . in briefe , til i see you , i will mourne , and if not the sooner , i shall languish : for , my wishing and want cannot be satisfied with absence : hasten therefore your comming , and make your own welcome : for what i haue or 〈◊〉 , enter in the ●owle of your possession , where in the freehold of my loue , i assure the substance of my life . and so leauing compliments , to t●ngue spirits , in the truth of an h●nest heart : i rest . yours as you do and shall euer know me . n. b. his answere . s●● , i haue receiued your kind letter , and i finde you ver●e fine at your corner , you wil speake , and say nothing : be eloquent in plainnesse , but you must not speake in the cloudes , to them that are acquainted with the moone : and say what you wil , i must beléeue of my selfe what i list : for indeed , i know mine owne vnworthinesse , of your commendation , in which , i will rather beare with your affection , then be conceited with your opinion . yet , not to be either disdainful , or vngratefull , be not so farre deceiued in my disposition , that wherein my presence may pleasure you , i wil answere you with ●ine absence , nor long delaie your expectation : for excuse , is but cold kindnesse , and too much haste is not fit : therefore assoone as i conueniently can , i assure you , you shall séeme , and in full measure with your affection finde me , to the vtterm●st of my power , rather in action then prot●station , during life : in faire weather or fowle . yours 〈◊〉 mine owne . w. r. a letter of loue to a gentlewoman . faire mistr●ss● , to court you with eloquence , were as ill as to gréeue you with gross● humors : let it therefore please you , rather to beleeue what i write , th●n to note how i speak , for my hart being fired in your eies , hath vowed my seruice to your bewtie : in which , finding reasons admiration , can think but of nature in her perfection : in which , being rauished about it selfe , cra●eth of your fauour to be instructed by your kindnes : i meane no further then in obedience to your commaundement : for if i be any thing my selfe , it shall be nothing more then yours : and lesse then nothing , if not yours in all . i could commend you aboue y t skies , compare you with the sun●e , or set you among the starres , figure you with the phoenix , and imagine you a goddesse : but i will leaue such weake praising fictions , and thinke you onely your selfe : whose vertuous beautie , and whose honorable discretion , in the care of a little kindnes , is able to command the loue of y ● wife , and the labours of the honest , with the best of their endeuours in the happinesse of your imployment , to seeke the height of their fortune : thinke not therefore i flatter you in hope of f●uour , but honour you in y ● desert of worthinesse : in which if you wil vouchsafe to entertaine the seruice of my affection , what you shall find in my loue , i wil leaue to your kindnes to cōsider . in the care of which comfort , crauing pardon to my presumption , i rest humbly and wholy , yours directed to be commaunded . e. w. her answere . sir , i haue heard schollers say , that it is art to cōceale art , and that vnder a face of simplicitie , is hidden much subtiltie : of which , howe sillie women neede to be afraide , i will leaue to wise men to consider . and though i cannot in fine nor fitte tearmes , aunswere the humour of your writing , yet after a plaine and homely fashion , i will entreate you to accept of my writing : perfection and corruption , cannot méet● together in one subiect , and therefore my imagined ●●a●tie , bring but a shadow of deceit , beleeue not your eyes , til they haue a better speculation : and for the inward parts of commendations , i am perswaded , that wit is not worth any thing , that is drawne into admiration of nothing : only this , not vnkindly to requit your good thoughts of little worth , leauing fi●i●ns ●o idle fansies , let me intreat you not to mistake your figures , and to honour a better substance then my vnworthie selfe . and yet , so farre to assure your desert of my contentment , that wherein i may conueniently counter●aile the care of your kindnesse , excuse my indiscretion , if i faile of my desire , in which , wishing you more happinesse , then to be commaunded by my vnworthinesse , i rest as i may . your louing poore friend . m. w. a letter of scorne to a coy dame. mistresse fubbes , if you were but a little faire , i see you would be mightily proude , and had you but the wit of a goose , you would surely out hisse the gander : but , being with as bad qualities as can be wished , as rich as a new shorne sheepe , i hope , fortune is not so mad , as to blesse you further then the begger : it is not your holy-day face put on , after the ilfauoured fashion , can make your halfe nose , but ougly in a true sight : and but that you are exceedingly beholding to the taylor , you might be set vp for the signe of the sea crabbe . now , for your parentage , to helpe out the hope of all the rest , when the tinkers sonne , and the coblers daughter , met vnder a hedge at the milking of a bull , within forties wéeks after , what fel out you know . now , not too plainly to laie open the ●owle members of a filthie carkass● , but , as patiently as i can to kéepe decorum , in your description , l●t me tell you , that all this , and much more , being true in your disgraces , i cannot chuse but ma●●aile , that you mourne not to death in imagination : to thinke , that a monster in na●ure , can haue any grace in reason , but , let it be as it is : i haue ●ut lost a little breath in talking to a deaffe eare , for i meane ●o take no more trauell to the subiect of so ill an obiect : and therefore meaning to make my farewell and beginning with you , both at one instant , leauing you to loathe your self , as one , whom no creature can well be in loue withall : sorie that i euer sawe you , and neuer more entending to trouble you . in recompence of your course entertainment , i rest in all vnkindnesse : this present and alwaies . yours as much as may be . t. e. her answere . maister swash , it is not your hustie rustie , can make me afraid of your bigge lookes : for i sawe the pla●e of auncient pistoll , where a craking coward was well cudgeled for his knauery : your railing is so neare the rascall , that i am almost ashamed to bestow so good a name as the rogue vppon you ▪ but for modesties sake , i will a little forbeare you , and only tell you , that a hanging look● , and a hollow hart , a cunning wit , and a corrupted conscience , make you so ●●t a mate for the diuel , that there is no christian wil desire your company : now for your state , it is much vpon fortune , which brings many of your fellows to a deadly fall , when the paine of their heads is only healed with a halter : and for your linage , when the bearewards ape , and the hangmans monky met together on a hay mowe , what a whelp cam● of such of such a litter , let the world iudge , i say nothing : now for your stumpe feete , and your lame hand , suting kindly with your wry necke , who would not make of their eyes , that could endure the sight of such a picture ? now , your wealth being but in a fewe words , which you haue almost all spent in idle humors , hoping that the tortus wil not quarel with the crabbe , and that when you haue slept vpon your al● , you will get a medicine for your madnesse , till the woodcocke do tell you how the dawcocke hath caught you , leaning further to thinke on you , more then vtterly to ●oathe you , glad that your entertainment was so much to your discontentment : in full measure with your malice , i rest . yours as you see . a. w. a letter to a fowle dowd●e . mistresse , i heare that you thinke your selfe faire , but you are much deceiued , for the curriers dyle , is but a cours● kinde of painting : and for wit , howe farre you are from vnderstanding , the wise can tell you : now , for qualities , where you learned them i know not , but if you could leaue them , ●wer● well : i wonder not a little , what madnesse hath possessed your braines , that you can make so much of your selfe : are your eyes your owne : or are they so sealed they cannot sée ? get you to your praiers , and leaue making of loue , for age and an euil fau●ur , ha● néed to be helped with a good purs● : i heare you study musique , indeed , when an owle sings , the nightingale will hold her peace : but for shame learne not to dance , for a barrell can but tumble : but if you would vse a medicine for your téethe , you might be the better to speake with in a morning : what ailes you to buy a ●anne , except it be to hide your face ? and til your hande● be whole , you s●ould weare but dogs leather for your gloues : in truth you abuse your selfe , that you keep not your chamber , for none sees you but laughes at you , or at least loatheth to looke vpon you : be therefore content to do as i wish you , speake with none but by atturney , leaue the painter to better pictures , and rather grieue at nature for framing of you , then thinke of any thing that may helpe you : your goods bestow on me for my counsell , and make sute to death for your comfort . and thus hoping that being weary of your selfe , you will hasten to your graue , i end . yours as you see . h. i. her answere . sir you may thinke your selfe wise , but you do not shewe it , for railing words , are the worst testimonies of a good wit : for good qualities i thinke you know them not , nor can goe from the euil : but for madnesse , i thinke it sorteth best with your humor . for the helpe whereof , it were good that you were let blood in the braine : but for ill sight , who is so blind as bold ba●●rd , that wil not sée his owne folly ? my prayers i will not forget to god , to blesse me from such foule spirits on the earth , and for loue , more then charitie , i hold you the furthest off in my thought : now knowing your pouertie , i wonder you will speake of a purse , and for an ilfauoured face , goe to parish garden to your good brother , indeed your croidon sanguine , is a most pure complexion : but for your tabacco it is a good purge for your rewine : for my fanne it keepes me sometime from the fight of such a vizard , as your good face : and for my hands i keepe my nailes on my fingers , though you cannot keepe your hayre on your head : now for laughing at fooles , you are pr●uided for a corcombe , and for loathing an ill countenance , let the hangman draw your picture : be therefore contented to be thus answered , speake wisely , or hold your peace , and be not busie with your betters , least you know the nature of had i wist : so , hoping that you wil be so wearie of the world , that you will hang your selfe for a medicine , to heale your wits of a melancholy , i will bequeath you a halter vpon free cost , at your pleasure : and so i rest . your friend for such a matter . e. p. a letter for the preferring of a seruant . sir , knowing your necessary vse of a good seruant , and remembring your late speech w t me touching such a matter , i thought good to commend vnto you in that behalf the bearer hereof w. t. a man whose honest secrecie , and carefull diligence , vpon a reasonable trial , wil soone make proofe of his ●ufficiencie : his parentage is not base , nor his disposition vile , but in all parts requisite in one of his place , such a one , as i am perswaded will fit your turne : if therefore at my request , you will entertaine him . i doubt not , but you wil thank me for him : for i was glad to get him for you , and hope to heare he will much content you : and thus loth to trouble you with longer circumstances , leauing his seruice to your good regard , and my loue , to your like commandement in affectionate good will , i rest . yours euer assured . n. b. the answere . sir , i haue receiued both your letter , and the bearer , both which i wil make much of for your sake : for in the one i will often see you , and in the other remember you : your commendatiō of him , argueth your knowledge , a sufficient warrant for his worth , which i wil as kindly , as thankfully think on : his countenance i like wel , and his speech better , and for the performance of my expectation , am the better perswaded of his discretion : when i see you , you shall know how i like him , in the meane time , hee shall find that i wil loue him : for all things necessary for his present vse , i find him sufficiently furnished : but if i find his want , it shall be soone supplied . so thanking you for sending him , and wishing you had come with him , remaining your kind debter ●il a good occasion of requital , with my hartie commendations , i commit you to the almightie . your verie louing friend . r. t. a letter of counsell to a friend . my best approued , and worthiest beloued philo , i heare by some of late come from venice , that seeme to be somewhat inward in thy acquaintance , that thou art of late , fa●nt into an amorous humor , especially with a subiect of too much vnworthines : a newes , that ( knowing thy spirit ) i could hardly beleeue , but vpon solemne affirmation , i was sorie to beare : for , beautie , without wealth , is but a beggerly charu●e , & honor without vertue , is but a little for a title : hath she a glib tongues it is pittie she hath no better wit : is she witti● , it is a sorrow , it is n● better best●wed : for the craft of one woman , is the confusion of many a man : doth she say she loues thee ? beléeue her not : nay , doth she loue ●hee ? regard it not : for it is a iewell of so little worth , as wil giue but 〈◊〉 in the buying : i feared the plague had taken hold of thy lod●in● : but thou art peppered with a world of infection : thy studie 〈…〉 with ●oleness● , thy braine with dizinesse , and thy spirit with madnes : o● leaue these follies , think loue but a dreame , and beautie a shadow , and folly a witch , and repentance a misery : wake out of thy sleepe , and call thy wittes together , be not sotted with an humour , nor slaue to thy selfe will , leaue courting of a curtizan , and keepe thy breath for a better blast : saue thy purse for a better purpose , and spend thy time in more profit : let not the wise laugh at thee , and the honest lament thee : for my selfe , how i grieue for thee , i would i could tell thee : but let thus much suffice thee : beleeue nothing that shee saieth , care for nothing that she doth , nor giue her any thing that she wants : see her , but to purge melancholy , talke with her , but to sharpen wit , giue her , but to be ridde of her company , and vse her but according to her conditiō , so shalt thou haue a hand ouer those humors , that would haue a head , ouer thy heart : and be maister of thy sences , by the vertue of thy spirit , otherwise , will hauing gotten the bit in his téethe , will runne away with the bridle : and reason , being cast off , may neuer sit well againe in the saddle : but why do i vse these perswasions for the remoue of thy passions ? if thou be soundly in , thou wilt hardly get out : but if thou be but ouer shoes , thou maist be saued from drowning : well , whatsoeuer i heare , i hope the best , but to a●●●d the worst , i haue presumed out of my loue , to send thee this fruit o● my affection . in which , if my care may doo thee comfort , i ●h●l● thinke it a great part of my happinesse : howsoeuer it 〈◊〉 , i co●●it the consideration to thy kindnesse . and so till i ●eare from thee , which i daily long for : i rest . thine as his owne . n. r. his answere . gentle millo , i haue receiued thy most kinde and carefu●● letter , a messenger of the most honest loue , who hath tolde me no lesse then i wholy beleeue : that loue in idlenesse , is the very entrance to madnesse : but yet , though i will thinke on thy counsell , giue me leaue a little , to goe on along with conceit : whereof let me tell thee my opinion . beautie without wealth is little worth : but being a riches in itselfe , how can it be poorely valued ▪ and honour , beeing but the state of vertue , how can you plucke a little out of her ●tytle ▪ the tongue is the instrument of wit , and wit the approuer of discretion : where it reason b● grauelled , nature may bée admyred : now for words they hau● their substance , and loue is not to bee abused : for it is a iewell well knowne , that is worthy his price : intrations are cuerie where , and iealousie a most cruel plague , but rid thy selfe of that disease , and feare not my health in the other : conceit is a kinde of dizinesse , which worse formented then with idlenesse , is troubled with too strong a madnesse : but he that is unwise had need to be reformed : and he that laughes at an imperfection , may fall himselfe vpon the foole : now for a mad dreame , or an imagined witch , a conceited sleepe , or an intreated waking , i must confesse they are pr●tie humours , and will thinke of their errors : now for lotting and slauerie , and for courting in ●nauerie , be perswaded , that time will employ my purse to better purpose : then grieu● not for mee , but onely loue mee , and let that suffice mee : and for thine aduice in seeing , talking , and giuing , feare not the had●wist of my folly : for he that is master of himselfe , shall not need to his mistresse : and therefore hee that cannot ride , let him leaue the saddle : for reason hath a power ouer 〈◊〉 , where 〈◊〉 is but a seruant to nature : in the certainty of which course , intending so to lay my hand on my heart , that i will feare no ho●nes on my head , with many thankes for thy kinde perswastons , hoping thou will take no exceptions at my constructions , intreating thee to bel●ue of me no more then thou needest , and to loue me as thou doest , in the faith of that affection , that holds th●● beare to my loue , i rest : during life . thine obliged and diuoted . w.b. a letter of comfort to a sister in sorrow . deare sister , i heard lately of your husbands departure for the indies , when with no little sorrow i considered your heauie case : in which , finding his wants to be grieuous , and your friends colde in comfort , i could not chuse , without unkindnesse , but remember these fewe lines of my loue unto you : i knowe your state is weake , how faire so euer you make your weather ; but the more is your patience worthy honour , that can so nobly conceale your discontentments ; for my selfe , i would i were able to doo you good , but what i haue , or can procure , shall not faile to doo you pleasure : but if your minde be too great to stoupe , to be beholding , what i am able to doo , take a dutie in my brothers loue : good sister therefore be of good cheare , and put your care upon me , i will soe you often , and loue you euer : for a creature of your worthinesse is seldome found in your sere : that for her husbands loue will aduenture the state of her liuing : your children are not many , but such as are shall be mine , and you to me as myselfe : take therefore as litle thought , and as much comfort as you can , no doubt but god that trieth his seruants , will blesse them : hope then of my brothers happie returne , and fill he come , commaund me , shortly god willing you shall see mee , in the meane time let me entreat you kindly to accept this little token of my greater loue , which is but an assurance of a beginning of my affections neuer ending , in which predicament of true friendship , i rest euer assured . your very louing sister , e.w. her answere . swéete sister , i haue receiued your kinde letter and louing token , for both which , i am your thankefull debtor ; but to●ching which husband , though his wants were grieuo●s , yet to want him , is my greatest sorrewe , for in the stay of his loue was the state of my liuing : i am sorie that you know my weakenesse , and with it but in strength to ●unswere your kindnesse : but good sister , though i am willing to conceale my crosses , to be beholding to so honourable a spirit , i count i● not the least of my happinesse , therefore , though i haue diu●ted my selfe to solitarinesse in his absence , your company shall bee to me as light in darknesse and no●ing the nature of your kindnesse , will euer be beholding to your loue : come then to me when you will , and commaund me what you will , for i will be as goe and you will : my children are my worlds ioyes , and my hearts iewels in whose faces i will behold their father , in whose loue i will spend my life : so in a merrie goe sorrie , grieuing for his ab●ence , and wishing your presence , praying for his happie returne , your health , and mine owne patience , that in too much passion of affection , i fall not upon indiscretion , with most heartie thankfull loue , i commend my life to your commaundement . yours affectionately bound . e.g. a letter of loue to a faire mistresse . farre mistresse , to trouble you with a long circumstance , ● might perhaps feare you with the losse of time , and to make an end ere i begin , might argue little care in my conceit ; but to auoyd both suspitions , let me a little entreat with your patience , to peruse in a fewe words , the summe of a long tale , in which , the truth of loue , to the latest houre of death , protesteth the ioy of ●i● life , but in the fruite of your fauour , of which the thought of his unworthinesse , toth too much shewe his unhappinesse . time makes me too briefe , but in your wisedome is my hope of understanding , that in my tryall you may trust me , and by desert esteem me : in which , if i deceiue your expectation , let me die in the misery of your disdaine . thus not to flatter you with a faire ●●le in the state of your worthie commendation , beseeching to be commaunded by the kinde care of your discretion , in the handes of avowed seriuce , i humbly rest . yours alwaies assured , r.o. the answere . sir , as i would be loth so be thought proud , i would as v●willingly be found idle : either to beleeue too well of my selfe , or , not to haue a respect of other : truthe is sildome marked with smoothe words , and loue is not bredde , but upon great contentment : your lyking may be greater then my desert , and so alter vpon a better consideration : but mistake not your happinesse , in my fauours unworthinesse , where the best of my commaundement , may be the least of your contentment . your consideration of time may excuse my shortnesse of writing , where in a word you may understand , that in deed i intend : that truthe in honourable in loue , and vertue the fairest ioy in affection : in which , it i not misconstrue your conce●● , i will answere the care of your kindnesse : in which , according to the due of desert , you shall finde the effects of your desire . and so for this time i rest . your poore friend . a.t. a letter of counsaile from a kinde father . my deare sonne , you must not from your father looke for a flattering loue , no● take it unkindly , that i suspect your ●ll courses : for i haue passed the dangereus tune y ● you now are in , and haue hardly go●e through the briers : and therfore in a iealous feare , from an inward care , i cannot ●h●se but giue you w●rning of what may pre●●dice your good . beautie is a bewitching obied , and ●anto●nes is the ruine of wit : prodigality quickly makes a poore man , and he is only rich that liues contented . but my good sonne , aboue all things serue god , and keep a cleane conscience , passe not the limits of allegeance , nor build castles in the aire , take h●●d of extremities , for they are out of the course of discretion , and the fruite of ignorance , yeelds but the sorrow of repentance : young men may be wittie , but ●●ldome wise : and sometime , though ●rt be a great perfecter of experience , yet obseruation , is better then conceited ●unning . ●rpence is necessary upon occasion , and hope , is not amiss● upon desert : but reason sometime is more regarded , then rewarded , where ●ill is too powerfull to be resisted . i heare that you are much giuen to alch●mistry , it is a studie of great charge to many , and profiteth ●ewe : yet i forbid you no good labour , so that you loose not by the bargaine : ●●e therefore a care in the imployment of your time , and wherein my helps may further your good , seeke no other friend for your comfort . for though i would not wish you to disda●ne any kindnesse , yet would i haue you as litle as you may to be beholding to any man : for the prodigall are commonly talkatiue , and the couctous negatiue : and what a griefe it is to want , ● pray god you neuer knowe . any qualitie in a mediocritie , ● g●●dly allow you , but let not your loue be carried away with ang i●le imagination . i haue sent you a hundreth crownes , w●● may you vse them , and when you need any moe , send to me for them : for your affection touching marriage , i would it were bestowed as i could with it : howeuer it be , it shall be much amisse , it i mi●k●ke ● . i haue sent you likewise a horse , now and than to manage in a morning , but i pray you forbeare to use him as a ●ackney to ride up and downe the streetes in idle humors . conuerse with no fooles , for you shall loose time with them : and take heede of knaues , for there is much to be feared in them . long not after newes , least you be gu●d with a ●east : and take heed of drunkennesse , for it is a healthy humor . make much of thy money , and abuse not thy friend : be carefull of thy selfe , and forget not thy father , whose earthly ioy is but in the hope of thy happinesse , and whose deadly sorrowe would be to soe thee 〈◊〉 amisse . what shall i say more to thee ● thou knowest i loue thee , and only in my loue am i thus carefull ouer thee . accept then my admonitions , and ponder vpon the constructions , they may happe to 〈◊〉 thee good , but harme they can doo thee none : ●se them therefore for thy best auaile . after the terme , the bacation will call thee into the countrey , where knowing thy fathers house , thou maist make thine owne welcome . ●ill when , and alwaies , i will pray for thee , that god will so blesse thee , that i may haue ioy in thee . your louing father , h. w. a kind answere of a louing sonne . my deare father , as i wil not flatter myselfe with your loue , so can i not but ioy in your kindnes : whose carefull counsell within the compasse of so fewe words , i will lock up in my hart , as the best iewel of my life : for to serue god , is the dutie of a christian , and no longer let me line , then in the care of that comfort . a cleane conscience i finde like a cleane paire of sheetes , where the soule after labors may take a safe place of rest : to passe the limits of allegeance , merits the losse of life , and he is borne ●● happie that is unnatural to his country : and a●ery castles , are but mad mens imaginations : i know extremes are not durable , nor often prefitable : and repentance , a paiment , that pincheth the ●art of understanding . i finde the instruction of the aged to be the best direction of the youthfull , and obseruation with experience to make the perf●ction of art : the necessitie of experience cannot be a●yed , but the hope of desert may be deceiued : for , while will standes for iudgement , there is no holding of argument : touching al●hamistry , i heare much , but beleeue little : and for the charge , i will not waste your lande , to make a new mettall : but if by my industry i can doo good , i will take the benefite of time : for qualities , i thanke your large allowance , the best meanes with labour to attaine them , for teachers , are worthie their rewards : to be beholding i loue not , and hate to be ungratefull : but as i follow not the prodigall , i haue little pleasure in the courtous : and for idle imaginations , i can vse them as fictions : for your crownes , i humbly thanke you , and hope to bestow them to your 〈◊〉 . your ●orse will doo me much pleasure , and cause me to see you the sooner . for gallopping the streets , it is like children upon ●obby horses , but gi●●ie heades haue such humours , that god knoweth what will become of them : for mariage , though the course be honourable , yet could i be content to forbeare it , though in the ●●re●ion of my affection , i wi●l be much ruled by your discretion : fooles c●nnot understand mee , and knaues wil but trouble me : but from the company of 〈◊〉 conditions , the lord of heauen deliuer mee : good newes come neuer too soone , nor badde too late , and therefore as they are , i wil est●●me them : for drunkennesse ne●er doubt mee , for it is most l●athsom● to my nature : and for my mony , though it being seruant , i will hold it as my good friend : for my friend he shall be my selfe ; but my father my hearts loue , and my lifes comfort : in whose carefull admonitions , how kinde i f●●de the ininstructions , the obedience of my dutie , shall make knowne to your contentment : the vacation is neare , and i will not be long from you : where finding you well , shall be my best welcome : so thinking my selfe bless in the heauens , to haue so good a father on the earth , beseeching god to make me ioyfull in your eyes , by the graces of his mercies , in praier for your long health , with your hearts euer happinesse ; in all humble thankes , i take my leaue . your obedient sonne , t.w. a merchants letter to his factor . as i haue reposed trust in your care , i looke for your performance of my credit : your abilitie in managing such matters as i haue committed to your charge , i make no doubt of : and therefore hoping in your discretion to heare of my expected contentment , i will looke by your next letters to heare of the summe of my desire : in the meanetime , let me tell you , that i haue sent you ouer foure score broad cloathes , and thirtie car●ies , with such other commodities as i thinke fit for your use in those parts , i pray you make your best market , and take heed of your creditors : for i heare there are men reputed of great wealth , in suspition to play banquerup●s , haue therefore a care of your businesse , your trauels shall not bee unconsidered : your french wines i heare this yeare are very small , and your gascoigne wines very deare , prunes cheape , but you know your markets , and so i hope you will haue care in disbursing your money , for it is hardly come by , and as this world goes , ●ooth much in great matters : if there boe any newes of woeth , acquaint me with them , and in any wise , doo not trouble me with untruthes : your cou●en telles mee that you are in good regard with the gouernour for certaine cloathes that you lately bestowed on him , hee tolde mee the cause , and therein i commend your discretion : for sometime it is better to giue then to saue , when it turneth to aduantage . in summe , let this suffice you without further circumstance , you haue my loue , and my purse , i pray haue a care of them both : so till i heare from you , i rest . your loving maister ▪ w.h. his answere . s●● , i beseech you mistrust not your trust , nor haue any fear● of my care , for , hauing both your loue and your purse , how can the one let me forget the other : ●o sir , bee you assure● howsoeuer banquers play banquerou● , sure pawnes will dece●ue no credite : and touching such affaires as i haue in charge , doubt not your expectation of my dispatch : your cloathes ● haue receiued , and like them very well , year car●ies are verie good , i would you had sent more of them , for they are much in request , and well sol●e . i haue by good happe met with a hundre● tunne of gascoigne wines , upon a good market , as you may knowe by my note . prunes are good , and good cheape , and therefore i haue sent you the greater store of them , on the ●a●tes you shall finde my marke , with two letters of your name . i haue sent you likewise , a tunne of cuchiniles , which i bought by a great cha●nce , the price you shall find● in my note with the rest . by the next poste you shall heare what i neede , in the meane time hauing no intelligence of worth , ●oth to trouble you with ●●●tle● , glad to perform● that 〈◊〉 that your kindnesse hath bounde me too , wishing to liue no longer , then to discharge the office of an honest care , praying for your long health , and euerlasting happinesse : i humbly take my leane . your faithfull seruant ▪ c.b. a letter of chalenge . my wrongs are so many , as may no longer be dige●ted , and your excuses so idle , as i will beneforth despise them : for your words are but winde , and therefore i am wearie of them : and therefore if you bee not of so cold a complexion that you bare not maintaine your reputation , méete me to morrow early in the morning in some ●elds a mile out of towne , and bring with you such armes as you doo ordinarily carrie , assigne your place , a●d houre , and fa●e not your appointment , that god the iudge of 〈◊〉 , may determine of our wrongs , and the point of the sword may put a period to our discourses , thus , hauing blowne ouer an idle paper , with a fewe last words of my intent , answer● me as i expect , or ●eare of me as it will fall out . ●n haste . your enemie to the death . t.p. the answere . what you haue written to me , i returne upon your selfe , as loth to loose time in answere of such idlenesse : if you burst goe alone , i would goe with you , but let it suffice you , that i know ●●u , and therefore meane not to trust you , but bring a friend with you , and i am readie for you : come to my lodging as early as you wil , and though i would be loth to breake a sleepe for you , yet i will take a little paine to answere you : and for the field , wee will cast lo●●es for the place , where god , and a good conscience , will quick●y determine t●e quarell : but i feare the point of the sword will make a comma to your ●unning : which if it doo , you shall finde wh●t will follow , and so leauing further w●rds , wishing you to be as good as your word , i end . yours as you mine . h.w. a merri● letter or newes of complaints . honest george , mine olde schoolefellow , and kinde friend , glad to heare of thy home quiet , how euer i fare w●●●●y farre trauell : whereas thou writest vnto me , for such newes as this place ●eelds , let me tell thee , that there are so many , and so fewe of them true , that i dare almost write none ; onely this , vpon my knowledge , i dare deliuer th●● : that of late in this cittie , there are a number of complaints , euery houre in the day , but all to little purpose . the souldier complaines either of peace , or pe●●rie : the lawier either of lacke of clients , or cold f●es : the merchant of small trafficke , or ill fortune ▪ the trades man of lacke of chapmen : the labourers of lacke of worke : the poor● men of lacke of charitie , and the rich men of lacke of money : the th●efe of lacke of booties : and the hangman , that his trees are bare : in brief● , if i should tel th●e of all the complaints that i heare of , as well among the feminine , as masculi●e gender , how so●e old women crye out of young vnth●ifts , and some young wenches complaine ●f olde misers : how some complaine of their customers , and some other of their neighbours , it were such a world of idle sto●●e , as would but trouble thee in the reading : but since their complaints are all to little purpose , for that s●uldiers are but for e●tremities , though honourable in their erploy●● , and lawiers are some tr●ublesome , except vpon agreement of controue●s●es , though iudges are worthy honour in execution of iu●●ice : and merchants may beare with fort●ne , when their coffers are full of coyne , though in respect of their trafficke , they are the maintenance of the common-wealth : and trades men may sell cheape , when their best wares are all vttered , though it is necessarie , that they bee set on worke for the maintenance of the state : and labourers may rest , when their haruest is in , though it be needfull to set them to worke for the auoyding of idlenesse : beggers m●y hold their peac● , when they haue filled the patches of their profession , though it is not amisse to relieue them for the exercise of charitie : now the rich men may shrugge their shoulders , when they haue no vse for their bagges , though sometim● it be requ●●●t rather to be sparing , then prodigall : and for th● th●efe , let him ●●gh till the hangman doo help● him : and for th● hangman let him mourne , for hee i● sure the diuell lie● in wait● for him ; and therefore let the old● me●ill munch , and the young titte mourne , i cannot helpe them , but as i h●are of their complaints , i haue written thee the contents , which being scarc● worth the reading , i l●aue to thy worst vsing . and so sorrie that i haue no matter of worth , wherewith better to fit thin● humor , in as much kindnesse as i can , i commend my loue to thy com●●●ndement : and so i 〈◊〉 . thine euer 〈◊〉 his 〈◊〉 . w. p. the answere of the l●ugh . my good wagge , i see trauell hath not so altred thine humor , but thou wil● euer be thy selfe with thy ●●ien●s : for thy kind letter i thanke thee , and as kindly as i can , will requi●e thee : as you are there full of sorrow , we are here full of mirth : for in euery place there is nothing so cōmon as laughing : one laughs at an other : the wise man laughes at the ●●●le , to see the nature of his imperf●ctions : and the foole laughes at the wise man , becaus● nature lets him know none of his sorrowes : the rich man laughes at the poore , to see the maner of his life : and the poore man laughe● at the rich , to s●e the miserie of his care : the faire laughes at the sowle , to see how they are despised , and the fowle laugh at the faire to see how they are troubled : the honest laugh at the knau● , to see how he shifts with the world : and the knaue laughes at the honest , to see how his simplicitie is abused ; for particulars , how any one laughes at the other , eyther the old at the youthfull , or they at the aged , i dare say nothing : but w●rt thou hare , and had i not the more cause of sorrow , we would laugh a little together to loo●● at the laugher of this world : but they say , he may laugh y ● wim●es , at least till he loose againe : but the natures of their laughing are diuers and very strange , for some laugh so loude that they are noted foolish : some laugh so wide , that they shame their mouthes with lacke of teeth : and some laugh so cunningly , that they ●●●ther it vp in a smile : but let them laugh till they be wearie , it is a good world whē men are merry . which hoping thou art , or praying thou maiest be , that when we kindly me●t , we may commune better of these conceits , wishing thee all contentment , and my selfe the pappinesse of thy good company , till i see thee and euer , i rest : one and the same . thine as thou knowest . r. w. a letter to a friend for newes . couzen , i know you that liue abroad in the world , cannot but heare of newes euery day , which we here in the countrey would be glad now and than to ●ee acquainted with : your labour will not be much in writing , and for your kindnesse , it shall not be vnrequited : we heare much murmuring of many things , but little truth of any thing : but from you that know , i would be glad to learne . there i● a speech among some idle astronomers , that the man in the moone hath fal●e in loue with a starre , and walking through the cloudes , was almost ●rowned in the water : and that the tomblers of y ● forrest haue spoiled a number of black conneys , so that rabbots are so deare , that a poore man may bee glad of a peece of mutton . it is said heere with vs in these parts , that you of the citie are much troubled with a new disease , truly we haue reasonable good health , but that there are such plagues in diuers houses , what with shrewd wiues , and euill husbands , stubborne chil●ren , and wicked seruants , that many honest men cannot liue in quiet with their neighbours . though the spring be not very forward , yet there is great encrease of many things , especially of children ▪ which how they may answere the ●awe , i will not greatly stan● vpon . thus hauing no matter of moment wherwith at this time to trouble you , entreating you that i may ●●ortly heare from you , i ●est , in much aff●ction . assuredly yours . r. t. his answere . my good cousen , to answere your kinde letter , if there were any thing heere worth the writing , i would not haue beene so long silent , but such are the occurrents in these places , as are either not worth the noting , or better vnspoken the● written : for loue in youth is ●o full of idleness● , and malice in age so malicious , that vertue is so hid vp in corners , that there is little or nothing spoken of her account . for the man of the moone , i leaue him to waite on the sunne , but if he haue a mind to any starre , i leaue him to follow his owlight : for his watery element , since it is all in cloudes , let it hang in the ayre , i will not meddle with his louing astronomy . for connies , i am no warrener , and therefore let them that haue the keeping of the groundes , looke to their game : i haue small sport in such idlenesse : but for a peece of mutton , a young lambe is worth fiue old connies , and he that is not glad of such a feast , let him fast for his dinner . for our new disease , it is with many men in the head , ● women in the tongue , seruants grow great libertines , and children are sicke of the parents : and for neighbours , there is so much loue in the streets , that there is almost none in the houses : and therefore besides other ordinarie diseases , we want no plagues to make vs looke into our sinnes . but god amend all , for one s●arc● mend an other : and therefore entreating you to haue patience with me till the next weeke ; when you shall heare of the best newes that come to my hands , i rest : in bounden good will. yours as mine owne . n. r. a disswading from marriage . sweete cousen , i am sorie to heare , that being so well at ease , you wil coosin your self of your quiet : and for want of a worlds hell , you will put your selfe into a purgatorie with a wife : but if it may be that i speake in time : heare what i s●y , 〈◊〉 shee be faire , it may b●eed iealousie : if foul● , dis●ike , ●nd chau●ge : if rich , take h●●d of prid● : if poore , mis●rie : if young , bew●re the w●nt●● : if ●l● , take heed of the ●eldame : if wise , sh●● will gouern● thee : i● foolish , she will fret thee : how deare soeuer she loue thee , she will sometime or other , either crosse or fl●tter thee : and therfore , if thou wilt be ruled by a friend , let neither old nor young , faire nor ●eu'● trouble thee : beleeue me , as i haue read , these are y e properties of most wiues : to weaken strrin●th , to trouble wit , to e●ptie purses , and to breed humors : but if i be deceiued in my reading , or mine author in his writing , either in altering your course , or prouing your comfort , tel me your minde when we meete . till when , wishing you continuance of that quiet , wherein you now liue , or the true contentment of the best loue : leauing to your discretion , the mannaging of your affection , i commit you to the almightie . thine euer ●s his owne . t. w. the answere . good cou●●n , i find your kindnesse aboue your knowledge , in mistaking paradice for purgato●ie : for , a wife is y ● wealth of the minde , and the welfare of the heart : where the best iudgement of reason findes discretions contentment . may b● is a ●oubt : but what is , must be regarded , in which ●ence i an● pleased : where youth with beautie , and wit with ●ert●● , haue power to command , where kindness● must obey . pouertie i feare not , and wealth i seeke not : but it sufficeth ●e to seeke no other fortune ●o : the summe of my worlds happinesse : where the auoyding of euill , and the hope of good , makes me know more comfort then you are able to cōceiue , till you enter into that course , wher● in the ●oy of loue is the second blessednesse of this life . what shall i say , but that i know not what to say , to expresse the perfection of this pleasure , that puts downe all idle imaginations : from which , hoping to see thee remoued , when i next see thee . till then and ●uer i rest . thine as thou knowest . b. d. a kinde letter of a creditor for mony . si● , i pray you take it not vnkindly , that i write thus earnestly vnto you , for more necessitie , then will hath v●ged me vnto it : my m●ny is not much , and you well able to discharge it , the day of paiment is past , and i haue great occasion to vse it , my losses by sea , and ill creditors by land , make me strain curtesse with my friends , for their good helpe in an extremitie , yet d●● i desire nothing but my due : but as i was readie to lend , i would be glad to receiue , with that fulnesse of good will , that may continue our kindnesse . i write not this , as doubting your discretion , but t● intreat your patience , if your purse be not in tune : for were i as i haue bene , and hope to be , i had rather beare ●oo long , then as●● too soone , especially of so good a friend , as i haue alwaies found of your selfe . consider therefore of my case , and in your kindnes answere me : time is pretious , and therfore least by disapointment , i be disfurnished , and so perhaps discredited , i pray you speed● your answere : which , howsoeuer , shall be welcome : and therfore , ●arnestly intreating you , to helpe me now , that i may the better ●uil your kindnesse hereafter , with many thankes for your great fauours , which cannot be forgotten to be deserued : i take my leaue further at this time to trouble you , but will rest in what i shall be able euer to pleasure you , to make you know how much i loue you . your louing friend at commaund . t. r. the debters answere . sir , your request is so reasonable , and your kindnes so much , that for a greater matter then your demand , if my purse were not in tune , i would strain my credit very farre for you : ●eare then with my a little forgetfu●●es of my day , and thinke it ●o trouble to my patience , to be put in minde of my credit : your sea losses i am sor●● for , and wish your recouery by land . debters that will not pa●e , make cred●●ors they cannot lend : but for my selfe , to make you know , how much interest you haue in my affection , let me tell you , that though by some inexpected expences , i am short of my hoped reckoning , yet vpon the receit of your letter , i haue bene th●s carefull for you : your money i haue sent you , and as much more for so long time , i will lend you , which you shall rec●i●e of this bearer : and in my letter , the day of paiment , which if it may pleasure you so much as i wish you , i am glad i had it for you : how●oeuer it fall out , vse it to your owne discretion : and so far be alwaies assured of my loue , that my word and deed shall be all one in your comfort . and so leauing ceren●on●ous complements , in vnfained good will , i rest ; alwaies to my vttermost power . yours as mine owne . d. w. a letter of newes . to performe my promise in my last letter , my kinde , and best couzen , you shall vnderstand , of such occurrents , as i heare goe currant for truth : i heare there are certaine olde people , that speake much of prophecies , where they set it down● for a certaine rule , that this yeare , and many to come , he that wants mony in his purse , and a friend in the court , may walke into the country , and picke strawes for his comfort : for the lawe is verie daungerous for begging , and charitie is so cold , that the poore must starue , rather then the rich will want . old men shall neuer be young againe in this world , and beautie in a young woman , will not let her know her selfe . honestie without wit , will die on the foole , and craft without credit , will labour to little purpose . in summe , there will be a great plague among the poore with lacke of mony , among fooles for lacke of wit , and knaues , for lacke of honestie : but it may be , nature may alter her course in many things , and prophecies may fall out in contrarieties . howsoeuer it be , welcome that comes on gods name : and so , hoping thou louest no legerdemaine , nor wil●●e led away with blind prophecies , writing this only for exercise of a merry humor , i rest . thine what mine . p. r. the answere . such idle prophets as you méete with , haue such kind of matter as you write of : but let the world wagge as it list , there is not a truer wagge in the worlde then thy selfe : and were it not , that i feare my letter would come to light , i would answer you in your kinde . but to be short , let me tell you , that lawes are good to take order with such outlawes , as after prodigalitie , put themselues vpon charitie . and yet to crosse your rule of little experience , old men may haue young humors , faire wenches , put wise men to their wittes , and honestie , may thriue with a mean trade , when a craftie knaue may loose by his c●●●ing broking . as for the plague , i feare me it is neuer from you : for if neighbors agree , yet their wiues may fall out : and while the poore fret , and the riche frowne , there is little hope of health , where the world is so out of quiet . and therefore hoping that you haue wit inough , to beware the knaue and the foole , and to make your choise of best company : wishing your continuance of your good humor , with thankes for your waggish letter , i rest , in our old league . yours as mine 〈◊〉 . r. w. a letter of perswading to marriage . deare couzen , i ●oo not a little wonder at your solitary life , and more at your little care to match your selfe in marriage with some virgin worthy your loue : wil you leaue the world without memorie of your name , your inheritance to no issue of your owne honour , and runne a course of too little comfort● me●thinketh , that your knowledge of the diuersitie of ●ariet●●s should settle your content vpon some especiall vertue : what if some women be aged , some are youthfull , and some fr●war● , other may be kinde : and some wanton , there are better stayed : and some sullains , some are louing : and is there n●n● can fit your humor ? god forbid : the lawe of nature , the lawe of reason , the lawe of god doth wil it , that loue breed encrease by a vertuous coniun●tion , which cannot be performed , without the honor of this course . bastards wil be witnesses of their parents wickednesse , when natural children are the ioy of their fathers : and ● a true louing wife , is worth a thousand wilde walkers : her care in the house , her kindnes at the table , and her comfort in the bed , are pleasures better conceiued then expressed : fall thē ab●●rd with such a bird , as you may hold for your phoenix , and thinke thy mind at best libertie when it is ●ree fr●m the bandes of folly . in ●ne , let me intreat thée to make thy house a home , thy wi●e thy worldes loue , and thy children thine earths ioy : which as i hope ●hou wil● be glad to haue , i shall be glad to see . for good spéede whereof , in hartie praier i rest . thy louing co●●en , r. w. his answere . my kinde couzen , i sée you are better redde then experienced : for batchellers wiues , and maidens chi●●ren , are pretie things to plaie withall : but he that knowes many daungers , wil take héed of all . a wife is an euerlasting substance , which if it be not of the better nature , is a perillous thing to meddle ●ithall : for if it catch hold of the hands , it may put the heart to a fore paine : and the phoenix is such a figure , as if i must find hee in a woman , i feare me i must séeke a great way for her . for the lawes that you speake of , i yéeld to truth , but loue is so nice an humor , that he ●l●ome settles in a place : for bastards , i loue not the bréed : and better children wil doo well when they come : for bed and boord , and those trickes , let them ioy in them that haue them , when i f●nd time i wil thinke on them : in the mean time , more at quiet in my lodging with a friend , then perhaps i may be at home with a wife , not forswearing marriage , nor peasting to purgatory , in stead of a mistaken paradise : wishing thy prayers for my better happinesse , then loues idlenesse , and if i doo marry to be kindly matched : i rest . thine a● mine owne . d. l. a letter of vnkindnesse vpon a deniall of a courtesie . if my deserts had not excéeded my desire , i would haue hate● the nature of my humor , which loues nothing lesse then to be too much beholding : my request was not much , and the grant but easie : howsoeuer for ill fashion , the excuse ●ay be cunningly framed : but though i conceiue vnkindnesse in this course , i can rather grieue then be angry : for i wil mistrust my wit , til i sée too much of my sorrow : and loue my friend , though i be plaine with his patience : be content therefore rather to let me tell you of my discontent , then to couer a dissimulation , and to wish your better regard of my affection , then to giue me iust cause to touch the care of your discretion , which in denying a triflle , may loose a greater benefit : but not to goe too farre in impatience , let me thus grow to an ende : friendship once grounded is not easily remoued : and therefore being assured of my loue , beare with my dislike : and wherein i may better pleasure you , doubt not the ill requi●all of vnkindnes , for i can chide and not be angry , and better loue you , then tell you so . and so intreating your reasonable answere for my satisfaction , i rest : all displeasure set apart . your louing friend . n. s. his answere . your humorous kind of writing , puts me to studie for an answere : for your anger without cause , may moue caul● of anger : you know you might commaund what i am , and will you haue mor● ? conce●t may be deceiued , and so kind●●sse abused , and suspition of impatience hath the least part of dis●r●●on . excuses are idle among fr●●nds , and therefore words shall be deferred till our meeting : when s●●ing your owne f●ul● , you will not thinke amisse of your friend , grieue not then without cause , nor be carried away with conceit : and as you know my nature , commaund my loue , which is farre from the thought to make a friend beholding : be not discontent with a den●all , till you haue better reason of displeasure , but measure me with your ●●lfe , and you shall finde smal cause of difference : if there be any , let kindnesse dispute it , reason confesse ●t , an● patience b●●re it , so shall friends be themselues , and you and i shall not fall out . so hoping that you wil sat●●fie your selfe with this answer● , ti● we m●●t to talke further of the matter , i conclude with your kindnes , and rest euer . yours , as you kn●w , t.w. a letter to an vnthankfull person . i haue heard that a prince sometime ordeining a punishment for all offences , le●t ingratitude to the gods to plague , as p●●● man● power to punish ●●ough : the tale may well be true , con●●dering the vilenesse of such a nature , as i thinke the ●●ke liueth not in the shape of man. couldest thou not only forget , but abuse my kindnesse , and so make a monster of a wicked shadow : i could not haue beleeued it , had i not too we●l proue● it : but i wish you would leaue the humor , least it make a lo●thsome nature : and though i wil not reuenge a wrong vpon a 〈…〉 to much basenesse , yet wil i learne to know the condition of so much vilenesse , and as well warne my friends from an enemy , as further abuse mine own wit with so mistaking of a friend , in briefe therefore , let me tell you , as i know you , i regard you , and as i found you i leaue you , as one fit , if there lacked a card , to put in the stock for a wicked help . and so sorie to haue lost so much time to write to you , i wish all the world that knowes you , to hate you . your enemy from the heart . d. m. his answere . how straungely men will write , that impatience doth put out of order ? a good turne is lost , when it is cast in the receiuers teethe : and abuse misconceiued , can hardly be well excused : consider better of what is done , then wrong the meaning of a good minde , and you shall finde without excuse , no true cause of displeasure : if the information of malice haue moued choller without iudgement , poore men must endure the misery of euill fortune : against my selfe i wil confesse nothing , but referre time to decide all doubts , when truth shall put the differences betwixt a shadow and a better substance . so leauing ill humors to like mindes , and good thoughts to better natures , hoping to finde you your selfe , which wil be farre inough from that you write : in spight of the diuel i commit you to god : and so rest . your friend whether you will or no● . d. r. a letter to laugh at , after the old fashion of 〈◊〉 : to a maide . after my hartic commendations , trusting in god that you are in good health as i was a● the writing ●●r●o● , with my father and my mother , my bro●hers and sisters , and all my good friends , thankes be to god. the cause of my writing to you at this time is , that e●len , i do hear since my ●●●●ing from wakefield , when you know , what ta●ke ●re bad together at the sign● of the ble● cuc●oe , and how you did gi●e me your hand , and swear that you would not forsake me for all the wo●●de , and how you made me buy a ki●ng and a ●art , that cost me right●●●e pene● , which i left with you , and you gaue me a napkin to wear●●n my ●●t , i thanke you , which i will weare to my dying day●●nd i 〈◊〉 if it be true as i heare , that you haue alt●red your minde , and are made sore to my neighbour hob●ins younger sonne , truly ellen you do not wel● in so doing , and god wil p●a●●e you for it , and i hope i shall liue and if i neuer haue you : for there are mo●e maides the● maulkin ▪ and i count my selfe worth the whis●ing . and therefore praying you to write me your answer by th●s bearer my friend , touching the truth of all , how the matter ●t●nd● with you , i com●●● you to god. from ca●lo● gr●●ne . your true lo●er . r. p. her answere . t●uly roger , i did not looke for such a letter from your hands , i would you should know , i scorne it : haue i gotten my father and mothers ill will for you , to be so vsed at your hands ▪ i p●rceiue ● you be so iealous alreadie , you would be somewhat an other day , i am glad i finde you , that you can beleeue any thing of me : but t is no matter , i care not : send me my napkin , and you shall h●ue your king and your hart , for i can haue enough and i neuer see you more : for there are more batchelers then roger , and my peny is as good siluer as yours : and therefore séeing you are so lustie , euen put vp your pipes , for i will haue no more to do with you : and so ●nsaying all that euer hath bene said betwixt us , make your choyse where you list , i know where to be loued : and so i end . from wakefield . m. r. finis . a dialogue full of pithe and pleasure: betvveene three phylosophers: antonio, meandro, and dinarco vpon the dignitie, or indignitie of man. partly translated out of italian, and partly set downe by way of obseruation. by nicholas breton, gentleman. breton, nicholas, ?- ? approx. kb of xml-encoded text transcribed from -bit group-iv tiff page images. text creation partnership, ann arbor, mi ; 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(eebo-tcp ; phase , no. a ) transcribed from: (early english books online ; image set ) images scanned from microfilm: (early english books, - ; : ) a dialogue full of pithe and pleasure: betvveene three phylosophers: antonio, meandro, and dinarco vpon the dignitie, or indignitie of man. partly translated out of italian, and partly set downe by way of obseruation. by nicholas breton, gentleman. breton, nicholas, ?- ? [ ] p. printed by t[homas] c[reede] for iohn browne, and are to be solde at his shop in saint dunstons church-yard in fleetstreete, london : . italian source not traced. printer's name from stc. signatures: a-e⁴ (-a ). running title reads: of the dignitie or indignitie of man. at least quire c outer forme and most of quire d are in settings; c r line ends ( ) "beast" or ( ) "vp". reproduction of the original in the henry e. huntington library and art gallery. created by converting tcp files to tei p using tcp tei.xsl, tei @ oxford. re-processed by university of nebraska-lincoln and northwestern, with changes to facilitate morpho-syntactic tagging. gap elements of known extent have been transformed into placeholder characters or elements to simplify the filling in of gaps by user contributors. eebo-tcp is a partnership between the universities of michigan and oxford and the publisher proquest to create accurately transcribed and encoded texts based on the image sets published by 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early works to . - tcp assigned for keying and markup - spi global keyed and coded from proquest page images - rina kor sampled and proofread - rina kor text and markup reviewed and edited - pfs batch review (qc) and xml conversion a dialogue full of pithe and pleasure : between three phylosophers : antonio , meandro , and dinarco : vpon the dignitie , or indignitie of man. partly translated out of italian and partly set downe by way of obseruation . by nicholas breton , gentleman . dignus honore pius , gloria sola deus . london printed by t. c. for iohn browne , and are to be solde at his shop in saint dunstons church-yard in fleetstreete . . to the right worshipfull the louer of all good spirites , and nourisher of all good studies , iohn linewray , esquier , maister surueior generall of all her maiesties ordinance , necholas breton wisheth the merits of much worthinesse on earth , and the ioyes of hea●uen hereafter . sir , it is a custom amōg the best minds , to cal their thoughts daily to account , to whom and in what they are beholding , which considered , they fall next to the endeuour of desert , and last of all into a hate of themselues , if they performe not something , wherin they are seen● to be themselues : now , finding my selfe so much bound to your vndeserued fauours , that i cannot auoid ingratitude , to bury them in obliuion , i haue awaked my dull spi●it to salute your kindnesse , with this token of my loue : wherein you shall finde a matter of more worth then i am worthy to meddle with , handl●d in diologue-wise , betwixt three philosophers : in which , vnde● the title of the dignitie or indignitie of man , are discoursed many necessary points to be cons●d●red of ▪ as well for the outward as the inward parts ; wher●in it may be you shall finde pleasant wittes speake to some purpose , no machauilian pollicies , nor yet idle fables , no straunge riddles , nor vaine libelling ballades , but quicke spirits whetting their braines , to shewe the edge of their inuentions : and not to be tedious in my preface before you come to the matter , you shall finde in summe , that true worth , wherin lieth the whole matter , that only maketh the worthie or vnworthie man , and the due glorie vnto god , who is only worthie of all honour , & of all men : the greatest part of this booke was in italian , dedicated to a man of much esteeme , in the dukedome of florence , and this booke in this our language , i haue thought good here in england , to present to your worthinesse , of a better worke , in this her maiesties royall tower of london : in which , as by your continuall trauels in your place , you doubtlesse deserue no lesse gracious regarde of the greatest , then account with the wisest ; so would i be glad by the due fruite of my thankfulnesse , of your selfe , and men of your worth , to be worthily thought honest . in assured hope whereof , leauing my booke to your kinde acceptation , and my loue to your like account , i rest . yours affectionately to commaund : nich. breton . to the reader . by your patience gentle reader , giue mee leaue to laie before your eyes , a discourse vpon the dignitie , or indignitie of man , handled in the maner of a dialogue , by two or three conceited companions : that though they were no great graduates , yet it seemed by that they spake , they vnderstood what they learned ; and though they exceed not in their knowledge , yet they went not to schoo●e for nothing : two of them it should seeme were younger then the third , who , in his sullaine humour vsed speech that might giue cause of mirth ; how euer they disagreed in their opinions touching the matter they had in talke , yet they parted , and liued such friends , as made good vse each of others company . so would i wish it to be with you that reade , what euer you thinke of my writing , yet so to conceiue of my labour , that being not disdainfully spoken of in this , it may be better imployed hereafter : but least i should begge a liking of that which may seeme not worth the looking on , i will leaue my wo●ke to the worlds curtesie , and my good wil to my friends kindnesse : and so rest to euery one as i haue reason . a friende , nicho. breton ▪ a dialogue between three conceited companions : dinarco , antonio ▪ and meandro , vpon the dignitie or indignitie of man. antonio . my good friend , well ouertaken . dinar . that is as it falles out . anto. why ? i speak out of a good mind , that hoped to meete with no other . dinar . nay , your words may séeme to be good , but your minde is knowne to your selfe . anto. so it may bee to you , if it pleas● you . dinar . but what shall i get by it ▪ anto. no hurt , i● you mistake not your selfe : but why do you growe into this humour ? if you desire to be sollitary , let not me b● troubles●me . god be with you . dinar . nay sof● , i loue you too well to let you passe with your impatience : an● therefore temper your wittes , your walke will b● the better : but tell me what you would say , if you could speake ? anto. i would say that i neuer heard any man speake as you doo : but i would you would speake to some better purpose . dinar . v●nitie , vanitie , and all is vanitie . anto. w●at of that ? d●n . w●y , when all is nothing , to what purpose is any thing ▪ anto. then leaue the world , and speake of god. dinar . oh leaue that to the angels , for men are become such diuels , that th●y are not worthy to thinke vpon th● name of god. anto. oh those be atheists , au●ngeance on them : but surely there are some goo● creatures on y●●arth , th●t sinc●r●ly hono● god. dinar . but are t●ey no● 〈◊〉 m●●t o● th●m ? anto. such beggers are ric● men , wh●●h in grace haue a great poss●ssion . dinar . yea , bu● that grace hath litle grace in this world . anto. no matter , for there wil one day be a chaunge , when the goats wil be seuered f●om th● sh●epe , and then conscience will be somewhat in account . dinar . you speake of a great while hence , but there are many things to be done before that day . anto. and yet it may come ere it be looked for . dinar . true , but that is either not beleeued , or l●●●e thought on : but a litle by the way , i● your haste be not the greater ▪ wil you st●●e a while with me , and sit downe by this faire spring ? for i am not young , and old men must haue baites , i● their ●ournies be ●ar●e . anto. i will either staie or goe with you with all my heart , for my businesse is not such as can draw me from your company : but looke you who commeth out of the wood , ouer the style , making towards vs. dinar . it is meandro , séeme not to s●e him . mean. gentlemen , ys are well met this faire morning : her● are two sweete fountaines , one of cleare water , and an other of cleare wit. dinar . what shall we haue a play ? anto. why sir ? d● . why , doo not you heare the parasite begin the prologue ? me. oh sir , good words , you know i am no capper nor curt●●s man and therefore if i were deceiued , i am sorrie for my opinion . dinar . why you know , water may be fowle , and wit foolish : and therfore wash your hands ere you know the one , and call your thoughts together , before you iudge of the other . mean. ind●ed sir you do well to teach children how to reade , but he that is entred in his primer , néeds no helpe in his a.b.c. dinar . indéed an olde foole is no babe , and yet ●leare eyes may haue a blinde sight . me●n . it may be a principle among spittle-men , but sounde limbes néede no surgeon : but yet for your good words i thanke you , and as i can , i wil req●ite you . but leauing this crosse ●inde of car●ing , i pray you let vs fa●l to some ●airer play , that signi●● antonio may haue a part , and not stande like a torch bearer . dinar . why , deuise what you will , that may not lo●se time , and you shall soone trie my cunning . mean. why sir , shall we speake of loue ? di. oh the vainest thing of the world , which is either mistaken , or vnknowne , or at least if there be any , it liueth in the heauens , where the world cannot come at it : what say you antonio ? an. truly i haue no pleasure to loose time in idlenesse , for either as you said in the world it is not , or as it is , not worth y ● talking on . d● . w●ll said , wanton loue , is lust : wealthy loue , couetousness● , and fained loue hypocrisie ▪ but the true loue is charitie , which in the world is growne so colde , that it makes me shiuer to thinke on it , and therefore haue litle pleasure to speake of it . mean. then s●● shall we talke of vertue ? dinar . what , how litle she is esteemed in the worlde ? what sayes antonio ? an. truly sir , i can rather sigh for her , then speake of her , ●or she is so poorely maintained in many places , that shée is called but the lady of the beggers : and therfore i had rather honor her wher● i finde her , then talke of her , where i can do her no good : but i● it please y●u , shall we speake of armes ? di. me thinkes peace were a better hearing , and valure is better to be séene in action , then argument : what sayes meandro ? mean. me thinkes the sound of blood is hideous , and the terror of death is miserable : but shall we rather speake of peace ? dinar . i thinke you may holde your peace a good while , before you can truly speake of peace among men , for since the authour of it went from the earth , i thinke it was neuer séene in the world . how say you antonio ? anto. i thinke that discord hath so got the vpper hand , that peace is so put to silence , that there is almost nothing to be spoken of her , but that it is pittie she is no more to be spoken of . dinar . true : for not only men haue no great pleasure in her , but the women are out of loue with her : and what shall we th●n talke of her ? anto. shall we then talke of state matters ? dinar . not for your liues : make cleane your dishes and your platters , but talke of no princes matters . mean. indéed the meane is best , and a quiet is a happie life , obey lawes , paie duties , ware bonds , keepe silence , feare god , and pray for the quéene : these are all the state matters , that i will either speake of , or harken too . anto. indeed litle said , is soone amended : and silence s●ldome hath o●fended : who look●th hye , may haue a chip fall in his ●ye . dinar . yea , and perhaps a choppe on his necke , that may cost him his head : but what , shall we speake in rime ? anto. a litle , but if you like it , shall we speake of poetrie ? dinar . what , ballades ? why it is growne to such a passe , that the e. i● taken out , and of poetry , it is called pottry : why verses are so common , that they are nailed vpon euery poste : besides , it is a poore profession . mean. ind●ed they are most in vse with players , and musitians , for else they goe downe the world for imployment : but if there were a fall of rich men , there might be some worke for them about epitaphs : for if they be too busie with libels , they are put to silence for euer after : but shall we leaue this poore subie●● , and speak of the ●xcellency of musique ? dinar . oh the instrument betwixt the legges , where the stick and the fiddle can diuide finely vpon a plaine song , and carry the parts full , puttes downe all the musique of these dayes . mean. yet a still recorder doth well in a chamber , where a so●●●p will vse him sweetly : but , what should staid wittes trouble their heads with too many crochets ? let vs honour the art , and talke of some other exp●rienc● . a●to . shall we speake of phis●cke ? dinar . oh the word is ill in pronouncing , phisicke is an vns●uery matter , that shewes nothing but sorrow , for the charge of the recouery , makes the grief● of the remedie : besides , onely on the patients paine , groweth the phisitians profit : no , no , exercise , and a spare diet , early rising , and warme cloathes , is better then a pill or a potion : oh the very thought of it hurts my stomacke , i pray thée let vs talke no more of it . mean. shall we then discourse of lawe ? dinar . argue that list vpon their cases , i pray god kéepe me from their courts , where their q●irkes and qui●ides makes me desire title of their acquainta●ce . anto. indeed i haue heard it compared vnto a laborinth , where one may get in when he will , and out , when he can : but the cry of the poore so discredits many of the professor● , that i haue no pleasure to speake of it . mean. shall we then talke of hunting or h●wking ? dinar . what birds , and dogges ? no , no , tyring of legges , and tearing of throates , with luring , and hollowing , are nothing pl●asing to mine humor , i doo not loue so to make a ●oyle of a pleasure . anto. shall we then talke of astronomy ? din. no : let vs rather looke about vs in the world , then stand stari●g on the starres : i loue not , with following the moone to fall into a d●tch . mean. shall we then speake a litle of beautie ? dinar . d● t is growne so artificiall , that the natural is almost out of p●int , and because i will robbe no artificer of his cunning , i will leaue that art to the painter . anto. i●●eed s●r , i heare that most young louers are idolaters , for in stead of liuely faces , they do reuerence to painted images . dinar . truly , i am of your minde . mean. then let vs beginne where we left this other day , to speake of the dignitie or indignitie of m●n : what say you maister antonio ? anto. i wil answere your proposition , but dinarco that hau● the garland . mean. why ●●r , i will not iniure the tauerne to steale away she bush , and therefore let words that ●ost litle , be affoorded good cheape , and as well taken as spoken . dinar . content is pleased , and for that i will not be ceremonious , i will begin to breake ●he ice . i am perswaded that there is no creature so litle worthy honour as man : i meane not absolutely without exceptions , as man hath bene and should be , but as man is , and should not be : but because i would be glad to heare your two kinde quarellings vpon the questions , and for that my memorie of that i would say , may be the better refreshe● by that that either of you say , let me in●rease antonio begin , as the elder , i cannot say the better scholler . mean. father , w●e will confesse our selues all punies to your perfection , and schollers in your schoole , where , who doth remember what you teach , may make much of his vnderstanding . dinar . goe too i say , vse rhetho●icke so a better vse then flatt●rie , and rather doo as you haue reason , than say that you haue no thankes for : and yet but louingly angry , i pray you take not ill a good meaning : and maister antonio , ●et me entreat you to begin the deliuerie of your opinion , wi●h your reasons for the same , touching the worthinesse or the vnworthinesse of man. anto. father you may commaund your children , though w● blush at our b●ldnesse , and therefore vnder correction , i will be but obedient to commaundement . dinar . well antonio , be not sine with your friendes , it is art to hide art : you know i loue you , and so i pray you vnderstand me , and yet modestie i allow of , so it be not belowe the cliffe of good musique : but i pray you begin . anto. touching the dignitie , or indignitie of man , this is mine opinion , that by all which i can with indifferent iudgement finde out by all the notes that i haue taken in the nature and the life of man. i see not any , but that compared with other creatures , i ●●nde him the lesse worthie of any , yea almost of any to be commended . for ●●●st , touching his first s●bstance , was hee not created of the ●●me of the earth , then which , what can be worse imagined ? and t●uching generation , is not man euen at this day of the like substance ? in his conception , is he not inf●cted with corruption ? in his bréeding , full of trouble , griefe , and sicknesse , to his bréder ? his place a hou●e of darknesse , and his li●ertie conioyned to a limit ? when with a world of paine to his enlarger , couered with v●cleen●nesse , hee comes he knowes not whither , is receiued by he knowes not whom , doth hee knowes not what , & liues he knowes not how ; dis●urnished of all defe●ce against hurt , vnprouided of all comfort toward● his g●od : vnable to stand without helpe , or to be thankfull to them that holdes him vp : crying before hée speak●s , to signi●ie sorrow b●yond speech ; and subiect to so many daungers , a● ho●rely threaten but his death : which if h●e scape in his infancie , he shall finde in his elder age : for n●thing is more certain then death , nor v●c●rtaine then the time , and the meane : his des●res in●atiable , his humo●re variable , his ●uries intollerable , his sinne● innumerable ▪ and so h●s life ●●●crable . what ▪ h●e is not this , hée is not himselfe , and being this , wh●t can be worse then hims●lfe ? for his estate , in what estate so●u●r hee be , let vs sée the best that hée can be , an● then consider what withall he may be . if a ●●ing , he may be a tyr●nt , and that is odio●e : or a shéepe , and that is 〈…〉 if a couns●●lor , he may be prend , and that may bréed enuy ▪ he may be couetous , and that may corrupt conscience . if a souldier , he may be desperate , and so dangerous , or bloudie , and so murtherous : or couetous , and so trecherous . if a lawier , hee may b● partiall , and that were perillous : or gréedie , and that were gré●uous : or faithlesse , and that were villamous . if a merch●nt , hé● may be banquerout , and so a begger ▪ or a theater , and so a villaine . if an vsurer , hée may be a dogge , and so halfe a diuel● . if a trades-man , hée may bée a false dealer , and so a deceiuer , or a plaine deal●● , and so a begger . if a farmer , hé● may be a corne-monger ▪ and so a c●arl● : or a grazier , an● so a chuffe . if a miller , hée may towle false , and so pro●e ● thee●e . if a labourer , hée may be lazie , and so lubber : or ● begger , and so a ●ag●e . in summe , examine euery ●ne of ●●ese , and see of what estate he is , that may deserue to be honoured for his worthinesse . if a queene , i say nothing but go● preserue her . if a lady , she may lacke honour , and that were shamefull . if a gentle woman , shée may haue a wrong tytle , and that wer● pittie . if a citizen , shée may be proud , and that is vncomely . if a country dame , she may loue ●auncing , and so further fro●●ng . if a begger , she may be a bawde , and so a bagage : so that ●●ale , and female , i sée no state , but in the same they are subiect to s●ch imperfections , that there is little desert of commendations , which may make man a more worthy creature then any other . if he be yong , ●is ●ddes h● is wanton : if aged , he is wilfull : if rich , hée is proud : if p●●re , he is desperate : if wise , he is troubled : if fonde , he is scorned : so that 〈◊〉 is many wayes so blameable , as that he is almost no way commendable : but in desert of due praise , inferiour ●o many other creatures : what feedes so grossely , speakes more loudly , 〈◊〉 so vile●y ▪ an eagle wil catch at no flies , when high mindes wil stoope at 〈◊〉 matters : a lyon will not prey on a lambe , ●ut a tyrant will no● spare the innocent : a hawke will be reclaimed to her ●ure , when a man will harken to no learning : a horse wil know hi●●yder , whē a scholler wil be a straunger to his maister : ye● , a ●ogge wil be a watch-man at his maisters doore , when a seruant wil be 〈◊〉 in his house : and a spaniell wil wagge his taile for a bone , 〈◊〉 wil be vngratefull for a great benefit . a nightingale singes b● nature , man cries by nature : the elephant wil lead a man thr●●gh the wildernesse , but man wil lead man into destruction : the lizard will keepe a man from the serpent , but one man is a serpent to another : the ant laboureth for his liuing , while man sleepeth out the time of his labour : the sparrow wil learne to kéepe ●ut , while man wil keep in no compasse : the birds vnto their ●ing the eagle , the beasts to the lyon , the fishes to the whale , are more in subiection by nature , then men either by law ▪ or loue , to their soueraigne . for neatnesse , how cleane kéepes the bee her hiue , and ●ow fowle is many a sluttes hous● ? for apparell , how doth th●●wanne prune her feathers ● and how full of feathers is many a slo●ens fowle coate ? for wit , how hath nature ●aught the fée to sucke ●he●oney , and gather the wa●e off the flowers , while man with his folly gets but poyson from the w●edes ? what cunning hath nature taught the spider in her webbe , while men by art are faine to studie for lesse skill ? for outward neatnesse , the beast kicketh his haire , the byrd pr●neth her feathers ▪ the fish scowreth his scales : while man onely is so lazie , as he will fearce f●nde time to wash his hands : for inward cleannesse i meane , of nature , looke into the beasts , and of all the most monstrous , the elephant , and compare them with man , you shall sée s●ch to be the difference , as may be a shamefull griefe to thinke on : there is no beast , great or small , but knoweth his time of generation with his ●emale , which past , he l●●ueth her , and falleth to such course , as either 〈◊〉 or seruice doth commaund him , not dwelling vpon the vilenesse of his action , but as it were glad to be from it : yet for the time is he to her so kinde , that he will sport and play with her , so carefull ouer her , that he will suffer none to hurt her , and so iealous of her kindnesse , as that he will aduenture death , ●re an other shall ●nioy her . but of all the most worthy to be noted , as i before said , is the elephant , who certaine dayes before his méeting with his female , that shee may kindly entertaine him , goes to the sea , and ther● as deepe as hée dare stand for drowning , stayeth till the waues doo almost couer him , when béeing well washed , hée walketh into some place where hee may drye him in the sunne , then goeth vnto some rocke , where betwixt two stones , hée whetteth his tuskes , as it were to burnish them and sharpen them for some fight : all which performed , hée walketh full of melancholly , till he haue met with his female , when putting on a pleasing humour , hée maketh her such sport , as he findes most fitting her contentment : which done , and hauing performed for certaine dayes , that due course where vnto nature hath commaunded him , hee then retires himselfe into some sollitarie place , where as it were , wearie , and not well pleased with himselfe with that he hath done , solemnly stealeth alone downe againe to the sea , where in like manner as before , hée standeth till hée be cleane washed from that vncleanenesse wherewith hée findes hims●lfe defiled : which done , and dryed as before in some sunni● place , hée getteth him againe to his fellow mates , where he passeth the rest of his life : and ( which i had almost forgot ) it is sai● that ●ée onely once in the yeare , and onely to one , thus ties the time of his delight . now for byrds , haue they not all a time of bréeding ? an● dooth not euery cocke kéepe with his henne ? yea , and if hee finde any f●ne graine or seede that hée holdes most daintie , will hée not call for his h●nne , and spare it from himselfe , to bestowe it on her , and dye vppon him that will ●are to treade her ? yea , and in the time of her sitting , when shée seeketh for foo●e , will helpe to hatch vp her young , or bring foode into her neast , both for her and her young ones , and withall , hauing once chosen each other , how kindly without chaunge , doo they kéepe one with an other , while b●t one moneth in the yeare , they haue ( most of them ) the time of their treading . now note i say , this the nature both of beastes and birdes , both in their cleanenesse and kindnesse to their females , and how farre it excéedeth the nature of man ▪ who spareth neither time , nor place , to follow his f●●thy desires , not caring how vncleane eyther himselfe or his minion bee , so hée may after a full stomacke , and drunken ryotting , tumble with his trull , and almost not caring who behold him : and withall , many a one , yea to his owne wife , to whom he is bound , both by the lawe of god , and nature , to be kinde , and in all honest course of reason to be carefull of , will bée more dogged then any dogge , and care not what become of her , nor who enioy her , so that hée may make a gaine of her : but how w●full is the state of that woman , and how wicked is the ●atur● of that man , let indifferencie giue iudgement , to the commendation of all creatures but man , and the onely discommendation of man. oh how sweete a thing is it to behold the ●●we suckle her lambes , the henne clocking her chickens , and to thinke how little a time they take in their generation , after which , they no more endure the company of theyr ●ales : and what a sorrow and shame it is , to see some women send theyr children to nurses , farre from them , and so ●●idome looke after them , as though they neuer cared to see them : yea , and without prouiding for them , let them either begge , or starue for theyr liuings , and withall , haue theyr lu●ts neuer satisfied , but readie to spoyle one , to make an other , or so o●t to be breaking vp of the ground , that the séede hath no time to bring fruite . againe , what beast or b●rd , but knowes his owne young ? and how many a man , that god know is , knoweth not his owne childe , but labours to maintaine the fru●te of an others pleasures ? what shall i say ? tedious it were to runne through the courses of nature in all creatures : of which no doubt , there is not any , but for due causes of commendation excéedeth man in his corrupt nature . againe , what good●y flockes of shéepe , what heards of cattell , what flight of byrds , and what s●oules of fishes , are oftentimes to be séene , to liue kindly together : and man , oh wretched man , how fewe can agrée together , when one can scarce liue by an other : yea in the very time of death , when the shéepe findes it selfe infected , he ●trayeth from the flocke , and dies alone in some sollitarie place , as loath to infect his companie : if a byrd be either sicke or diseased , she pearcheth alone vpon some bough , or swigge , where alone she makes an end of her life , as loath to grieue her friends with her calamities : the fish no sooner is eyther sicke , or hurt , but hée runneth to the sh●re , where alone hée endeth his dayes , as loath to infect the water with his putrifaction . man onely when he findes himselfe sicke or hurt , gets himselfe into the citie or towne of most company of people , there in his owne , or his hostesse house , in the best chamber , in the finest shéetes , and the most sumptuous bedde , and among a number of his best friends , how foule and infectio●s soeuer be his disease , not ashamed who sée him , nor caring who be hurt by him , giuing griefe to many , and leauing good to fewe , perhappes with roaring and crying , vomitting and purging , in all the ●●thinesse of corruption , dyes f●rre more beastly then any beast . consider then , since in so ma●● partes of imperfections , man is so worthy dispraise , and all creatures liuing in all due parts of commendations , doo so excéed him , i cannot in mine opinion , but conclude him to be the most dishonourable , and vncommendable of all creatures in the world . dinar . antonio , gramercie for thy too true , though semewhat too bitter , laying open the beastly nature of man , as too many are found in these dayes : but as i greatly like of thy consideration of their corruption , so would i heare what may be spoken of the contrary : for i am partly perswaded , that either some fri●nd hath deceiued thee , some enemie abused thee , or some creature like a woman , played false with thée , that thou hast so narrowly looked int● the notes of their euill nature . but let it bée as it is , thou hast spoken but a truth , for which let other , i will not blame thée , but rather heartily thanke thée . and now meandro , shall i entreat you to deliuer your minde vpon this subiect ? mean. father antonio hath spoken so home to his purpose , that hée hath made me halfe afraide to make any reply , yet at your commaundement , i will shewe my weake iudgement . touching the worthinesse of man , i finde him in many due considerations , the most worthy reuerence , honour , and commendation , of all creatures . and first , touching his first substance : the first substance whereof i finde man to be framed , was rather the ●reame of the earth , then the slime of the earth : for surely it had neuer else made such butter as could receiue the print of so excellent a forme as man : but when nature had bethought her selfe of some such exceeding substance , as that therein shée would be pleased aboue all other , shée then tooke rather the creame then slime of the earth , whereon shee set the foure elements , to shewe their vertues in that worke , which shée would name her best b●loued , and hauing framed that excellent forme of man , who both b● his outward and inward gifts , shée had-made most gracious of all creatures : what predomination did shée giue vnto him ouer them all ? yea euen vnto the elements , who had their workings in his creation , to be now at his commaundement : hath he not the fire to warme and to heate with ? the water to ●óole , and wet with ? the ayre to breathe by , and to fill with ? and the earth to dwell , and to plant on . doth not the bird come downe from his highest pitch ? the beast come downe from the highest mountaines , and the fish come vp from the déepest waters , and all to ●éede his hungry stomacke , to cloathe his naked carkasse , and to enrich his rustie treasure ? do they not feare his eye ? tremble at his voice ? and be they not obedient to his commaundement ? but to answere more particularly to each point : in his generation , is not his substance of y ● strength and almost life of the foure elements ? which met in a little matter , forme so excellent a creature ? then for his place , though darke to blinde eyes , yet hath vnderstanding there that cleare sight , that nature hath her placing of euery part of his perfect bréeding , wher● knowing his constitution , she preserues him from all hurt , and feedes him so purely , as passeth a simplé comprehension : then at the time of her appointment , she deliuers him into the handes of those that she knowes wil preserue him , not like a beast in the wildernesse , nor a bird in a mossy neast , nor a fish in a muddie hole , but in a priuate place , and in such modest company , as concealing the fruite of corruption , bring him foort● like the fairest of all creatures : when his crying prognosti●ateth his sorrow for this world , where he lost the first of his perfection , and feareth too great an infection : for his paine to his bréeder , it is forgotten , being bred , and for his weaknesse in knowledge of either time , place , or person , it is a cause of a greater thankfulnesse , when he li●eth to know them all : for his dis●urnishment of defence , his de●enders are prouided , and for his want of comforts , a world of comforters : and for daungers when death is the worst , being the end of sorrowes , the feare is nothing : his desires are reasonable , his furies appeaseable , his humours tollerable , his offences though innu●erable , yet in pittie , pardonable : his labours infinit , his cares discr●ete , his thoughts high , his studies déepe : his wit admirable , and his life honourable : this if he be not , he is not himsel●e , and being this , on the earth what can be better then himselfe ? now for his estate , let vs consider each estate sp●ke● of , and by degrées answere the oppositions : consider the worst that is , and the best that may be . if a king in his ●iranny ouer the wicked , he may be a friend to the vertuous , in his clemency to the repentant , he may reclaime the malignant . if a counsellour , his anarice may teach the prodigall thriftinesse : and i● haughtie , it may bréed feare in the enuious : if a souldier , a bloodie execution may bréed a quicke victorie , and a spéedie peace : if desire of gaine , it may breed the more care to kéepe , for feare to loose : if desperate , fortune may be a friend to the aduenturous . if a lawier , hee may be partiall in pittie , and that may be gratious ▪ and if couetous , it may make him studious : if a marchant , his pouertie may bréede patience : and care , may recouer his credi● : if an vsurer , he may pleasure the néedie , and punish the spend-thri●t : if a trades man , he may be cunning , and so wealthy : if simple , yet honest , though not rich : if a farmer , good husbandry is no churlishnesse : and if a grazier , each ●atte beast is not an ore : if a miller , a large thumbe shewes a strong hand : if a labourer , recreation may be no lazinesse : if a begger , a good exercise of charitie , and a beade-man for the liberall . if shée be a quéene , i say not only with antonio , god preserue her , but knowing such a quéene in a little , but i may say , a greatly blessed ilande , whome according to ●he excellencie of her nature , the heauēs haue worthily named bazilethea : i say such a quéen , as , not the greatest monarchie in the worlde hath the like , to loue , and honour . let me say thus much in her due , that what dignitie soeuer may ●e iustly giuen vnto man aboue all other creatures , that , and much more may be giuen vnto her maiestie , aboue all other : who in all the iudgements of the worth●est wittes on the earth , is worthily held , not only the grace of all her court , but vnder heauen the very glorie of her kingdome : whose patience in all trouble , whose temper in all passion , whose vountie to the well deseruing , and iustice ouer the obstinate , whose mercy to the offendant , and loue to the vert●ous : whose beautie in nature , whose wisedome in iudgement , whose magnanimi●ie in daungers , and constancy in religion , whose prouidence in care , and resolution in performance , makes her the true figure of the phaenix , and the worthy honoured wonder of the world : whose praises so farre pa●●e the reach of humane reason to set downe , that admiration may rather cont●mplate , then conceit expresse them : for while the wise serue , the vertuous loue , the valia●t ●eare , and the mightie admire . what can be said ? but that since in the dignitie of humane nature she is the worthy wonder of her dayes , let her subiects euer pray , that in the euer wonder of the world , she m●y liue the blessed maiestie of her kingdome , and be perswaded , that where the vertue of beautie , and beautie of vertue , the mercy of iustice , and care of iudgement , in the eye of grace , the heart of truth , and the hand of bountie , makes that angell of a woman , which proues the glory of a creature . let the phaenix be drawne from her spirit , and the dignitie of man in this worlde vnder heauen from her maiestie : whom the chronicles of neuer ending ages , may eternize for the most gratious quéene of the world . of which truth , while enuy is eating of her snaky haire● with anger , to heare of , fame ioyfully soundeth her name in eternall tryumph . but least i blot my paper , in séeking to shewe a faire hand , and abridge much of her worth , in so litle touching the wonder of her worthinesse , i wil only leaue princes to admire her , the vertuous to loue her ▪ the honourable to atten● her , the learned to commend her , the deuout to pray for her , that god who by his almightie power for the good of her kingdome , did in her seate of maiestie place her , will so in his glorious mercy , in the same euer preserue her , that while the whole world is full of her worthy fame , her subiects may ioy to behold the maiestie of her person : and while the greatest part of the worlde doth admire her , the heart of englande may euer ioy to enioy her : to which prayer i hope he liues not s● vnworthily borne , that wil not ioyfully say , amen . and now , if in the weake sexe of humaine nature be founde this matter of so excellent a maiestie , let no creature by many degrées of commendation come neare vnto man in his true dignitie . now to answere more briefly vnto subiects of lower tytles : if a lady , shée may want honour , but not vertue . if shée be a gentlewoman , shée may be mistaken , and so wronged . if a citizen , shée may bee proude , to auoyde base familiaritie . if a countrey-woman , shée may bee ●auncing , yet no fi●ling : and if a begger , though poore , yet may shee be honest . in summe , there is no estate of man , from the prince to the begger , but in the worst that they are , they may be better then th●y seeme to be : in youth he 〈◊〉 wittie , ●n age he is wise , in wealth he is wary , in pouertie he is patient : i● wise , he is honoured : if l●nd , he may be instructed , or pittied : what feedes so finely ? speaks more sweetly , or liues so vertuously ? being man , as he is indeed , or el●e indeed is not man : the stooping of a high minde , shewes the vertue of humilitie , and to roo●e ●ut th● ofspring of idolatry , if it be , it is a good tyrannie : who reclaimes the hawke to the lure , but the expert faulconer ? or why loues the horse the ryder , but for his good keeping and managing ? a seruant will kéepe his maisters cophers , while a dogge wil steale his meate from his trencher : and a peasant wil plant him a v●n●yard , while a spaniell can but spring him a partridge . a nightingale cannot but sing , nor sing but one m●neth , man singeth or sorroweth as he seeth cause , in reason , at what time so●uer . the fish cannot but swimme , nor swi●me , but in the water : man can swimme in the water , and walke out of the water : the elephant wil lead a man out of the wildernesse , & man wil deliuer man out of much wofulnesse : the ●yzard keepes man from the serpent , and man instructs man how to shunne the diuel : yea , and in his diuine counsa●le , may be called a god vnto man : man laboureth for the corne whereon the ant féedeth , and teacheth the sparrow the cut that she keepe● . in summe ▪ all creatures feare their king for his greatnesse , onely man loueth his soueraigne for his goodnesse . now what bees ●iue is so cleane , as the merchants parlour , or the milke-maides dairy ? and for appar●ll , what swannes feathers more neat then the courtiers cloake and the citizens gowne ? and while man plants his gardens with sweete flowers , the droanes deceiue the bees of the hony . and how weake the webbe of the spider is , euery common weauer can decipher . now while the beast lickes his haire , man brusheth his coate : while the bird pruneth her feathers , man combeth his haires : and while the fish scowreth his skales , man batheth his skinne : so that for outward neatnesse , there is no comparison in any creature to be had with man. now for the inward part ▪ the spirit , man is not carried only by the instinct of nature , to seeke out his 〈…〉 lust , but by reason , to loue the obiect , where vertue is the grace of the subiect , where beautie mu●t please the eye , and th●se qualities the minde , that make marriage honourable , and loue comfortable . when conceit hauing met with contentment , cannot only kéepe company for a time , but is so tyed in the bandes of affection , that fancie can neuer get loose , but continneth loue vnto liues ende : where both are so kinde , that there can nothing be too deare for each other , and a louing iealousie , is a pleasing humour , while hée laboureth abroad , and shée hu● wi●eth at home ; for their owne profite , and theyr childrens comfort : and while the wolfe killeth the lambe , and the kite ●he chickin , man kéepeth his litle ones from the daunger of all hurt : and being satisfied with one choyse , they neuer make other chaunge . how many histories are to be alledged , for the approouing of this truth ▪ yea , how many haue dyed for want and losse of theyr beloued ? and for theyr loue to theyr little ones , oh how infinite are the studies , labours , and trauailes in the parents , for the bréeding , nourishing , instructing , and bestowing of their children in their liues , and what care in laying vp f●r them after theyr deathes ? what care hath the husbande for his wife in her childe-bedde ? what solemnitie at a christening ? and what sorrowe at a buriall ? and for knowledge , how many fathers haue not only begot , but bredde theyr owne children ? so that god knoweth they are not ignorant of his blessings : now for theyr deathes , as they were borne so they dye , in a bedde , or chamber , among suche as are by goods , or good counsaile to bee the better for them , and in cities , for that there is moste hope of remedie , and amongst friendes , wh●re is moste assurance of helpe and comfort : and sometime dye , as well pleased as to liue , and rather to dye , then liue diseased : so that in all estates of what condition soeuer , i still finde man to be the moste honourable creature . thus haue i a● neare as i can answered antonio ●o eneuery particular poynt of his inuectiue : but in briefe , who could consider the maiestie of a king , the wisedome of a counsellour , the valour of a souldi●r , the learning of a lawier , the trauaile of a marchant , the husbandry of a farmer , the toyle of a tradesman , and the patience of a beggar , might well auow loyaltie to the prince , loue to the counsellour , honour to the souldier , seruice to the lawier , and praise to the marchant , and wish a good haruest to the farmer , a good chapman to the tradesman , and a good almes to the beggar : and in all and euery of them , finde so much matter of commendatiō , as no other creature can come neare : but since it were a laborinth too long to enter into the infinite causes all other creatures , i wil say but this in conclusiō , that the faire ladies of a court , the gallant souldiers in a campe , the graue schollars in a universitie , and the solemne companies of a citie , and the good fellowes in a countrey , so putteth downe , a flight of wilde géece , a heard of swine , and a skoule of herings , that for all causes , both maiestie , amitie , and vnitie , man is the only creature worthie of all honourable commendation . dinar . meandro , thou hast spoken a little to some purpose , it may be thou hast either met with a kind wenche , or an honest friende , that hath brought thée into this good beléefe of all other : but howsoeuer it be , i mislike not what thou hast saide , what euer it be that thou thinkst : but to answere ye both , let me tell yée , that yée are both short of that you woulde seeme to speake of , which is the worthinesse , or vnworthinesse of man : which neyther lyeth in your praise , nor his disgrace , but in that which either aboue , or belowe your reaches is to be considered : yée haue béene like two fishers that came to a brooke where were good fish , but they laie at the bottome , which though no deeper then they might wade , yet they loathd to take too much paines , caught a fewe engines in the shallowe grauell , and thought themselues no meane fisher-men : you haue studied some point of philosophy , and obserued much of that you haue séene , but aristotle must giue place to plato , and you may learne more if you will take paines : and for that i will not be so vngratefull , as to say nothing touching your opinions , i will deliuer yée a little of what i haue redde , and gathered fully : by my reading , touching this poynt of the dignitie , or indignitie of man. first , touching his ●…st substance , it was neither of slime ; nor creame , as either of you haue imagined , but of a secret instinct of loue , which would haue an image lyke vnto it self , when the omnipotencie of the deitie beganne a worke of great maiestie : when in the seconde person of himselfe hée shewed the perfection of that forme . learne then to knowe , that before all beginnings there was a beginning , which being without beginning in it selfe , beganne all beginnings by it selfe , and willing to be pleased in it selfe , beganne this first image to it selfe : so that héereby ye may sée in this beginner of all beginnings , was loue the first beginner of this worke , which we call man , who hauing all things before it selfe to looke vppon , made loue the only first substance to worke vppon , which laide vppon this slyme or creame as yée haue termed it , brought it to that forme which it selfe lyked : and ( as it is ) then first named it , man. here now was the first and only best part of his honour , that the creature was made vnto the image of his creator . i speake not of that outward forme , wherein we behold him , but in that inward perfection wherin his glory created him . now to his second honour , hée placed him in paradise , where hée made him kéeper of his garden , with possession of all his fruits , one only excepted . the third honour , he gaue him power and commaundement ouer all his earthly creatures , and to name them at his owne pleasure . the fourth honour was his wife , that he tooke out of his owne side , that he might be matched , but with himselfe , nor with any meaner creature then himselfe . these are the foure first proofes of the dignitie and honour of man , in his first perfection : his creation to the image of his creator , his keeping of paradise , his commaund ouer all other earthly creatures , and his companion but a part of himselfe . now to enter into further parts of honour bestowed vpon them , the wisedome of the prophets , the myracles done by them , the valour of the kinges , the victories gotte by them , the blessinges of the faithfull , the true memorie of them , his loue of his beloued , the death of his onely sonne jesus christ for them , the messages of his angeles , to the seruaunts of his loue , the incarnation of eternitie , in the wombe of virginitie , the inspiration of the apostles , the patience of the martyrs , and the ●oy of the ●●ect , these all are proofes of great honour aboue all other creatur●s , whome god had endued with so many excellent beauties . what byrd can builde a neast lyke the temple of salomon ? or eagle make a wing with the wisedome of iohn the euangelist ? what lyon so stout , but sampson could tame him ? and what gyant so great , but little dauid could conquere him ? and what whale so rauenous , but ionas could get out of him ? what daunger so great , but iosuah would attempt it ? and what misery such , but iacobs patience did endure it ? now leauing to speake of those a●ncient examples , let vs come into these dayes to beholde the myraculous workes of god in the heart of man , in the gouernment of kingdomes , in warre , and in peace , the rare art in gorgious buildings , the running hand in planting of fruites , the excellent skill , in the fortifying of countries , the daintie art of the needle in workes of all colours , the excellent harmony in the art of musique : in summe , all the excellencies that can bee imagined , as well by sea , in the shipwright and sayler , as by lande in the souldier , and miner , and the scholler as well in knowledge , as vtterance : are not all these excellencies , with all the morrall vertues , onely propper vnto man ? and last of all his acknowledging of his god , to whome hee is onely bounde for all his goodnesse ? are not all these i say , with innumerable more , to be saide , sufficient proofes of the honour of man ? who still looking vp towards heauen , from whence only hée hath all his good , and where knowing , and despising the worlde , hée l●ueth to be , for his be●t , last , and euerlasting good : is not all this i say , enough to make man ioy in himselfe , to be the seruaunt vnto such a lorde ? as in loue woulde first make him lyke himselfe , and then neuer cease to bestowe his daily and hourely blessings vppon him ? yet it must needes be , by all that hath bene and can be saide , that by all due causes of ●onour , man is of all the most worthie creature : for did not iehouah himselfe speake out of the cloude and the bush vnto moses ? came not the angell from heauen , to salute abraham on the earth ? was not eilas carried into heauen in a whirle-wind ? came not gabriell the arch-angell , with a message to the blessed virgin mary ? and came not christ h●mselfe from heauen , to saue sinners from hell ? and can there be a greater honour to man , or that may make him more honourable , then to be spoken t●o by his creator , salu●ed by his angell , and saued by his onely sonne ? no , no , let the eagle soare as high as she can , she must come downe to man : the lyon looke as fi●rce as he can , he must fall downe to man : and the whale gape as wide as he can , he must cast vp iona● , and giue honour to man : for god hath giuen him , and he must haue the honour of , and aboue all earthly creatures . but now i haue spoken thus much in his behalfe for his dignitie , least i make him proud of that which is none of his owne , let me a little speake of his vilenes , which is the iust cause of hi● indignitie . man being at the first created so pure within , and perfect without , that there was no creature so pleased god , hauing made all creatures to please man , man onely to please himselfe , oh how soon● began the in●ection of corruption to enter into this excell●nt matter , when the subtiltie of the serpent began so closely to spet his poyson , that the venome was not felt till it came to the heart , and so ranne to the very soule , when ●it proud of vnderstanding , vnthankful for his knowledge in séeking more then néedfull , lost that was necessarie : and by whom was this bane brought him , but by her that came out of him , euen a part of himselfe , the r●●me of his whole selfe , and which is most to be lamented , a piece so neare his heart , should béé the hurt of his owne soule ● oh what indignitie can there be more in wit ? to proue it more truly ●olly , then like aesops dogge , to loose a bone for a shadow , or worse , comfort for sorrow ? and what more indignitie to the nature of man , then to be so vntha●kfull to his maker , to make no more regard of his commaund , then hauing b●t one thing forbidden , and with a penaltie of offence , yet would presume to aduenture that ill , that might be the l●sse of all his good ▪ oh vnwise vnthankfulnesse , the first ground of his vnha●pinesse , and first note of his vnworthin●sse . oh most vnhappinesse of all other , that he who was made of loue , should so be made a subie●● of hate : and oh most vnworthy of all creatures to be honoured , that was so vngratefull to his most honorable creator ▪ and note now how by one sinne , he lost all his honors : he lost the perfection that he liued in , before this his desert of death : his perfection of that loue , which let him lack nothing while he loued : by tasting the forbidden fruit , he swallowed the poyson of presumption , and by the angell was driuen out of paradise . here was two honors lost ▪ the image was now defaced , the creature of his place dispossessed , and from his pleasures banished : for whose sin , the earth that before was blessed , was now accursed : oh two plaine a note of his indignitie , when for his vnworthinesse the earth was cursed with barrennes : he that was only framed ●y the loue of god , should now flie from the voice of god. now the third honor , where he before had the seruice of all earthly creatures , he now w●s faine to labor with thos● creatures : and in seeing their obedience to his wil , sorow in shame , to thinke of his owne disobedience to his ma●●ter . now to the last honor , his companion , his wife , that woman , that part of himselfe , which in loue might haue beene his comfort ; by want of loue , through the poyson of pride , wrought his vtter dishonor : where the shame of his nakednesse , was too true a note of his wickednesse ; too plaine a proofe of his vnworthines . thus lost the first man through pride , the whole honor of his first happines . now to enter into further parts of dishonor , what wickednes was in cham , to vncouer the nakednes of his fa●h●r , which proued vnworthines to be a son , that would be the shame of his father ? what dishonor was in cain , who slew h●s brother abel , how vnworthy was he to be a brother that sought the death of his dearest & nea●est bloo● ? what indignitie of a crowne shewed pharaoh , when in the swelling pride of his power , he would oppose himselfe against the 〈◊〉 o● kings ? how vnworthy was he to be a king on the earth , that proued such a rebell vnto the king of ●ea●en ? how dishonorable were so●ome , and gomorrah , who with the fi●●h of their concupis●ence would haue pr●●sed vpon the angelles ? what indignitie was in those princes that ston●s the prophets , the embassadors of heauens emperor ? what indignitie was in iudas to b●tray his m●ister , christ iesus ? was he worthy to be a seruant , that would be a villaine to such ● maister ? and what indignitie was in all the iewes , that sought ●he death of the sonne of god ? tedious it were to runne ou●● all the examples of the indignitie in man , which in the sacred word of truth are set downe , where ye may plainly discouer all the due causes both of mans honour , and dishonour : but leauing that true discourse for all gratious eyes to looke on , let me a litle lower discend , into reasons daily obseruation . what dishonor it is to a king , to be vngratious to his subiect ? what dishonour in a subiect , to be disloy●ll to his prince ? what indignitie it is to counsellour , to be either f●i●hlesse to his king , or carelesse of his commaund ? what a dishonor t is to a souldier to betray his trust , to an enemy ? how vnworthy is that lawier that pleades against conscience for coyne ? how vnworthy is that marchant that plaies ●anquerou● without néed ? how vngratious is that farmer , that starues the poore people , and féeds the rats with his corne ? how vnhonest is that labourer , who will not worke for his wages ? and how base a villaine is that begger , that makes an art of his rogery ? let the agréeued confesse , i would it were not to be considered . let me looke f●rther into other proofes of the indignitie of man , where the sonne is ●ike of the father , the sister of the brother , the seruant of the maister the wife of the husband , and the subiect of the prince : where the sonne is vnnaturall , the sister is vnkinde , the seruant is vntrue , the wife is vnhonest , and the subiect is vnfaithfull : what indignities are these , to proue the disgratious nature of man ? againe , where the wrath of the mightie is more fierce then the lion , and the pride of the ambitiou● , flies higher then the eagle , and the gréedinesse of the couetous swallowes more then the whale ; oh how great are these indignities apparant ▪ yea in those , in whom they are most to be lamented . what crocodile so dangerous as the tongue of a parasite ? and what cockatrice so venemous , as the eye of a leaud womon ? and what indignitie it is to a scholler , that should be the minister of truth , to couer craft with eloquence : and what ignominy to beautie , that is an enemy to vertue , let the deceiued confesse , and abusers amend . in summe , of what estate can that man or woman be , that some way shews not some such part of indignity , a● speakes not something in their dishonor ? b●t to be short , the chiefe cause of all the indignitie that i finde in man , groweth either through impatience in the proud , pride in the mighti● , disobedience in the subiect , or vnthankfulnesse in the poore . learn then the honour of humilitie , the vertue of patience , the grace of obedience , and the blessing of thankfulnesse , in which onely , and god● mercie , i finde lies mans all , and onely truest happine●●e , and his honours most apparant worthinesse . and therefore leaue to make comparisons betwixt either beast , fowle , or fish , and man , knowing the excellencie of his nature in his first perfection , neither thinke any beast , fish , or fowle , so monstrous in shape , as man is in nature , when he followeth the course of his corruption : but if hée were created of the slime of the earth , as maister antonio describes him , the greater was the glory of the creator , of so vile a matter to make so excellent a creature as man : or if he were as meandro holdes him , created of the creame of the earth , yet the butter was but a grosse substance to make so gracious a creatur● as man : but say that hee was first framed out of the loue of god , which did create him to his owne image , yet you see more then was of that loue , kept no part of perf●●tion , but fell through the weaknesse of it selfe , into the ruine of it selfe , for the flesh tooke infection , whereby the spirit being corrupted , the whole creature was ouerthrowne : so that that man or woman , that in the loue and feare of god , is not obedient to his will , nor thankfull for his graces , such a world of enormities will sinne beget in his soule , that by the infection thereof , hée will become more vgly in the sight of god , then the greatest monster in the world in the sight of man : and s● by due consideration , be found by many indignities to be the most dishonourable creature in the world : for outward forme , behold the excellencie of gods wisedome , in his workmanship vpon all creatures , the feathers of the byrds , the haires of the beasts , and the scales of the fishes , how euen and smoothe they lye , how long they kéepe their colo●r that nature hath once giuen them : whi●● man , according to his age , eyther chaungeth or looseth both colo●● and haire too : in strength the ●yon doth exceed him : in swiftnesse the hare will outrunne him , and the dolphin outswim him : in sweetnesse the nightingale outsing him : in labour the oxe will out-toile him , and in subtiltie the foxe will out-match him ; so that in all these gifts of nature , with many other , he is inferiour in commendation to the beasts , birds , and the fishes : and therefore can iustly challenge no honor aboue them , only reason he hath beyond them , by which he hath power to gouerne ouer them : of which once depriued , he is worse then any of them : the beast , though he haue all the field before him , will eate no more : the bird though she pearch neuer so safely , will sléepe no more : the fish though hée haue all the sea before him , will drinke no more then will suffice nature : while the epicure will eate till his iawes ake , the drunkard will swill till his eyes stare , and the sluggard will sléepe till his bones ake : while the one with his blowing , the other with his réeling , and the third with his snorting , so laies himselfe open to the world in the filthinesse of his imperfection , that who beholds the beastes temper , and the mans intemperancie , wil in worthinesse of commendation , set the beasts before the man. againe in talke , what pye , chatters like a scold ? what wolfe more cruell then a tyrant ? what sowe more filthy then a sl●t ? what sparrowe more luxurious then a whore ? what foxe more subtill then a knaue ? what toade more venemous then a villain ? or serpent more deadly , then a malicious woman ? did euer bird betray the eagle , his king ? the beast , the lyon , his king ? or the fish the whale , his king ? and , how many kings haue bene betraied by trayterous rebels , and supposed subiects , yea be theyr owne seruants ? i would there were not too many examples to the shame of man to confirme it . nay more , how that all , and aboue all , blessed , gratious , good , holy , and glorious , mercifull king of kings , our lord , and sauiour christ iesus , was betrayed by that diuel of a man , that false , wicked , and most detestable villaine iudas : what a shame may it be to the nature of man , to thinke that euer man should be of so vile a nature . thus then you may see , how in the worst pa●t , in the wickednesse of the heart , man may worthily be called the worst creature of the whole world . yet least i leaue man in dispaire of himselfe , to thinke of the vilenesse of his corrupted nature , let me speake somewhat to his comfort , that hath yet bene spoken of : that fi●st pure substāce , that spiritual instinct of loue . the first cause of mans creation , hath in his spirit such an eternall power , as that though some vesselles of his wrath , he hath ordained to his secret iudgement , yet in man generally , that hath any féeling of his mercie , he hath so glorious a working of his grace , that by many admira●le deserts of commendation , he may well be called the most honorable of all creatures : who teacheth the horse his true manages , the bird his ●are notes , the dogge his straunge qualities , but man ? furthermore , is there not in the face of man such a kinde of diuine power , giuen him by his creator , as giues a kind of terror vnto all creatures , and in the heart of man is not that vnderstanding that makes him the most honorable of all other ? how many , and ra●e arts , how excellent & cunning workes , how rich & gorgious monuments , the diuisions of times , the app●ications o● experiments , the imployments of natures , and the obseruations of examples , the fetching the byrd from the aire , the fruite from the earth , the beast from the field , the fish from the sea , the fowlers grinnes , the hunters snares , and the fishers nettes , are they not all the labours of the witte of man ? the instruments of warre , the treatise of peace , the harmonies of musique , and the ditties of loue , are they not the deuise of man ? is not the firmament , as it were ruled out , the earth as it were chalked ●ut , and the sea , as it were cut out , as if there were a walke amid the starres , a passage through the earth , and a path through the seas , to which purpose , the globes and mappes are made by the witte of man ? and may not all these excellencies in the wit of man , aboue all creatures , proue the honor of man ? but aboue all these , that spirit or soule of man , which in immortalitie beholds the eternall life , in grace beholds the eternall comfort , and in mercy beholds the eternall goodnesse , wherein the saints are blessed , the martyrs reioyce , the virgins are graced , and the angels are glorious , and where all together in one consort doo sing the halleluiah of eternitie : this comfort , when man receiueth by that faith that god hath by the inspiration of his holy spirit so fixed in him , that it can neuer be from him , when man i say , by the gratious blessing of god , can effect so rare excellencies in the worlde , and beholde so many superexcellencies in the heauens , as the eye of no creature but man is able to looke after : and withall , hath as i saide , that heauenly blessing of immortalitie , that is graunted to no creature but man : let man be as hée was in his creation , or as hée should be in his generation , and then leauing all creatures to the seruice of man , and man onely to the seruice of god : let vs conclude man to be the moste honourable creature , and by due desert of commendation , to be by many degrées set aboue them all . thus haue i shewed you mine opinion , how man may iustly receiue his tytle of dignitie , or indignitie , eyther by the gratious vse of that reason , by whiche hée dooth farre excéede all creatures in commendation , or by the abuse of that reason , that may make him the worst of all creatures . it is not a faire painted face , a proude looke , a craftie witte , a smoothing tongue , nor a scraping or a bribing hand , that makes a man a woorthie creature , but an humble heart , a modest eye , a simple meaning , a vertuous disposition , a true tongue , a liberall hand , and a louing heart , that makes man truly honourable . oh then let the prince be gratious : the courtier vertuous : the souldier mercifull : the lawier conscionable : th● merchant charitable : the farmer no snudge : the labourer painfull : and the begger thankfull : and then will the common-wealth of the worlde , be such a kinde of heauen on the earth , that the very angelles of the heauen , will commend the beautie of the world , when thus only in man , they shall sée the chiefe dignitie of a creature : for there will bee a day of chaunge , ●he wealthy must leaue his treasure , the faire must loose her beautie , and the powerfull must come downe from his place , and all be summond to appeare at one time , and to one court : where , as prisoners at a barre , they shall answere to their inditements , and from whence deliuered , eyther to comfort or execution , and that eternall to either : where account must be had of all , and no partialitie be admitted : where conscience accuseth , truth confesseth , and iustice concludeth : when if mercy were not gratious , iudgement would be terrible : where faith is only blessed , and dispaire onely accursed : and then shall man sée his dishonour , when the honour of all honours , shall make him see his disgrace , and receiue his chiefe honour , when in mercy he receiues comfort : of which honour is no man worthy , but whom the honour of all worthinesse , and worthinesse of all honour , makes honourable by his worthinesse : in him then the substance and summe of all honor and worthinesse , that iudge of all iustice , that searcher and sounder of all truth , that lord of all mercy , king of all grace , and god of ●ll glory , our sauiour christ i●sus , let mans honour be sought , and his worthinesse be s●ene : for , what more he is then in christ , he is a most dishonourable creature : and what he is in him , he is better then any creature . thus haue i shewne you in my opiniō , how a man is the most worthy or vnworthy creature of the world , of ●ither honour , or commendation : which if you studie neuer so much in the rules of nature you can neuer finde out , but in the rules of grace , you shall ●inde only discouered : thinke then with your selues how glorious is the studie of the diuine comfort , where reason only by grace , beholdeth the bea●tie or deformitie , the honour , or dishonour of nature . and now that you haue so well stored your mindes with the obseruations of experience , betake your spirites to contempl●tion , in matter of higher comfort : that reason the gouernour o● nature , may not loose the honour of his vertue : nor grace , the gouernour of reason , may loose the maiestie of his glory : for man being as he should be , is as it were a god vnto man : but as many a one is , and should not be , is worse then a beast , and little lesse then a diuell vnto man. for the phisition that by his learned skill , and honest care findes the gréefe of the diseased , and doth spéedily bring him to health : is he not a kinde of god vnto man , that saues his life so neare death ? the lawier that by his reading and knowledge findes the right of the distressed , and by iustice deliuers him from his oppression , is not such a iudge a kind of god vpon the earth ? the merchant tha● hath his debter in prison , and seeing his misery , in the vertue of charitie , forgiueth the debt , and setteth him at libertie , is he not a kinde of god vnto man ▪ and first of all to be spoken of , if the prince finde an vnwilling offender , with confession , penitent , yet by the lawe to death condemned , and out of the maiestie of his mercy , pardoneth the offence , and fa●oureth the offender , is he not worthy to be called a kinde of god vnto man ? if a man shall finde his neighbour assaulted , and by théeues , readie to be robbed , spoyled , and murthered , if be by his valorous aduenture of his life , doo not only defend him , but be the death of his enemies , and so for euer procure his safetie , is he not a kinde of god vnto man ? if a rich man passing by a poore creature , whom he seeth ly● in misery and pouertie , if like the samaritane , he relieue him , comfort him , and neuer leaue him till he haue recouered him , is he not in a kinde , as it were a god vnto man ? if a learned and true diuine , fin●ing a sinner , through the greatnes of his sinnes , almos● in dispaire of mercy , and so in daunger of damnation , with preaching to him the true word of god , and shewing him the booke for his warrant for that he preacheth , if with such preaching to him , prayer for him , he doo deliuer him from that dangerous sinne of dispaire , and by god● grace doo es●ablish that faith in him , that bring him into the estate of the bless●d , is he not a god vnto man ? but contrariwise , if a prince vpon a false information commaund his loyall subiect vnto death , that hath by many good seruices deserued his gratious fauour , is he not if he be a tyrant , halfe a diuel vnto man ? if a souldier for the gaine of a little mony , betray the trust of his captaine , and make sale of his people , is he not a kinde of diuell vnto man ? if a lawier shall by extortion or bribery , grieue the oppressed , wrong the poore to pleasure the rich , and pleade against his owne conscience , to the vndooing of a simple creature , is he not a kinde of diuell vnto man ? if a phisition , will in stead of a preseruatiue , giue his patient a poysoned potion , is he not a kinde of diuell vnto man ? and if a merchant , voyd of charitie , cast his debter into prison , and there beholding his misery , without remorse of conscience , lettes him perish without reliefe , is hée not a kinde of diuell vnto man ? if a neighbour i● the cauy of his neighbours good , séeke not only by himselfe , but by all the meanes ●e can to spoyle him of all his goods , yea and to depriue him of his li●e , is not such a dogge , a kinde of diuel vnto man ? if a rich man , shall passe by a poore soule , sicke , sore , lame , and wounded , and will not only like the leuite runne from him , or not so much as th● priest say , god helpe him , but giuing him nothing , raile vpon him , rate him , spurne him , and with taun●s , che●ks , yea & whippes , wound him déeper then he was at first , and so with crue●tie , crucifie him , that he will neuer leaue till he haue killed him : is not he a kinde of diuell vnto man ? last , and most of all , if he , who taketh vpon him the outward habit of a diuine , and within be so farre from diuinitie , that he will rather leade the sinner into hell , then the repentant to grace , is not he a kinde of diuell vnto man ? what shall i néed to runne into a world of questions in this point , is not the vertuous a kinde of god , and the vicious a kinde of diuell in the world ? consider therefore , since only in god is that originall of vertue , whereby man only is made vertuous , and by that vertue so gracious , as maketh him the most honourable of all creatures , and in the diuell is that originall of sinne , whereby man is made vicious , and by his vices so disgracious , as maketh him the most dishonourable of all creatures . whatsoeuer you reade her● , or imagine , touching the true ●esert of the dignitie or the indignitie of man , these two verses shall be sufficient for your instruction , to leade you to the most true and perfect vnderstanding of the same : which , without further dila●●tion i will make my conclusion . si christum bene s●is , nihil est si cetera nescis : si christum nescis , nihil est sicetera d●scis : know christ aright , know all that can be worth the knowing : but know nor christ , and know all knowledge ouerthrowing . an. father , i am glad of this good morningsméeting , which i would not haue mist for a great matter , & i am perswaded meandro is of the same minde : for where we haue bene but beating the aire with idle words , you haue laid matter before vs , worthy the looking on : to which i answer no more , but , if my memorie can a● much pleasure me , as your spéech , i will neuer goe to schoole for better learning : how say you meandro ? mean. i say that i know not what to say , but that dinarco hath said so much , that for the much good that i haue receiued by his very much good discourse , i hold my selfe so much beholding ●o him , as while i haue a day to know him , i will not cease an houre to honour him : but as i can but admire him , i will vowe to loue him : and in my loue , will follow him : and so i thinke will you , or else you shall deceiue me . anto. yea , and not be my selfe . dinar . well , the best is , the sunne shewes what time of the day it is , and if it were not for going home to dinner , we should haue a great deale of idle talke , but , if i haue done you any good , thanke god , the author of all goodnesse for it : but if you will be vai●e-headed , god helpe you , for i cannot : for your kind company i thanke you : and if it may not offend you , the next time i méet with you , i will haue another bout with you : till when , for that our bodies would as well be refreshed as our wittes , let vs goe to dinner . anto. father we will attend you , and glad when we may enioy you : what say you meandro ? mean. i say i shall thinke each houre a yeare , till we méete againe , for i could sweare a good fast , to meete with such an other banquet . dinar . well children , since you will néeds put the title of a father vpon me , i will take it : and wherein i can , do● you all the good that you desire . and so with gods blessing vpon you , i ende . let vs goe . finis . melancholike humours, in verses of diuerse natures, set downe by nich: breton, gent breton, nicholas, ?- ? approx. kb of xml-encoded text transcribed from -bit group-iv tiff page images. text creation partnership, ann arbor, mi ; oxford (uk) : - (eebo-tcp phase ). a stc estc s this keyboarded and encoded edition of the work described above is co-owned by the institutions providing financial support to the early english books online text creation partnership. this phase i text is available for reuse, according to the terms of creative commons . universal . the text can be copied, modified, distributed and performed, even for commercial purposes, all without asking permission. early english books online. (eebo-tcp ; phase , no. a ) transcribed from: (early english books online ; image set ) images scanned from microfilm: (early english books, - ; : ) melancholike humours, in verses of diuerse natures, set downe by nich: breton, gent breton, nicholas, ?- ? [ ] p. printed by richard bradocke, london : . in verse. signatures: [a]⁴ b-f⁴ (-a ). running title reads: bretons melancholike humours. reproduction of the original in the henry e. huntington library and art gallery. created by converting tcp files to tei p using tcp tei.xsl, tei @ oxford. re-processed by university of nebraska-lincoln and northwestern, with changes to facilitate morpho-syntactic tagging. gap elements of known extent have been transformed into placeholder characters or elements to simplify the filling in of gaps by user contributors. eebo-tcp is a partnership between the universities of michigan and oxford and the publisher proquest to create accurately transcribed and encoded texts based on the image sets published by proquest via their early english books online (eebo) database (http://eebo.chadwyck.com). the general aim of eebo-tcp is to encode one copy (usually the first edition) of every monographic english-language title published between and available in eebo. eebo-tcp aimed to produce large quantities of textual data within the usual project restraints of time and funding, and therefore chose to create diplomatic transcriptions (as opposed to critical editions) with light-touch, mainly structural encoding based on the text encoding initiative (http://www.tei-c.org). the eebo-tcp project was divided into two phases. the , texts created during phase of the project have been released into the public domain as of january . anyone can now take and use these texts for their own purposes, but we respectfully request that due credit and attribution is given to their original source. users should be aware of the process of creating the tcp texts, and therefore of any assumptions that can be made about the data. text selection was based on the new cambridge bibliography of english literature (ncbel). if an author (or for an anonymous work, the title) appears in ncbel, then their works are eligible for inclusion. selection was intended to range over a wide variety of subject areas, to reflect the true nature of the print record of the period. in general, first editions of a works in english were prioritized, although there are a number of works in other languages, notably latin and welsh, included and sometimes a second or later edition of a work was chosen if there was a compelling reason to do so. image sets were sent to external keying companies for transcription and basic encoding. quality assurance was then carried out by editorial teams in oxford and michigan. % (or pages, whichever is the greater) of each text was proofread for accuracy and those which did not meet qa standards were returned to the keyers to be redone. after proofreading, the encoding was enhanced and/or corrected and characters marked as illegible were corrected where possible up to a limit of instances per text. any remaining illegibles were encoded as <gap>s. understanding these processes should make clear that, while the overall quality of tcp data is very good, some errors will remain and some readable characters will be marked as illegible. users should bear in mind that in all likelihood such instances will never have been looked at by a tcp editor. the texts were encoded and linked to page images in accordance with level of the tei in libraries guidelines. copies of the texts have been issued variously as sgml (tcp schema; ascii text with mnemonic sdata character entities); displayable xml (tcp schema; characters represented either as utf- unicode or text strings within braces); or lossless xml (tei p , characters represented either as utf- unicode or tei g elements). keying and markup guidelines are available at the text creation partnership web site . eng - tcp assigned for keying and markup - apex covantage keyed and coded from proquest page images - rachel losh sampled and proofread - rachel losh text and markup reviewed and edited - pfs batch review (qc) and xml conversion melancholike humours , in verses of diuerse natures , set downe by nich : breton , gent. london ¶ printed by richard bradocke . . to the lover of good studies , and fauourer of good actions , master thomas blount , heauens blessing , and earths happinesse . sir , my knowledge of your good iudgement in the diuersity of humours , and your disposition to that best melancholie , that can not run madde with trifles , hath made me ( vpon the gathering together of certain odde pieces of poetry ) to offer my labours te your patience , and my loue to your seruice . they are all waters of one spring : but they runne through many kinds of earth ; whereof they giue a kinde of tang in their taste . such as they be , i leaue them to the kindnesse of your acceptation , and my selfe to your like commaundement . and so ( loath to vse ceremonious cōplements ) in the affection of a poore friend , & in humble thankefulnesse , for your manie vndeserued fauours , i rest yours , very much to commaund , n. b. ¶ to the reader . pasqvill , hauing been long in his dumps , in somewhat better then a browne studie , hath brought forth the fruites of a fewe melancholike humours : which chiefely he commendeth to spirits of his own nature , full of melancholy , and as neere bedlem , as mooregate ; a figure in the fields to be easily disciphered . to be short , and to growe towards an ende , ere i haue wel begun , i wil tel you ; the gētlemās brains were much troubled , as you may see by his perplexities : but with studying how to make one line leuell with another , in more rime then perhaps some will thinke reason , with much adoe about nothing , hee hath made a piece of worke as little worth . he that can giue him less● commendation , let him vse his arte . for mine owne part , i haue taken paine to write his will , which he hath sent to the worlde to like as it list . according to whose will , i leaue it ; entreating no man to wreste his will to any thing , further then may stand with his pleasure ; but to speake indifferently of all things , as hee findes cause : and so i rest your friende , n. b. in authorem . thov , that wouldst finde the habit of true passion , and see a minde attir'd in perfect straines ; not wearing moodes , as gallants doe a fashion , in these pide times , only to shewe their braines , looke here on bretons worke , the master print : where , such perfections to the life doe rise . if they seeme wry , to such as looke asquint , the fault 's not in the obiect , but their eyes . for , as one comming with a laterall viewe , vnto a cunning piece wrought perspectiue , wants facultie to make a censure true : so with this authors readers will it thriue : which being eyed directly , i diuine , his proofe their praise , will meete , as in this line . ben : iohnson . see , and say nothing . oh my thoughts , keepe in your words , least their passage do repent yee : knowing , fortune still affordes nothing , but may discontent yee . if your saint be like the sunne , sit not yee in phoebus chaire ; least , when once the horses runne , yee be dedalus his heire . if your labours well deserue , let your silence onely grace them : and , in patience , hope preserue , that no fortune can deface them . if your friend doe growe vnkinde , grieue , but doe not seeme to showe it . for , a patient heart shall finde comfort , when the soule shall know it . if your trust be all betrai'd , trie , but trust no more at all : but in soule be not dismai'd , whatsoeuer doe befall . in your selues , your selues enclose : keepe your secrecies vnseene : least , when ye your selues disclose , yee had better neuer beene . and what euer be your state , doe not languish ouerlong : least you finde it all too late , sorrow be a deadly song . and be comforted in this , if your passions be concealed , crosse , or comfort , bale , or blisse , t is the best , is not reuealed . so , my deerest thoughts , adieu , harke whereto my soule doth call yee : be but secret , wise , and true , feare no euill can befall yee . ¶ what is hell ? what is the place , that some do paint for hell ? a lake of horrour for the life of man. is it not , then , the death wherein i dwell , that knowes no ioy , since first my life began ? what are the diuels ? spirits of tormenting . what else are they , that vexe me in each vaine ? with wretched thoughts , my wofull spirit tempting , or else perplex mee in an after-paine . what is the fire ? but , an effect of sinne , that keepes my heart in an vnkindly heat . how long shall i this life continue in ? till true repentance mercy doe entreate , and 〈◊〉 euen at the latest breath ; saue mee , sweet lord , yet frō the secōd death . ¶ mal content . if i desir'd vnto the world to liue , or sought in soule to serue the golden god : if i did homage to an idole giue , or , with the wicked , wisht to haue abode , then well might iustice lay her sword vpon mee , in due correction of my crooked hart : but , shall i liue , in soule thus woe begon mee , that seeke in faith to serue the better part ? ah wretched soule , why dost thou murmur so ? it is thy crosse , and thou art borne to beare it : through hellish griefs , thy hart to heauē must go , for patience crowne , if thou wilt liue to wear it . then rest with this ( since faith is vertues friend ) death ends distresse , heauen makes a happy end . ¶ a dole full passion . oh tyred heart , too full of sorrowes , in night-like daies , despairing morrowes , how canst thou thinke , so deepely greeued , to hope to liue to be relieued good fortune hath all grace 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 , and cruell care hath too much torne thee : vnfaithfull friends do all deceiue thee , acquaintance all vnkindly leaue thee . beauty out of her booke doth blot thee , and loue hath vtterly forgot thee , patience doth but to passion moue thee , while only honour liues to loue thee . thine enemies all ill deuise thee , thy friends but little good aduise thee : and they , who most doe duety owe thee , doe seeme as though they doe not knowe thee . thus pittie weepes to looke vpon thee , to see how thou art woe begon thee : and while these passions seeke to spill thee , death but attends the houre to kill thee . and since no thoughte is comming to thee , that any way may comfort doe thee , dispose thy thoughtes , as best may please thee ; that heauen , of all thy hell , may ease thee . ¶ a testament vpon the passion . to care , that crucifies my heart , my sighes , and sobbes , i doe bequeath , and to my sorrowes deepest smart , the latest gaspe that i doe breath . to fortune i bequeath my folly , to giue to such as seeke her grace : to faithlesse friends , that fortune wholly , that brought mee in this heauie case . to beauty , i bequeath mine age : to loue , the hate of wit , and sense : to patience , but the cure of rage : to honour , vertues patience . mine enemies i do forgiue : and , to my friends , i giue my loue : and wish , vngratefull hearts may liue , but like ingratitude to proue . to pitty , i bequeath my teares , to fill her eyes when they be dry : to faith , the fearelesse thoughts of feares , to giue to life , to let me die . my care , i doe bequeath to death , to cut the threades , that thoughts do spinne , and , at my latest gaspe of breath , to heauen my soule , to hell my sinne . ¶ a fantasticke solemne humour . sovnd , good reason , sound my sorrowes , equall them with any liuing : finde the worst of all her giuing , when she most her mischiefe borrowes . leaue not patience all perplexed , where no passions are appeased : but her torments neuer eased , keepe her spirit too much vexed . tell , oh tell the truest story , that hath long time bene described : whereto iustly is ascribed sorrowes pride , and death his glory . loue bred in discretions blindnesse , shadowes , for the sunne affecting nothing , but nothing effecting , shewes the crosse of natures kindnesse . wit , bewitcht with wanton beauty , lost the raines of reasons bridle : and , in folly all too idle , brake the bands of reasons duty . time misspent in follies trifles ( with repentance sorrow feeding ) in the rules of reasons reeding , findes them nothing else but nifles . care , yet , seeking to recouer indiscretions heauie losses , found in casting vp my crosses , sorrow only left the louer . ¶ a briefe of sorrowe . mvse of sadnesse , neere deaths fashion , too neere madnesse , write my passion . paines possesse mee , sorrowes spill mee , cares distresse mee , all would kill mee . hopes haue faild mee , fortune foild mee , feares haue quaild me , all haue spoild mee . woes haue worne mee , sighes haue soakt mee , thoughts haue torne mee , all haue broke mee . beauty strooke me , loue hath catcht mee , death hath tooke mee , all dispatcht mee . ¶ a solemne sa●cy . sorrovv in my heart breedeth a cocatrices neast : where euery young bird feedeth , vpon my hearts vnrest . where euery pecke they giue mee ( vvhich euery houre they doe ) vnto such paine they driue mee , i knowe not what to doe . oh broode vnhapp'ly hatched , of such a cursed kinde , where death and sorrowe , matched , liue , but to kill the minde . wordes torments are but trifles , that but conceits confounde , and natures griefes , but nifles , vnto the spirits wounde . they are but cares good morrowes , that passions can declare : while my hearts inward sorrowes , are all without compare . fortune , she seekes to sweare mee , to all may discontent me ; yet sayes she doth forbeare mee , she doth no more torment mee . beauty she doth retaine mee in scarce a fauours tittle : and , though she doe disdeigne mee , she thinkes my griefe too little . loue falles into a laughing , at reasons little good , while sorrow with her quaffing , is drunke with my heart blood . but , let her drinke , and spare not , vntill my heart be dry : and , let loue laugh : i care not : my hope is , i shall dy . and death shall only tell my froward fortunes fashion , that nearest vnto hell , was found the louers passion . ¶ a solemne sonnet . fortvne hath writ characters on my heart , as full of crosses , as the skinne can holde : which tell of torments , tearing euery part , while death and sorrowe doe my fate vnfolde . patience sits leaning like a pining soule , that had no heart to thinke of hopes reliefe ; vvhile fruitlesse cares discomfort doe enroule , within the ground of neuer ending griefe . thoughts flie about , as all in feare confounded : reason growne mad , with too much mal content , loue passion-rent , to see his patience wounded , vvith dreadfull terrors of despaires intent : while care concludes , in comforts ouerthrowne , whē death can speak , my passiōs shal be showne . ¶ an extreame passion . ovt of the depth of deadly griefe , tormenting day and night , a wounded heart , and wretched soule , depriu'd of all delight , where neuer thought of comfort came , that passiō might appease , or by the smallest sparke of hope might giue the smallest ease , let me intreat that solemne muse that serues but sorrowes turne , in ceasselesse sighes , and endlesse sobs , to helpe my soule to mourne . but , oh , what thought beyōd al thought hath thought to think vpon , where patience findes her greatest power in passions ouergon , that neere the doore of natures death in dolefull notes doth dwell , in horrors fits that will describe my too much figur'd hell . what want , what wrong , what care , what crosse may crucifie a hart , but , day and howre , i doe endure in all , and euery part ? want to sustaine the bodies neede , wrong to distract the minde : where want makes wit and reason both to goe against their kinde . care , to deuise for comforts helpe : but so by fortune crost , as kils the heart , to cast the eye , on nought but labour lost . desire to liue in spite of death ; yet still , in liuing , dying : and so a greater death then death , by want of dying , trying . oh hell of hels , if euer earth such horror can afford , where such a world of helpelesse cares doe lay the heart aboord . ' no day , no night , no thought , no dreame , but of that doleful nature , that may amaze , or sore affright a most afflicted creature . friends turnd to foes , foes vse their force : and fortune , in her pride shaks hands with fate , to make my soule the weight of sorrow bide . care brings in sicknes , sicknes pain , & paine with patience passion , with biting in most bitter griefes , brings feature out of fashion : where brawn falne cheeks , heart scalding sighs , & dimmed eyes with teares , doe shewe , in lifes anatomy , what burthen sorrowe beares . where all day long , in helplesse cares , all hopelesse of reliefe , i wish for night , i might not see the obiectes of my griefe . and , when night comes , woes keep my wits in such a waking vaine , that i could wish , though to my griefe , that it were day againe . thus , daies are nights : which nights are daies : which daies are like those nights , that to my passiōs sēse presēt but only sorrows sights , which to the eye but of the minde of misery appeare , to fill the heart of forlorne hope too full of heauie cheare . oh hart , how canst thou hold so long , and art not broke ere this ? when all thy strings are but the straines that cōfort strikes amisse . yet must thou make thy musicke still , but of that mournfull straine , where sorrowe , in the sound of death , doth shew her sweetest vain : or , where her muses all consent , in their consort to trie their sweetest musicke in desire to die , and can not die . the pellican , that kils her selfe , her young ones for to feede , is pleas'd to dy , that they may liue , that suck when she doth bleede ▪ but , while i in those cares consume , that would my spirit kill , nought liues by me , when i must die , to feede but sorrowes will. the hart , that 's hūted all day long , hath sport yet with the hoūds , and happly beats off many a dogge before his deadly wounds : but my poore heart is hunted still , with such a cruell cry , as , in their dogged humours , liue , while i alone must die . the swan that sings before her death doth shew that she is pleas'd , to knowe that death will not be long in helping the diseas'd . but my poore swanlike soule ( alas ) hath no such power to sing , because she knowes not when my death will make my care a king . what shall i say ? but only say ; i knowe not what to say : so many torments teare my heart , and tugge it euery way . my sunne is turnd into a shade : or else mine eyes are blinde , that sorrowes cloude makes all seeme darke , that comes into my minde . my youth , to age : or else , because my comforts are so colde , my sorrowe makes me in conceit to be decrepit olde . my hopes to feares : or else because my fortunes are forlorne , my fancie makes me make my selfe vnto my selfe a scorne . my life , to death : or else because my heart is so perxplexed , i finde my selfe but liuing dead , to feele my soule so vexed . for , what is here that earth can yeeld in pleasures sweetest vaine , but , in the midst of all my cares , doth still increase my paine ? while epicures are ouerglut , i ly and starue for foode , because my conscience can not thriue vpon ill gotten good . while other swimme in choyce of silkes , i sit alone in ragges , because i can not fitte the time , to fill the golden bagges . while other are bedeckt in golde , in pearle and pretious stone , i sigh to see they haue so much , and i can light of none . not that i enuie their estate , but wish that god would giue some comfort , to my carefull hope , wherby my heart might liue . some please themselues in choyce of sports , in trifles , and in toies ▪ while my poore feeble spirit feedes , of nothing but annoyes . some haue their houses stately built , and gorgeous to beholde , while in a cottage , bare and poore , i bide the bitter colde . some haue their chariots and their horse to beare them to and fro , while i am glad to walke on foote , and glad i can doe so . some haue their musickes hermony to please their idle eares , while of the song of sorrow , still , my soule the burthen beares . some haue their choyce of all perfumes , that natures arte can giue ; while sinne doth stinke so , in my soule , as makes me loath to liue . they , like the wielders of the world , command and haue their will ; while i , a weakling in the world , am slaue to sorrow still . the owle , that makes the night her day , delights yet in the darke : but i am forc't to play the owle , that haue beene bred a larke . the eagle , from the lowest vale , can mount the lofty skie : but , i am falne downe from the hill , and in the vale must die . the sparrow , in a princes house , can finde a place to builde : i scarce can finde out any place , that will my comfort yeelde . the little wrenne doth finde a worme , the little finch a seede ; while my poore heart doth hunger still , and finds but little feede . the bee doth finde her hony flower , the butterflie her leafe : but i can finde a world of corne , that yeeldes not me a sheafe . the horse , the oxe , the silly asse , that tugge out all the day , at night come home , and take their rest , and lay their worke away ; while my poore heart , both day and night , in passions ouertoild , by ouerlabour of my braine , doth finde my spirit spoiled . the winds doe blowe away the clowds , that would obscure the sun : and , how all glorious is the sky , when once the stormes are done ! but , in the heauē of my harts hope , where my loues light doth shine , i nothing see , but clouds of cares , or else my sunne decline . the earth is watred , smoth'd and drest , to keepe her gardens gay ; while my poore heart , in woefull thoughtes , must wither still away . the sea is sometime at a calme , where shippes at anchor ride , and fishes , on the sunny shore , doe play on euery side : but my poore heart , in sorrowes seas , is sicke of such a qualme , as , while these stormy tempests holde , can neuer looke for calme . so that i see , each bird , and beast , the sea , the earth , the sky , all sometime in their pleasures liue , while i alone must die . now , thinke , if all this be too true ( as would it were not so ) if any creature liue on earth , that doe like sorrow knowe . nay , aske of sorrow , euen her selfe ; to thinke how i am wounded , if she be not , to see my woes , within her selfe confounded ; or say , no figure can suffice , my sorrowes frame to fashion , where patiēce thus hath shew'd her selfe , beyōd her selfe in passion . par nulla figura dolori , nec dolor meo . a solemne farewell to the world . oh forlorne fancy , whereto dost thou liue , to weary out the senses with vnrest ? hopes are but cares , that but discomforts giue , while only fooles doe clime the phoenix nest . to heart sicke soules , all ioyes are but a iest . thou dost in vain , but striue against the streame , with blinded eyes to see the sunny beame . die with desire , abandond from delight . thy weary winter lasteth all the yeare . say to thy selfe , that darknesse is the light , wherein doth nothing but thy death appeare ; while wit , and sense , in sorrowes heauy cheare , findes thee an humour , but vnkindly bredde , of hopes illusions , in too weake a head . fortune affrightes thee with a thousand feares , while folly feedes thee with abuse of wit : and , while thy force in fainting passion weares , patience is ready to increase the fit , where agonies in their extreames doe sit . so that , each way , thy soule is so perplexed , as better die , then liue to be so vexed . say , patience somewhat doe asswage thy paine ; prolonged cures are too vncomfortable : and where that care doth neuer comfort gaine , the state , alasse , mustneedes be miserable . where sorrowes labours are so lamentable , that silence saies , that to the soule complains , concealed sorrowes are the killing paines . then doe not ceasse to sigh , and sobbe thy fill , bleede in the teares of true loues liuing blood , shewe how vnkindnesse seekes the heart to kill , that hides a buzzard in a falcons hoode . feede not thy selfe with misconceipted good . better to starue , then , in a sugred pill , to taste the poison of the spirits ill . but , if thou canst content thee with thy life , and wilt endure a double death to liue , if thou canst beare that bitter kinde of strife , where crosse conceipts but discontents do giue , if to this ende , thou canst thine humour driue , and cares true patience can command thee so , giue mee then leaue to tell thee what i knowe . i knowe too well , that all too johg haue tryed , that earth containeth not that may content thee . sorrowe will so beset thee on each side , that wit , nor reason can the thought inuent thee , but that will some way serue for to torment thee . hope wil deceiue thee , happinesse goe by thee , fortune will faile thee , and the world defie thee . beauty will blinde thine eyes , bewitch thine heart , confound thy senses , and commaund thy will , scorne thy desire , not looke on thy desart , disdaine thy seruice , quite thy good with ill , and make no care thy very soule to kill : time will outgoe thee , sorrowe onertake thee , and death , a shadow of a substance , make thee . i know this world will neuer be for thee : conscience must carry thee another way . another world must be for thee and mee , where happie thoughts must make their holiday , while heauenly comforts neuer will decay . we must not thinke in this ill age to thriue , vvhere faith and loue are scarcely found aliue . wee must not build our houses on the sands , where euery flood will wash them quite away : nor set our seales vnto those wicked bands , where damned soules their debts in hel must pay : our states must stand vpon a better stay : vpon the rock we must our houses builde , that wil our frames , from winde , & water shield goe , bid the world , with all his trash , farewell , and tell the earth , it shall be all but dust : these wicked wares that worldlings buy and sell , the moath will eate , or else the canker ruft : all flesh is grasse , and to the graue it must . this sinke of sinne , is but the way to hell , leaue it i say , and bid the world farewell . account of pompe , but as a shadowed power , and thinke of friends , but as the sommer flies : esteeme of beauty as a fading flower , and louers fancies , but as fabled lies : knowe , that on earth there is no paradise . vvho sees not heauen , is surely spirit-blinde , and like a body , that doth lacke a minde . then , let vs lie as dead , till there wee liue , where only loue doth liue for euer blest , and only loue the onely life doth giue , that bringes the soule vnto eternall rest . let vs this wicked , wretched world detest , where gracelesse hearts in hellish sins perseuer , and fly to heauen , to liue in grace for euer . ¶ a solemne conceipt . doth loue liue in beauties eyes ? why then are they so vnlouing ? patience in her passion prouing : there his sorrowe chiefely lies . liues beliefe in louers hearts ? why then are they vnbelieuing , hourely so the spirit grieuing , with a thousand iealous smarts ? is there pleasure in loues passion ? why then is it so vnpleasing , heart and spirit both diseasing , where the wits are out of fashion ? no : loue sees , in beauties eyes : he hath only lost his seeing : where in sorrowes only being , all his comfort wholly dies . faith , within the heart of loue , fearefull of the thing it hath , treading of a trembling path , doth but iealousie approue . in loues passion then what pleasure ? which is but a lunacy : where griefe , feare , and iealousie plague the senses out of measure . farewell then ( vnkindly ) fancy , in thy courses all too cruell : woe , the price of such a iewell , as turnes reason to a franzy . ¶ a straunge a , b , c. to learne the babies a , b , c , is fit for children , not for mee . i knowe the letters all so well , i neede not learne the way to spell : and , for the crosse , before the rowe , i learn'd it all too long agoe . then let them goe to schoole that list , to hang the lippe , at had i wist . i neuer lou'd a booke of horne , nor leaues , that haue their letters worne , nor with a fescue to direct mee , where euery puny shall correct mee . i will the treuant play a while , and , with mine eare , mine eye beguile , and only heare , what other see , what mocketh them as well as mee , and laugh at him , that goes to schoole , to learne with mee to play the foole . but soft a while : i haue mistooke . this is but some imagin'd booke , that wilfull hearts in wantons eyes , doe onely by conceits deuise : where spell , and put together proue the reading of the rules of loue . but , if it be so , let it be : it shall no lesson be for mee . let them goe spell , that can not reede , and know the crosse vnto their speede ; vvhile i am taught but to discerne , how to forget the thing i learne . ¶ fie on pride . the hidden pride that lurkes in beauties eyes , and ouerlookes the humble hearts of loue , doth nothing else but vaine effectes deuise , that may discretion from the minde remoue . oh , how it workes in wit , for idle wordes , to buy repentance but with labour lost : while sorrowes fortune nothing else affordes but showres of raine , vpon a bitter frost . a wicked shadowe that deceiues the sight , and breedes an itch , that ouerrunnes the hart : which , leauing reason in a pitious plight , consumes the spirit , with a curelesse smart . while wounded patience in her passion cries ; fie vpon pride , that lurkes in beauties eyes . ¶ a farewell to loue . farevvell loue , and louing folly , all thy thoughts are too vnholly : beauty strikes thee full of blindenesse , and then kils thee with vnkindnesse . farewell wit , and witty reason , all betrai'd , by fancies treason : loue hath of all ioy bereft thee , and to sorrow only left thee . farewell will , and wilfull fancy , all in daunger of a franzy : loue to beauties bowe hath wonne thee , and togither , all vndone thee . farewell beauty , sorrowes agent : farewell sorrow , patience pagent : farewell patience , passions stayer : farewell passion , loues betrayer . sorrowes agent , patience pagent : passions stayer , loues betrayer , beauty , sorrow , patience , passion , farewell life of such a fashion . fashion , so good fashions spilling : passion , so with passions killing : patience , so with sorrow wounding : farewell beauty , loues confounding . ¶ a ieasting curse . fie vpon that too much beauty , that so blindeth reasons seeing , as , in swearing all loues duety , giues him , no where else , a beeing . cursed be thou all in kindnesse , that with beauty , loue hast wounded ; blessing loue , yet in such blindenesse , as in beautie is confounded . euer maist thou liue tormented , with the faith of loue vnfained , till thy heart may be contented to relieue whom thou hast pained . thus , in wroth of so well pleased , as concealeth ioyes confessing , till my paine be wholly eased , cursed be thou , all in blessing . so farewell , and fairely note it ; he , who as his soule doth hate thee , from his very heart hath wrote it , neuer euill thought come at thee . ¶ a solemne toie . if that loue had beene a king , he would haue commanded beauty : but , hee is a silly thing , that hath sworne to doe her duety . if that loue had beene a god , he had then bene full of grace : but , how grace and loue are odde , t is too plaine a pitious case . no : loue is an idle ieast , that hath only made a woord like vnto a cuckoes neast , that hath neuer hatcht a bird . then , from nothing to conceiue that may any substance bee ; yet so many doth deceiue , lord of heauen deliuer mee . a displeasure against loue . love is witty , but not wise , when he stares on beauties eyes , finding wonders in conceit , that doe fall out but deceit . wit is stable , but not staied , when his senses are betraied : where , too late sorrow doth proue , beauty makes a foole of loue . youth is forward , but too fond , when he falles in cupids bond : where repentance lets him see , fancy fast is neuer free . age is cunning , but vnkinde , when he once growes cupid-blinde . for , when beauty is vntoward , age can neuer be but froward . so that i doe finde in briefe , in the grounds of natures griefe , age , and youth , and wit doe proue , beauty makes a foole of loue . ¶ a farewell to conceipt . farevvell conceit : cōceit no more wel fare , hope feeds the heart with humours , to no end : fortune is false in dealing of her share : vertue , in heauen , must only seeke a friend . adieu desire ▪ desire , no more adieu . will hath no leasure to regard desart : loue findes , too late , the prouerbe all too true , that beauties eyes stoode neuer in her heart . away poore loue : loue , seeke no more a way vnto thy woe , where wishing is no wealth : in nightes deepe darkenesse , neuer looke for day , nor in hearts sicknesse , euer seeke for health . desire , conceipt , away , adieu , farewell . loue is deceiu'd , that seeks for heauen in hell . an vnhappy , solemne , ieasting curse . oh venome , cursed , wicked , wretched eyes , the killing lookers on the heart of loue : where witching beauty liues but to deuise the plague of wit , and passions hell to proue : that snowy necke , that chillest , more then snowe , both eyes & harts , that liue but to behold thee : that graceles lip , frō whēce loues grief dothgrow , who doth , in all his sweetest sense infold thee : those chaining hairs more hard then iron chains , in tying fast the fairest thoughts of loue , yee shameful cheeks , that in your blushing vains , the rauisht passions of the minde doe proue : yee spider fingers of those spitefull hands , that worke but webbes , to tangle fancies eyes : that idole breast , that like an image stands , to worke the hell of reasons heresies : those fairy feete , whose chary steppes doe steale those hearts , whose eies do but their shadowes see : that ruthlesse spirit , that may well reueale , where loues confusions all included be : to thee , that canst , or wilt not bend thy will , to vse thy gifts all gratious in their nature , to patience good , and not to passions ill , and maist , and wilt not be a blessed creature , i wish , and pray , thine eyes may weepe for woe they cannot get one looke of thy beloued : thy snowy necke may be as colde as snowe , with colde of feare , it hath no fancy moued . thy lippe , in anger by thy teeth be bitten , it can not giue one kissing sweete of loue : and , by thy hands , thy shriu'led haires be smitten , for want of holding of thy hopes behoue : thy blushing cheekes loose all their liuely blood , with pining passions of impatient thought : that idole bodie , like a piece of wood , consume , to see it is esteemd for nought . those spider fingers , and those fairy feete the crampe so crooke , that they may creepe for griefe : and , in that spirit sorrowes poisons meete , to bring on death , where loue hath no reliefe . all these , and more iust measures of amisse vpon thy frownes , on faithfull loue , befall : but , sweetly smile , & then heauēs pour their blisse on thy hairs , neck , cheeks , lip , hands , feet , & all . ¶ a quarrell with loue . oh that i could write a story of loues dealing with affection ; how hee makes the spirit sory , that is toucht with his infection . but he doth so closely winde him , in the plaits of will ill pleased , that the heart can neuer finde him , till it be too much diseased . t is a subtill kinde of spirit , of a venome kinde of nature , that can , like a conny ferret , creepe vnwares vpon a creature . neuer eye that can beholde it , though it worketh first by seeing ; nor conceipt , that can vnfolde it , though in thoughts be all his being . oh , it maketh olde men witty , young men wanton , women idle , while that patience weepes , for pitty reason bitts not natures bridle . in it selfe it hath no substance , yet is working worlds of wonder , while , in phrensies fearefull instance , wit , and sense are put asunder . what it is , is in coniecture , seeking much , but nothing finding : like to fancies architecture , with illusions , reason blinding . day and night , it neuer resteth , mocking fancy with ill fortune , while the spirit it molesteth , that doth patience still importune . yet , for all this , how to finde it , t is vnpossible to showe it ; when the muse , that most doth minde it , will be furthest off to know it . yet can beauty so reteine it , in the profit of her seruice , that she closely can mainteine it , for her seruant chiefe in office . in her eye , she chiefely breedes it : in her cheekes , she chiefely hides it : in her seruants faith , shee feedes it , while his only heart abides it . all his humour is in changing : all his worke is in inuention : all his pleasure is in ranging : all his truthe but in intention . straunge , in all effectes conceiued : but , in substance , nothing sounded , while the senses are deceiued , that on idle thoughts are grounded . not to dwell vpon a trifle , that doth follies hope befall , t is but a newe nothing nifle , made for fooles to play withall . ¶ a wish in vaine . oh , that wit were not amazed , at the wonder of his senses : or his eyes , not ouergazed , in mineruas excellences . oh , that reason were not foiled , in the rules of all his learning : or his learning were not spoiled , in the sweete of loues discerning . oh , that beauty were not froward , in regard of reasons duety : or , that will were not vntoward , in the waiward wit of beauty . but , since all in vaine are wishes , patience tels them that haue past it ; poys'ned broth , in siluer dishes , kils their stomackes that doe taste it . wit , and reason , loue , and learning , all in beauties eyes are blinded , where , in sense of sweete discerning , she will be vnkindly minded . let those hartes , whose eyes perceiue her , triumphe , but in thoughts tormented : labour all they can to leaue her , or else die , and be contented . ¶ a conceipt vpon an eagle , and a phoenix . there sate sometime an eagle on a hill , hanging his wings , as if he could not flie : blacke was his coate , and tauny was his bill , grey were his legges , and gloomy was his eye , blunted his talents , and his traine so bruised , as if his brauery had beene much abused . this foule olde birde of some vnhappy brood , that could abide no hauke of higher wing ( but fed his gorge vpon such bloody foode , as might , in feare , maintaine a cruell king ) faire on a rocke of pearle and pretious stone , espied a phoenix sitting all alone . no sooner had this heauenly birde in sight , but vp he flickers , as he would haue flowne : but , all in feare , to make so farre a flight , vntill his pennes were somewhat harder growne : he gaue a rowse , as , who should say , in rage he shew'd the fury of his froward age . and , for this phoenix still did front his eyes , hee cald a counsell of his kites together : with whom , in haste , he wold the mean deuise , by secret arte to leade an armie thither , and so pull downe , from place of highe estate , this heauenly bird , that he had so in hate . much talke there was , & wondrous heede was held how to atchieue this high attempt in hand : some out were sēt to soare about the field , where flue this grace and glory of the land , to mark her course , & how she made her wing , and how her strēgth might stād with such a king . and forthwith should such cages be deuised , as should enclose full many thousand fowles : by whom , her seat should quickly be surprized , and all her birds should handled be like owles : no time detract this deede must needs be don : and ere they went , the world was wholly won . but , soft a while : no sooner seene the land , but , ere they came in kenning of the coast , so great a force their fortune did withstand , that all the brauery of the birds was lost : some leakt , some sanke , & some so ran on groūd , the cages burst , and all the birds were drownd . but , when the eagle heard what was become of all his flight , that flick'red here and there , some sicke , some hurt , some lame , & all & sūme or farre from hope , or all too neere in feare , he stoupt his traine , and hung his head so sore , as if his heart had neuer burst before . ¶ a conceited fancy . pvre colours can abide no staine : the sunne can neuer lose his light : and vertue hath a heauenly vaine , that well may claime a queenely right : so , giue my mistresse but her due , who tolde mee all these tales of you . from heauen on earth , the sunne doth shine , from vertue comes discretions loue : they both are in themselues diuine ; yet worke for weaker hearts behoue ▪ so , would my mistresse had her due , to tell mee still these tales of you . but , oh , the sunne is in a clowde , and vertue liues in sweetes vnseene : the earth with heauen is not allow'd , a begger must not loue a queene : so must my mistresse haue her due , to tell mee still these tales of you . then shine faire sunne , when clouds are gon : liue vertue in thy queenely loue : choose some such place to shine vpon , as may thy paradise approue ; that , when my mistresse hath her due , i may heare all this heauen in you . ¶ a smile misconstrued . by your leaue , a little while : loue hath got a beauties smile , from on earth , the fairest face : but , he may be much deceiued , kindenesse may be misconceiued , laughing , oft , is in disgrace . oh , but he doth knowe her nature , and to be that blessed creature , that doth answere loue with kindnesse . tush , the phoenix is a fable , phoebus horses haue no stable : loue is often full of blindnesse . oh , but he doth heare her voice : which doth make his heart reioyce , with the sweetenesse of her sounde . simple hope may be abused . heares he not he is refused ? which may giue his heart a wound . no : loue can belieue it neuer . beauty fauours once , and euer , though proud enuie play the elfe : truthe , and patience haue approued loue shall euer be beloued , if my mistresse be her selfe . ¶ an odde humour . pvrely faire , and fairely wise , blessed wit , and blessed eyes , blessed wise , and blessed faire , neuer may thy blisse impaire . kindely true , and truly kinde , blessed heart , and blessed minde , blessed kind , and blessed true , euer may thy blisse renue . sweetely deare , and dearely sweete , blessed , where these blessings meete : blessed meetings neuer cease , euer may thy blisse encrease . blessed beauty , wit , and sense , blest , in natures excellence , where all blessinges perish neuer , blessed maist thou liue for euer . ¶ awaggery . childrens ahs , and womens ohs doe a wondrous griefe disclose : where a dugge the tone will still , and the tother but a will. then , in gods name , let them cry . while they cry , they will not die . for , but fewe that are so curst , as to cry , vntill they burst . say , some children are vntoward : so some women are as froward : let them cry them , 't will not kill them : there is time enough to still them . but , if pitty will be pleased to relieue the small diseased , when the helpe is once applying , they will quickly leaue their crying . let the childe then sucke his fill , let the woman haue her will , all will hush , was hearde before : ah , and oh , will cry no more . ¶ an odde conceipt . lovely kinde , and kindly louing , such a minde were worth the mouing : truly faire , and fairely true , where are all these , but in you ? wisely kinde , and kindely wise , blessed life , where such loue lies . wise , and kinde , and faire , and true , louely liue all these in you . sweetely deare , and dearely sweete , blessed where these blessings meete . sweete , faire , wise , kinde , blessed , true , blessed be all these in you . ¶ a dolefull fancy . sorrovv rippe vp all thy senses , neerest vnto horrors nature : taste of all thy quintessences , that may kill a wretched creature . then , beholde my wofull spirit , all in passions ouerthrowne : and , full closely , like a ferret , seize vpon it for thine owne . but , if thou doe growe dismaid , when thou dost but looke on mee , when my passions well displaid , will but make a blast of thee , then in griefe of thy disgraces , where my fortunes doe deface thee , tell thy muses to their faces , they may learne of mee to grace thee . for , thy sighes , thy sobbes , and teares but thy common badges beene : while the paine the spirit beares , eates away the heart vnseene . where , in silence swallowed vp are the sighes and teares of loue , which are drawne to fill the cuppe must be drunke to deaths behoue . then beholding my hearts swoune , in my torments more and more , say , when thou dost sit thee downe , thou wert neuer grac't before . ¶ an epitaph vpon poet spencer . movrnfvll muses , sorrowes minions , dwelling in despaires opinions , yee that neuer thought inuented , how a heart may be contented ( but in torments all distressed , hopelesse how to be redressed , all with howling and with crying , liue in a contiuuall dying ) sing a dirge on spencers death , till your soules be out of breath . bidde the dunces keepe their dennes , and the poets breake their pennes : bidde the sheepheards shed their teares , and the nymphes go teare their haires : bidde the schollers leaue their reeding , and prepare their hearts to bleeding : bidde the valiant and the wise , full of sorrowes fill their eyes ; all for griefe , that he is gone , who did grace them euery one . fairy queene , shew fairest queene , how her faire in thee is seene . sheepeheards calender set downe , how to figure best a clowne . as for mother hubberts tale , cracke the nut , and take the shale : and for other workes of worth , ( all too good to wander forth ) grieue that euer you were wrot , and your author be forgot . farewell arte of poetry , scorning idle foolery : farewell true conceited reason , where was neuer thought of treason : farewell iudgement with inuention , to describe a hearts intention : farewell wit , whose sound and sense shewe a poets excellence : farewell all in one togither , and , with spencers garland , wither . and , if any graces liue , that will vertue honour giue , let them shewe their true affection , in the depth of griefes perfection , in describing forth her glory , when she is most deepely sory ; that they all may wish to heere , such a song , and such a quier , as , with all the woes they haue , follow spencer to his graue . finis . the vncasing of machauils instructions to his sonne with the ansvvere to the same. breton, nicholas, ?- ? approx. kb of xml-encoded text transcribed from -bit group-iv tiff page images. text creation partnership, ann arbor, mi ; oxford (uk) : - (eebo-tcp phase ). a stc . estc s this keyboarded and encoded edition of the work described above is co-owned by the institutions providing financial support to the early english books online text creation partnership. this phase i text is available for reuse, according to the terms of creative 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(eebo-tcp ; phase , no. a ) transcribed from: (early english books online ; image set ) images scanned from microfilm: (early english books, - ; : ) the vncasing of machauils instructions to his sonne with the ansvvere to the same. breton, nicholas, ?- ? machiavelli, niccolò, - , attributed name. [ ], , [ ] p. printed by e. g[riffin] for richard higgenbotham, and are to be sold at his shoppe at the signe of the cardinals hat without newgate, london : . not in fact by machiavelli, but by nicholas breton. verse satire. printer's name from stc. identified as stc on umi microfilm. reproduction of the original in the british library. formerly stc . created by converting tcp files to tei p using tcp tei.xsl, tei @ oxford. re-processed by university of nebraska-lincoln and northwestern, with changes to facilitate morpho-syntactic tagging. gap elements of known extent have been transformed into placeholder characters or elements to simplify the filling in of gaps by user contributors. eebo-tcp is a partnership between the universities of michigan and oxford and the publisher proquest to create accurately transcribed and encoded texts based on the image sets published by proquest via their early english books online (eebo) database (http://eebo.chadwyck.com). the general aim of eebo-tcp is to encode one copy (usually the first edition) of every monographic english-language title published between and available in eebo. eebo-tcp aimed to produce large quantities of textual data within the usual project restraints of time and funding, and therefore chose to create diplomatic transcriptions (as opposed to critical editions) with light-touch, mainly structural encoding based on the text encoding initiative (http://www.tei-c.org). the eebo-tcp project was divided into two phases. the , texts created during phase of the project have been released into the public domain as of january . anyone can now take and use these texts for their own purposes, but we respectfully request that due credit and attribution is given to their original source. users should be aware of the process of creating the tcp texts, and therefore of any assumptions that can be made about the data. text selection was based on the new cambridge bibliography of english literature (ncbel). if an author (or for an anonymous work, the title) appears in ncbel, then their works are eligible for inclusion. selection was intended to range over a wide variety of subject areas, to reflect the true nature of the print record of the period. in general, first editions of a works in english were prioritized, although there are a number of works in other languages, notably latin and welsh, included and sometimes a second or later edition of a work was chosen if there was a compelling reason to do so. image sets were sent to external keying companies for transcription and basic encoding. quality assurance was then carried out by editorial teams in oxford and michigan. % (or pages, whichever is the greater) of each text was proofread for accuracy and those which did not meet qa standards were returned to the keyers to be redone. after proofreading, the encoding was enhanced and/or corrected and characters marked as illegible were corrected where possible up to a limit of instances per text. any remaining illegibles were encoded as <gap>s. understanding these processes should make clear that, while the overall quality of tcp data is very good, some errors will remain and some readable characters will be marked as illegible. users should bear in mind that in all likelihood such instances will never have been looked at by a tcp editor. the texts were encoded and linked to page images in accordance with level of the tei in libraries guidelines. copies of the texts have been issued variously as sgml (tcp schema; ascii text with mnemonic sdata character entities); displayable xml (tcp schema; characters represented either as utf- unicode or text strings within braces); or lossless xml (tei p , characters represented either as utf- unicode or tei g elements). keying and markup guidelines are available at the text creation partnership web site . eng machiavelli, niccolò, - -- controversial literature -- early works to . - tcp assigned for keying and markup - spi global keyed and coded from proquest page images - emma (leeson) huber sampled and proofread - emma (leeson) huber text and markup reviewed and edited - pfs batch review (qc) and xml conversion the vncasing of machavils instrvctions to his sonne : with the ansvvere to the same . london printed by e. g. for richard higgenbotham , and are to be sold at his shoppe at the signe of the cardinals hat without newgate . . ❧ contents . machiauels rules do whet the purest wits , and doe expell them from their idle fits : to wise men they shew the worlds follie , with notice of preuenting deeds vnholie ▪ which is the true intent of the authors meaning , how euer fooles their iudgements are bestowing . though the beginning doe of harshnesse tast , and many things are hudled vp in hast : and though there be instruction to ill , good vnderstanding the same doth kill , and turnes those words vnto the truest sense , which for those faults doth make a recompence , as the answere by degrees plainly showes , what dutie to vertue each creature owes , condemne not all till all be throughly past , if first be worst , the best is kept till last . the vncasing of machavils instrvction to his sonne . come hether son , and learne thy fathers lore , it is not now as it hath beene before , for in my youth would no man read to me that now in age i can deliuer thee , if thou wilt be a man of much esteeme , be not the same what euer so thou seeme , speake faire to all , be gentle , curteous , kinde , but let the world know nothing of thy minde , let slip no time may be for thine auaile , nor trust no friend , for faith begins to faile : refuse no gift to fill thy coffers full , the wisest poore man passeth for a gull . be temperate in affect , so ber in talke , and often make a solitarie walke , tickle conceits commit to memorie , for written lines may lie in ieopardie . affect no follies , do not quarrels moue , and if thou loue thy selfe , fall not in loue , haue eare for all men , conferre with few , and count faire words to be but as a dew . follow the time , finde humors , flatter pride , and praise the croome ; but only please the bride . promise enough , but not performe too much : but with thy betters euermore keepe touch . striue not with great ones , meddle not with small , for trifles trouble not thy selfe with all . frequent the church make shew of great deuotion . and be not bashfull to receiue promotion . looke big at beggers , weare thy clothes neate . and spend not too much mony at thy meate . saue thy horse charges at thy cozens stable , and take thy trencher at anothers table . breake iests on cowards , but take heed of knaues . and loue no bawdes , for they are beastly slaues . be perfect in arithmeticks close art , in all accounts to make a sauing part . stand not to stare vpon a peacockes taile , who if he see his legs will stoope his saile . when iack-dawes chatter , let their language go , better be silent then to prattle so . obserue the lion , but do not sturre the beare , and loue the wolfe , but only for his haire , learne of the asse to beare , the dog to wait , and of the ape to counterfet conceit . catch not at flies , they are but swallowes food , but loue the meat that nourisheth the blood . feed like a wolfe on blood , while it is warme he is a foole that feeles anothers harme . yet seeme as kinde , as she that seemes to crie to see him sicke , that she could wish to die . take heed of interest , gage no land , and from assurance euer keepe thy hand . take no mans word , for coine is hard to get , and t is a custome now to pay no debt , learne to get riches by the beggers purse : the fox fares best when geese begin to curse , worke all the weeke for profit euery way , keepe conscience only for the holy day . prie into trades , to traffick , traine and tricke , and liue not by the dead , but by the quicke , and if thou be a courtier , know thy place : but do not serue for onely shew of grace , but let thy profit answere thy expence , least want do proue a wofull patience , and thou do proue the prouerbe often told , a carelesse courtier yong , a begger old . if that thou be a scholler and canst preach , and knowest how the vnlearned sort to teach , let neuer conscience at thy profit knock , but share thy sheepe , and fleece another flocke , for be thou poore , what e're thy preaching be , thy parish will not care a pin for thee . if that thou be a souldier , serue for fame , but let thy golden pay maintaine the same , for he that spends more then he gets in fight , will be a begger though he be a knight . if that thou be a lawyer know thy right , but keepe thy client in a cunning plight , for how canst thou a heartie pleading hold , if that thy tongue be not well tipt with gold , and rich attir'd , thou shalt haue roome to stand to plead thy case , what e're thou hast in hand , but barely clad , and in a poore array , thou maist perhaps haue hearing at doomes day ; for though the law be right , and iudge be iust , yet with the rich , the begger must not thrust . if that thou be a marchant know thy trade , and of thy wares what reckning may be made , and be not lauish in a leude expence , least bankrupt proue a bad experience . if that thou be a crafts-man know thy paines , and let no alehouse eate out all thy gaines , for if expence aboue thy gettings goe , thou wilt be quickly in the beggers roe . what saies the craftie clowne in clowted shooes , time was ordain'd to get and not to loose . what though the poore lie staruing in the ditch ? it is the dearth of corne makes farmers rich , weare not thy shooes too short , nor cloak too long , vse thy friend well , but do thy selfe no wrong . abandon fooles , make much of cunning wits , but fauour most , that most thy profit fits , sit not vp too late , except it be for gaine , for want of sleepe is hurtfull for the braine . go not to sea , whiles thou maist liue on land , least scaping rockes , thou fall vpon a sand . be sociable in euery company . but haue no hand in any villany , " if thou finde humors to passe reasons race , " depart in time , let others take thy place , " such companions better lost then found , " vaine humored wits cannot be very sound , " though for thy gaine , thou kindly dost intreat them , " yet know thy time , when and how to reiect them . be conuersant with strangers , learne languages , sound their estates , and note their carriages , know their seuerall warres , their worth and prizes , but trouble not thy head with vaine deuices . " doe thou seuerely looke to euery action , " and let their errors yeeld thee satisfaction , " that thou by them maist easily seeke to rise , " in doing this the rich will hold thee wise . aime still at profit , howsoeuer it growes , make the winde serue wheresoeuer it blowes , " then cleerely hoist vp saile , and on apace " labouring so that thou arriue with grace . " then welcome home , if crownes thou hast good store , " but wanting that respectlesse euermore . " no pennie no pater noster men crie , " and that pouertie parts good companie . " these prouerbes old , thou seest are very true . " if thou hast wealth , what miserie can insue ? " all men will then grace thee with cap and knee , " and praise thy life , who vile so ere it bee , for t is this wealth this profit and this gaine , that dies the colour euermore in graine . learne thou the physitian , and the lawyers fee and for thy profit speake as faire as hee : promise the one good speede , the other good health , in any course ti 's good to gather wealth . " men must not liue these daies by foolish pittie , " in getting coyne , accounted very wittie , learne all diseases and their seuerall cures , and care not what the patient heart endures , but giue him one day griefe , another ease , not as his patience , but as his purse doth please , " it is not sighes , nor sobs , nor pinching paine , " thou must respect , when that thou seek'st for gaine , " let them greiue , chase , and euermore be fretting , " so thou by them mai'st happely be getting , learne cards and dice , and euery cheating play , that may bring in thy profit any way . learne thou to stop a carde , or cog a die , but shift it clenly from the gamesters eye , at ruffe and trumpe note thou the dealers rubs there is no packe without the knaue of clubs . " pittie not when thou hast caught the connie " oh! how sweet it is to share the monie ? " it makes good cheere , and welcomes many a guest " vnto a stately house , a stately feast , " and brings content , whiles pittie sits and pines " in griefe and paine , and many hungrie sines , " when louely wealth in iouiall spirit sings , " soring alost with richest golden wings , " commanding all those vassals poore and base , " and euer seated in the highest place , " with pleasure feeding on the daintiest fare , " and all delights accounted very rare , " with musike sweet , much mirth and iollity , " with gallant sports and merrie company : " thinke on these , and do but rightly weigh them , " thrise happie he , so happie hath them . " be carefull then , that something may come in , " though some repine thou need'st not care a pin ; " for when those meanes vnto thy coffer sends , " a pot or a pinte makes a foole amendes ; " yet bestow not this , nor any else vpon him , " except to gaine some greater matter by him , " seeke any meanes or course , that may inrich thee , " the richest sort then kindly will imbrace thee . dandle the childe , grow inward with the nurse , and thinke no beggerie base that fils the purse . " be not ouer nice , nor coy ▪ mongst proude ones , " humor them , and flatter thou the small ones , " that they as instruments may serue thy turne , " stand farther of when thou begin'st to burne . " haue conference with as many as requires it , " and be merrie with those that desire it , " but still be sure , to keepe thy tongue from prating , " which is most base , and breedeth euer hating , " trust not to farre , though promises be made , " least that the substance turne vnto a shade . " great dangers lie in shewes of seeming kinde , " he is a foole lets all men know his minde : " first trie , then trust , according to thy pleasure , " be pleasing to all , yet all within a measure . laugh with the letcher , at maidens bashfulnesse , and with the chast , at fleshes filthinesse , and with the spend-thrift , at the misers bags , and with the miser , at the beggers rags . " and with the glutton , at poore hungrie cheare , " and with the hungrie , at a plenteous yeare . " and with the learned , at a simple wit. " and with the foolish , at a frenzie fit . " and with the crafts-men , when they are deceiuing , " so that something to thee may be sharing , learne all religions , be of euery sect , and chiefly to thy profit haue respect . " let conscience knock , care not for that at all , " if thou hast coyne , no matter who do fall . for this same conscience is so poore and bare , that most she shifts amongst the beggers share , " induring hunger , cold , and bitter stormes , " reprochfull termes , with many hurts and harmes , " coursely clad , all rags , and worne a sunder , " and worst of all , basely still kept vnder : " in meane estate , help-lesse still remaining , " of better sorts euermore disdaining . in sum , of what estate so ere thou be , learne to be rich , for that will hold with thee : " what matter though men point at thy follie , " thou mai'st with the purest seeme as holie : " with yea and nay , verely and indeed , " with demurest lookes wish them good speede , " which is a cloake sufficient for thy euill , " almost able to deceiue the deuill , " and accuse them , that say thou offerest wrong , " such cruell deeds to wicked doth belong . " this is the course , in humoring euery sect , " a better meanes thy profit to respect . " of these pure-ones , learne to dissemble soe , " thine shall be the profit whose're the woe , perswade a slaue he is halfe a gentleman , though he drop out of a dripping pan : it is no matter if his purse can beare it , his rascall pride will neuer blush to heare it . " extoll a foole , and he will still be grinning , " no matter what , so thou by him be winning . perswade a clowne , that he is halfe a knight , and that his wealth deserues the place aright ; and his maid-marrian with her wain-scot-face , might be a lady but for lack of grace , and make her thinke that she is halfe a queene , or scarce on earth is such another seene , for vertue , beautie , wit , shape and feature , though god he knowes that she is no such creature : but if she do applaude it t is no matter , he is a foole , for profit cannot flatter . time is not now to trifle or dandle : for gaine , fore the deuill hold a candle : and hold it as a deede that 's wisely done , or as a prize that 's brauely wone , commend a souldier when he is in crownes , and sware a knight must gouerne ouer clownes , in many a campe how he is caske did beare , although poore coward he did ne're come there . but yet thy flattery be sure so to frame , thine may be the gaine , though his the shame . " if thou findest him simple with mony store , " i hope thou wilt finde wit to make him poore . " then smiling say , i pittie your estate , " it is not with you now as t was of late : " but be content no doubt but god will send , " with this depart , his monies thine to spend , " then see thou meete him not in any case , " nor come not in where he shall be in place , " least to expence , he after seekes to driue thee , " or by some meanes borrowes mony of thee , " tut : let him shift , say thou thy mon'ies gone , " care not thou at all , though he make his mone : " but wish him well , as most men now do vse , " finde any meanes that may thy purse excuse : " let men be lauish , and commend them too , " say t' is brauely done , but feede on them too . " be sure of this , and do 't in any case . " looke well about , that thou hast time and place , " least that some machiauill chance to spie it , " discloseth all , to gaine something by it . commend the lawier , and his studious reading , admire his iudgements and extoll his pleading , but flatter so , that if he get a fee , thou mai'st haue out a share as well as hee . " be plotting so that still thou mai'st be getting ; " few lawyers griue at their clients fretting . " to sue in forma pauperis t' is in vaine , " when ( most lawyers ) poore sutors do disdaine . " they must be humored , sued and sought to still , " and all things else obedient to their will : " that this is true , thou daily mai'st behold , " how deerely they esteeme a fee of gold . follow a bishop with a world of praise , and make him as the load-starre of the daies , admire him , and extoll him to the skies ; but so that thou mai'st get a benefies , a good vicarage , cure or some such as will returne thee profit small or much . " looke too 't in time , strike whiles the iron 's hot , " vse no delay where wealth is to be got . " you know that seruice is no heritage : " what boot's a man to stand on parentage ? " but looke to the maine chance , ti 's that must hold , " he 's accounted well borne , that hath much gold , " to serue in hope , is but a beggers fee , " and such rewards most masters vse you see , " or after two or three yeares seruice turne thee off , " and for thy seruice done , bestow a scoff . " or if perhaps , thou serue till thou grow old , " happie if an almes-house thine age can hold , " this is the flinty course of this our age , " this is the time brings humors in a rage : " then list in time , serue not except for gaine , " let masters feele the toile of seruants paine : " serue not those , whose senses haue no feeling , " or those that with leaden hands are giuing , " applaude them not with courteous reuerence , " when they are so farre from due beneuolence . " scorne his blew coate , his cogniscence and all , " that shall reioice in a poore seruants fall . commend a marchant , honour his aduenture , who gets his wealth by danger , not indenture . commend his trade , his traffike and his truth , the honour of his age , and toile of youth : " say how you haue heard him much commended , " and with worthy art himselfe defended , " gainst forraine foes , by land and seas , " and smoothly slipt it of himselfe to please : but withall be sure to flatter soe , that to thy purse , some piece of monie groe : or on his boord , thy trencher to be laid , or borrowed mony neuer to be paid . and tell ( what-lack yee ) that he lackes no wit , and for his head that he deserues to sit on higher seates then church-wardens stooles , for he hath more wit , then a world of fooles ; but yet in feeding of his idle vaine , be sure to pick out some od priuie gaine . " it is a follie then to stand on nicenesse , " for that , at such times is counted basenesse . " thou must boldly looke vp and seeme merrie , " when profit comes in , who can be wearie ? " refuse nothing that comes in any way , " it is a bad thing serues not another day . a rapier , dagger , stockings , bootes or shooes , somewhat doth well though beggers must not chuse , " if one giue thee venison , what needest thou care " how he came by it , so it mend thy fare ? " stand not to question in any case , " he may thinke thou mean'st to seeke his disgrace , " by telling abroad to strangers vnknowne , " how he had venison , though none of his owne : " alwaies looke to thy tongue , no more but mum , " euer be silent , so any thing come : " yet know thy time , when to speake , when to spare , " keeping this course , accounted very rare . tell mistris minkes , shee that keepes the shop , shee is a ship that beares a gallant top ; shee is a lady for her louely face , and her countenance hath a princes grace , " and that her beautie hath inthrald thee soe , " except shee yeelds remorse , she workes thy woe : " then cast thine eye vpon her beautious cheeke , " protesting that thou neuer saw'st the like : " her smooth forehead , and her comely dressing ; " her louely breasts , cause loues increasing ; " her iuorie teeth , her lip and chin ; " her snow white hand , the like was neuer seene ; " her leg and foote , with her gate so comely ; " her apparels worne so neat and seemely . " thus o're worne with care , thou mai'st seeme to be , " till thou hast made her proude herselfe to see . " then she nods the head with smiling fauor , " that thou should'st bestow , such loue vpon her ; then bite the lip , winke and hang the head , and giue a sigh , as though thy heart were dead ; and shew strange passions of affections sence , that she may pittie loue sirreuerence : " wishing her selfe worthy of thy fauor , " which is a meanes to gaine some thing by her . thus let the issue of this cunning be , that from her purse some profit come to thee , a peece of sattin , fustian , or some stuffe ; a falling-band , or a three double-ruffe ; a hat , a shirt , a cloake-cloath or a ring , kniues , purses , gloues , or some such prettie thing , some-what hath some sauour , t' is this gaine , that still inuention giues his sweetest vaine . " it cheares a body weake , and comfort sends , " to any one that 's ill or voide of friends , " it brings the infant vp , for want might pine , " els , charity small comfort would resigne : " to middle age , it nourisheth the blood , " and giues them all , and all that may be good : " and aged men , it luls them fast a sleepe , " whose youth tooke care , this pretious gem to keepe . " be carefull then how thou keepe this by thee , " least when thou wantest , it quite forsake thee , " and leaue thee to wander , still reiected ; " my boy looke too 't and seeke to preuent it . why tell a cobler he is halfe a king , when on his patches , he can sit and sing , and knock his last , and whet his cutting knife , there is no kingdome to a merrie life . " a light heart lightly beares the bell away , " when mightie men findes cares , though clothed gay : but yet in telling of this idle tale , be sure at least to get a pot of ale ; " or something else that hath a feeling sence , " take any thing as part of recompence : " and seeme very thankfull , till better comes , " sith many small things ad to greater summes . for this same nothing , brings no world about , better play small game then be cleane shut out . if that thy wife be faire , and thou but poore , let her stand like a picture at thy doore : where though she do but pick her fingers ends ; faire eies , fond lookes , will gaine a world of friends . " taske her not to worke , if she be prettie : " bid her forbeare , her toyle makes thee pittie : " she may with ease , haue meanes for greater gaines , " with rich rewards , and pleasure for her paines . play at bo-peepe , see me and see me not ; it comes off well that is so closely got , and euermore say , aye ? well fare the vent , that paies the charges of the house and rent . " come , come , t is no matter , berul'd by this , " the finest dames doth some times do amisse : " yet walke demure , like puritans indeed , " and early rise to a sermon for a need ; " and make great shew of deuoutest praier , " when she only goes to meete her louer , " turning backe , poore foole defires the text , " she tels him any thing that commeth next : " and turning o're the leafe to reade the verse , " scarse for laughing , one word can rehearse : " but prettily turnes it off with some iest ; " he beares with all , he knowes it is his best . " if that thy wife be old , thy daughters yong , " and faire of face , and of a fluent tongue : " if by her sutors siluer may be had ; " beare with small faults , the good will help the bad . " be not too seuere , time may mend their faults ; " he is a foole before a cripple haults : " or he that findes a fault where gaine comes in , " t is pittie but his cheekes should e're looke thin : " what though thou know'st that vice do gaine it all ; " will vertue helpe , when thou begin'st to fall ? " this is no world for vertuous men to thriue ; " t is worke enough to keepe thy selfe aliue . " let wife and daughters loue to make thee wealthie ; " thou know'st that gold will seeke to make thee healthie . if thy maid-seruants , be kinde hearted wenches ; and closely make kinde bargins on the benches , " let them haue libertie , loue and pleasure ; " all these are helpes to bring in thy treasure : " let them laugh and be merrie , it yeelds content ; theil'e humor all , till all their coyne is spent . if by their pleasures , may thy profit grow ; winke at a wanton , who hath not been so . make loue to twentie wenches in one day ; but let no poore lasse leade thy heart away , " for that 's in vaine , thy labour then is lost ; " such idle loue , can neuer quit thy cost ; " it brings a charge and sends a heauie clog , " and makes thy life , as seruile as a dog ; " from house to house , thou shalt be haunted then , " and cleane exempt , from the loue of men . " a plague that 's worse , shee 's iealous euer-more : " this is the true course of a loue that 's poore : " or if by chance , her husband wealth doth gaine , " shee straight growes proude , which is a beastly vaine : " thus wealth and ease , cannot with such agree ; " then let them passe my sonne , be rul'de by me : but where thou find'st , good store of land or gold ; there lay closely to purchase a free-hold . " clap her a boord , and brauely hoise vp saile , " shoot her in the poop , duck haue at thy taile , " the prize is thine owne , thou hast got it faire , " thou must be briefe then in getting an heire . and be not squemish , at a nice conceipt , that may perswade thee from a pleasing baite . " stand not like a woodcocke sneking in the cold , " but set it out , with a grace and be bold : " to make thy selfe simple , with shew of want , " or that thy meanes at all , grow verie scant , " godnight nichole , thy friends will be packing ; " or by vilde disgrace , thy credit racking . " these are the pleasures of a poore estate , " be rich then if thou can'st possibly hate , " keep good clothes on thy backe , and neately weare them , " what want soeuer comes , do not pawne them : " for once being gotten in the deuils iawes , " he will surely keepe them in with his pawes . " if thy apparell be something clenly : " though in thy purse thou hast neu'r a penny : " men may in some measure yet esteeme thee " and a farther grace , happily giue thee . " doe not seeme base , though penilesse thou art : " but looke about , of whom to get a part . " then make much of that , and keepe it closely ; " seeke for treasure , and keep it wisely : get all contentment that the world can giue , for after death , who knoweth how we liue . strange things are spoken , and beleeue the best , and leaue the worst , i leaue thee to the rest . " stumble not at a straw , nor leape o're a block : " leaue not things at randome , keep all vnder lock : " things may be missing , but when t is gone , " it is a common speech that they saw none ; " be finding still , but let thy losse be small , " yet haue respect vnto thy selfe with all . " be not among'st theeues , but when thou find'st them sharing : " nor with a miserable wretch that 's sparing . " come not neere a brothell house , for letchery , " those damned queanes are full of trecherie . " part not a fray , except thou find'st great reason . " go not ill sh●d in a winter season . " be not to forwards to go in the raine , " except it be for profit or thy gaine . " when sicknesse comes few friends are euer found ; " looke to thy selfe that thou be whole and sound , " and be not carelesse which way thou dost walke , " nor care too much with idle braines to talke . come not within the verdict of a iury , nor yet neere a tyrant in his fury . " giue faire words to the watch , the 'il let thee passe ; " giue the constable thankes , thinke him an asse . " promise mony when thou passest through the gate ; " but on my blessing neuer let him h'ate . " beare with a tapster , though his cans be frothie ; " but raile on a broker whose clothes are mothie . " carmen and porters are — approued , " and most watermen are very dogged , " yet giue them faire words , if thou canst gaine them , " else bid deri — say lord haue mercy on them . " what though thy horse , by the hostler is nipt , " it is a true hostler , that hath not so been tript . " but to make him amends , run in his score " if thou pai'st him i le counsell thee no more , " bailiffes and seriants , keepe without their reach , " and without the verge of a priuie search . " auoide warrants , they are dangerous things : " looke to thy profit , that some comfort brings , plot for a pudding or peece of souce : the slie cat would not watch but for the mouse . the fox would neuer hunt , but for his prey ? and work-men but for gaine , would play all day . it is this wealth , this profit and this gaine : that makes the labourer sing away his paine . " it makes widowes forget their husbands lately dead , " it is the cause they so soone againe doe wed . " if thou wo'st a widow , in time begin : " or else thy woing is not worth a pin . " if thou be slow to speake , as one i knew , " thou would'st assure thy selfe , my counsels true , " he ( to late ) finding her vpon her knees " in church where yet her husbands coorse she sees , " hearing the sermon at his funerall , " longing to behold his buriall . " this sutor being toucht , with inward loue ; " approched neere , his louely sute to moue , " then stooping downe , he whispered in her eare " saying he bore her loue as might appeare " in that so soone he shewed his loue vnto her , " before any else did approach to woe her . " a lasse ( saith she , your labour is in vaine " last night a husband , i did entertaine . " yet your kinde offer , i take in good part , " and had entertain'd you with all my heart , " if you had come , in any time vnto me , " but he at my husbands death did woe me : " then speake in time , if profit comes thereby , " or else many dangers therein may lie . if thou be rich , and hat'st anothers pride : that he may go on foot , while thou do'st ride . finde meanes to feed , his swelling humor so , that high conceit may aboue compasse go ; till fortunes frownes , his folly so doth checke ; that male-content may after breake his necke . then lay in for his lands , his goods and place ; but still be sure to keepe thy selfe in grace . " there are many rubs twixt thee and the iacke , " therefore throw home thy cast and be not slacke : " yet out-throw it not , least thou loose the cast , " so standers by will reioice at thy hast : " and betting say , that thou shalt loose the game , " which is to thy disgrace and vtter shame . " looke to thy selfe , thou be not wrong'd by any . " promote thy selfe , though thou displace a many : but if thou be'st not vp , but seek'st to rise , step by degrees , and in thy steps be wise : " doe not desire to stride two staiers at once , " diuers men will suffer thee for the nonce , " and will reioice to see thee breake thy shin , " then thinke how men reioice when that they win : " standers by , discerne more then gamsters can , " disdaine not the kindnesse of any man. " thou maist as easily , speake faire words as foule , not ? " be not a foole , when that thou makest the shot : " foule words corrupt good manners it is said ; " of backe-biting slaues euer be affraide , " regard not their kindnesse , though it be great , " that shall hit thee in the teeth , with a meales meat : " thinke him not true , that such basenes doth hold , " who secrets in corners loues to vnfold . " auoide them in time , their hate is much ; " yet they will seeme , as though they were not such : " and no doubt giue faire words vnto thy face ; " alasse , alasse , it is a heauie case . " preuent them then , and care not for their hate , " it boots not to see the forme where she sate ; " haddie-wist comes to late , hold time before ; " runne not to deepe in thy hostesses score : " depart in time , when she the shot is making , " and faine some businesse at thy departing : " t is good to offer to pay , when that thou hast it : " if once offered backe , looke that thou keep'st it , " and giue him thankes , vntill the next meeting : " thus by degrees still thou must be getting . refuse no seruice be it ne're so base : by any meanes may bring thee into grace , and make no conscience to attend on sin , to keepe the doore , where deuils dance within , " mong'st all kinde of people ( for gaine ) men thrust , " loue no iron blades they will but rust , " and turne the edge , when thou should'st vse them , " i prethee be wise , and learne to refuse them . finde a rich sier , and note his disposition , how he is giuen to basenesse or ambition ; and with thy bending lay his land aboord , that he may be thy slaue , thou his lord. " yet beare in hand as though thou wish't him good : " ther 's more waies then one , to goe to the wood . if that thy friend doe lacke a little wit , and in his humour frame an idle fit . to take a wife , and vse thee for his wooing , speake for thy friend , but for thy selfe be doing : " if thou find'st her worth the catching take her , " if not , let thy friend be sure to haue her . for euery friend , is to his friend a debter : to loue him as himselfe , but not no better , but for thy selfe , if thou hast got a wife ; make shew to loue her dearely as thy life . though for thy quiet , thou could'st be content a little monie were at her buriall spent , and let that charge , be of thy griefe the ground , for many wiues , are better lost then found . " take heed ( my son ) how , and where thou do'st woe , " for widowes are wanton , and maidens too . " she that hath had many husbands cannot loue , " she that ne're had none who knowes how she 'l proue ? " great chance , but yong wenches are tried before , " and middle age , must needs pay the old score . " old women hold out whiles a stumpe doth last , " sweet meates to old folkes haue a gracious tast : " but if thou come vnto the second matching : haue carefull heed , for feare of conicatching , who in their hole , will vndermine so fast ; the'ill leaue their lordship like the land of wast : " for many priuie banquets , must be had , " which being known , would make a man starke mad . " they must haue pleasure , tut , let the world slide " sit fast for falling , when thou mean'st to ride , " it is no iesting matter my friend , quoth he , " to ride a gauld cut , iaded thou shalt be , " who will wince and kick , and lie in the dust , " follow not an old iade that loueth lust . " that is a plague that 's worse then all the rest , " though she be rich , yet her filth detest , " doe not delight , in an old gresie slut " whose loue is to fill a greedie gut . " she 'll ne're be satisfied , vntill the earth ; " receiues her corps , and stoppeth vp her breath , suspect thy will be wearie of thy will " then learne to spare , but neuer learne to spill , part with no coyne but vpon condition , with humble countenance shadow ambition , " muffle thy selfe sometimes to keepe vnknowne " for by a knaue thou mai'st be ouerthrowne , " take heede of the counters , t is a great greefe " to lie in prison without releefe , " be not a pandor , for then thou art sham'd " take heed of a wild coult that 's neuer tam'd " yet of all these , if thou canst gaine by them " haue eare vnto , but be not seene in them " let simple wits carrie away the blame . " the reproch , the rumours and all the shame , " when thou with slie countenance mai'st be sure " of some profit let them the paine indure , " let all be done , with shew of humblenesse : " so shalt thou receiue profit with thankfulnesse . creep , crouch , and kneele , vntill thou be aloft . but then , sit fast , for feare thou fall not soft . " the stately streames that kindly begins to flow " affords content , in spight of whom sayes no , " the pleasant spring , faire morn's of pleasure sends " and to each creature pleasant gifts extends : " the louely birdes , on branches sits still singing , " reioicing at those stately flowers then springing , " but see how time turnes backe , and crosseth all " those dates expir'd , begins a heauie fall , " those flowing streams , that gaue that kind consent to ebbe is turned , and all their strength is spent . " those mornes of may , where flora shin'd so bright " are now forlorne , made darke by winters night , " those birds whose chearefull tunes did pleasure giue " are now inforst to seeke them holes to liue , " where mournfull tunes , records their heauie state . " that enuious time , hath altered thus their fate : " beloulde in this , and all that 's called pleasure , " how it is crost by times euill measure . " who would seeme rich , although he hath store , " but closely keepe his treasure euermore . " and to himselfe , be euer such a friend : " that to himselfe he may his mony lend , " be circumspect still , when thou art in grace , " let not vaine toies , thy honour then disgrace . be rich i say , nay boy be rich , and wise : gold is an actious mettle for the eyes , why ? rich men haue much mony and gay geare : and goodly houses , and most daintie cheare ; faire wiues , fine pictures , plaies and morris-dances ; and many cheates : that come by many chances . fine ciuet boxes , sweet perfumes , and waters , and twentie other such kinde of matters . while the poore man , that pines for want of friends : may sit and sigh , and picke his fingers ends , and euery morning wash his face with teares and wipe his blubberred cheekes with sheualed heares , " it is a heauie sence , where coyne is wanting " at such a time of care , friends are scanting , " when needie guests comes to a feast to dine " they must content themselues and drinke no wine , " small beere must suffice , aye ? and say t is well , " wine must be kept , for diues going to hell , " this slender care of pouertie is had : which doth inforce them euer to be sad , and walke abroad , for sorrowes recreation or starue himselfe , or feed on contemplation : " sorrowes companion , and all forlorne . " and of euery creature held in scorne , " his head hanges downe , his armes lockt one in one : " to none but hilles and echoes make his mone . " resounding care , a heauie dolefull breath . " no better pillow then his mother earth , " speaking to the aire as to a friend : " that should his miserie some comfort send . make cursie to the shadow of any food , and glad to get a looke or halfe a word , blush and fall backe , when gaie folke comes in place and start to looke a ladie in the face , talke to the ayre , where no man list to heare him , or plod alone , where no man will come neare him , " dispaire is all his food to nourish bloud " a fearefull state , hard to be vnderstood " what grieuous hell is want affecting still : " a hungrie heart , a hungrie soule to kill , " what woe is want , where no man will releeue " a poore distressed soule that still doth grieue . and thus recording of a heauie care , he feeds perhaps vpon a hungrie fare , till that some good knight or learned gentleman that will not be a machauillian , but can make vse of afflicted braines . and gather profit from their toyling paines , may hap to grace him with his countenance giue him a blew coate and a cognizance , an old cast doublet , or a paire of boots . feed him with browne bread small beere hearbes and roots : and now and then perhaps a peece of meate , that scarce a man would giue a dogge to eate . or after happily some good seruice done , make him tutor , to his yongest sonne . laugh at those beggers , speake in scorne of pelse : care thou for nothing but to inrich thy selfe . for truth reports , that dolts of thriftie intreat , if thou be rich , thou quickly mai'st be great , " why ? then thou shalt be sought vnto and praisd ' , " and many waies to dignities be raisd ' , " thy name shall be extold by poets pen ; " and brauely attended on by seruing-men . " bookes shall be dedicated to thy worth : " to aduance thy glorie , thy fame set forth . " thou shalt be wise , and plac'st in iustice to , " though thou want will , all this thy wealth can do . " thinke no man wise but he that gathers wealth , " and keep the diet that preserues the health . " doe not with gluttons feed , though they woe thee , " nor with drunkards vse , though they pay for thee , " if thou be with a glutton at a feast , " he 'll wish thee choked , if thou feed on the best , " and eye thee too , and thinke thou do'st him wrong . " to eat one bit , that to his chops belong , " let gluttons grease their dogs alone for thee " they are not for thy profit , take that of me , " drunkards are vilde , but not so ill as those " hee like a braue bully cheares vp his nose " with a rich colour , set with pearles and stones , " whiles gluttons hungrie chaps make clean the bones . " he 'll call his neighbour in , and make him drinke , " a glutton like a beast , doth beastly stinke , " of any ill , the least is to be chused : " yet best of all , when all is quite refused " with good aduice , menage so thy doings : " that thou be not troubled much with loosings . trauell with ease , take heede of taking cold , and next to god take comfort in thy gold . commit no secrets to thy second selfe ▪ for neuer yet was ape but plaide the elfe : " to womens trust , t' is paine to trust vpon , " greatest secrets , from them are soonest gone : " their closets cannot hold a thing forbidden ; " yet desires to know a thing that 's hidden : " their nature's very weake , their frailties much ; " thei 'l loue him very well that is exceeding rich . set snares for wodcocks , pitfales for small birds , and catch a foole with nothing but faire words . kill not a flie and let a flea alone , that sucks the blood , and neuer hurts the bone . file not thy fingers with a filthie slut , and ride not often on a gald backt cut. " keepe not a curre , that no good profit yeelds : " a lurching dog will range about the fields . feare not a shadow , but auoide a danger : and keepe not a iade at racke and manger , " which will quite eat thee out of house & home ; " thy selfe remaine a dunce , a very mome , " with ridiculous termes thou shalt be scoft , " thy lodging cold , in the streetes very oft . perswade no prince , from his choice of pleasure , nor a rich man from his loue of treasure . " for if thou with monarkes meddle to farre ; " it must perforce procure a mightie iarre , " or if thou prie but neere a rich mans chest ; to him thou shalt be an vnwelcome guest : but if he be rich , whatso'ere he be , seeme in thine honour , to be iust as he . if he be poore , then let him beg alone , it is a trade that few grow rich vpon . " the best beggers are accounted idle ; " riding a stumbler , hold fast the bridle , " a souldiers wants these daies hath seldome aide : " to follow warres it makes men much dismaide : " though ventering life and goods , with losse of limmes : " what rich domesticall a man esteemes , " at this returne , his worth though were so great ; " scarse giue a looke , or scarce a bit of meat , " if such worthy men shall want , deseruing this ; " looke not thou for comfort in distresse . " keepe thou at home , as home-bred slaues do vse , " whose cankered hearts , bright honor doth abuse , " and feede on fat , like lubbers take their ease . " let those that list attempt to crosse the seas : " when diues loue , is only in his wealth : " when toiling lazers counted nought but filth : greiuous vnto all horror t' is to see ; " delight in gold as these else shalt thou be . learne to know kingdomes , nations , and their natures , their lawes , their iudgements , male and femall creatures , and how their wealth doth grow , by warre or peace , and how their quarrels grew , and how they seace . how they may be offended or defended ; and how their states begun , and which way ended ; but in all noates , noate this of all , how thou mai'st rise , whoeuer hap to fall . " let thy religion be of what sort it will , " be thou of that sect , seeke to humour still . " do not with a shamefa'st bashfulnesse do it : " but with a manly courage runne through it : " as if to such sects , thou had'st beene euer bred , " by which meanes thou mai'st be the better fed . if thou hast a partner in thy stock , and both your wealthes , do rest vnder one lock : and if thy partner ride abroad for pleasure , and put thy faith in trust with all his treasure : at his returne , doe vpon quarrels stand , when thou hast got his wealth into thy hand : say in accounts , he hath deceiued thee although thou know'st no such matter be : " seeme exceeding earnest and speake aloud : " no maruell though of late you were so proud : " must my purse needs be thus at your command ? " t is very true ? you haue made a faire hand : " thus raile at him that he may shame to heare thee : " act it well , he may begin to feare thee : when if he will not take what thou wilt giue him ; to course of law , for his best comfort driue him ; where whiles he railes on thy ill conscience , thy patience closely will put vp his pence . " raile thou still on his ill husbandrie , " so men may thinke , he spent lasciuiously : " commending thee that thou look'st to 't in time " raising on him abroad , a grieuous crime . but whatsoeuer honest mindes surmise , wealth with the wealthy , makes the wealthy wise . be rich therefore i say , be rich my sonne for wealth will sway the world when all is done . " if these counsels will not make thee rich " nor procure thy further profit small or much , " by preuenting mischiefes that may befall thee " what counsell then shall i farther giue thee , " the courses of the world , i shew thee plaine " as in a mappe , all dangers to refraine , " which had they beene in time foretold to me " i might auoided that which now i see , " head strong youth in promotion cannot sit " their fickle age hath many an idle fit . " following those humours that please them best , " which is a hinderance to their quiet rest : " but things foretold , may easily be past . " it is not good to thrust things vp in hast , " be happie then in learning of this good : " want is the meanes that partes kind brother-hood . " thou seest enough , if reason may suffice , " all is laid open heere before thine eyes , " as in a glasse thou rightly mai'st behold , " how thy state stands , if thou wantest gold : " then on my blessing learne these rules of mine ; " another day surely it will be thine . finis . the ansvver to machiavels vncasing . bvt now my sonne , that thou hast learn'd this lore , vpon my blessing looke on it no more , except it be by ill to know the good : but yet take heede it be misunderstood . be that thou seem'st to be in word and deed , least pater noster put thee from thy creed . faire speech is good , but keepe not a foule minde , for hollow hearts are of a hellish kinde . " backbiters and dissembling tongues are vilde , " from heauens happinesse by heauen exilde , " against such horrid deeds is woe pronounc'd , " a wofull state from blessednesse renounc'd . a good beginning makes a blessed end , and hold him for a dog that hath no friend , " his case is ill when no man will respect him , " but worst of all , when vertue doth neglect him , receiue no bribes to fill a rustie chest , a quiet conscience is a kingly feast . " content doth shine where vertuous men do dwell . " a vicious life deserueth nought but hell . " labour not by vnlawfull meanes to gaine , " when meanes vnlawfull breeds a wofull paine . and t' is a heauie sence in sorrowes rowle , to saue the body , and to kill the soule . affect the wise , and with the learned talke , and with the learned often make a walke . " and such as thy companions shall be , " euen such rewards shall be bestowed on thee . " where grauitie remaines , there still resort , " where modestie doth dwell , with such consort : " so shalt thou be , beloued still of all , no scandals then shall seeke to worke thy thrall . remember nothing that thou dost not write , for danger doth but fearefull hearts affright : " and with charitie loue thy neighbour so , " that by no meanes thou seekst his ouerthrow : " haue carefull eare , to euery man giue right , " regard kinde words , in kindnesse haue delight ; in honours cause maintaine thy reputation , and hold loue good for reasons recreation . sooth no ill eares with idle flatterie , honor the bride , but do the groome no rye . performe thy word , but promise not too much , with rich and poore , be carefull to keepe touch . with great and small be sure to keepe measure , and scorne no trifle , that may do thee pleasure : " for he that scorneth much , deserueth hate , " an infamie that ne're expireth date ; " such long lasting euils ( my son ) refraine , what losse so e're it be vnto thy gaine . frequent the church with faith and true deuotion , and do not step too fast into promotion ; for farre more griefe is in a headlong fall , then if thy care , had neuer climde at all . " be content with such meanes that god doth send , " a patient heart doth gaine a happie end . " why should'st thou toile thy selfe for pelth , " when death ends all approaching still by stealth , " and crops the blossomes of our whole delight , " by winter stormes , by time and darksome night ? " what bootest then to burthen thus thine age , " with heauie clogs , for which thy soule 's at gage , " where in woe and thraldome still remaining , " except by christ thou purchase thy redeeming . be wisely kinde to euery qualitie , and euer keepe good hospitalitie . " a miserable house is vilde men say , " ill gotten goods are quickly spent away : " those that so neerely scrape their wealth together , " another throwes it about , and cares not whether . at thy owne charge , keepe thy horses stable , and seeke no banquet at a beggers table : for a true minde had rather starue then eat , where churles and seruants grudge a stranger meate . " come not to a hungrie house for diet , " where spies and teltales bring all out of quiet ; " rather for thy quiets sake , liue with bread , " then mo●gst talemongers seeke to be fed . " what is thine owne to eate , none can grudge , " a backebiter must needes be a drudge , " whose owne reports disgraceth him at last , " cause he himselfe hath made the greatest wast . " be free from this ; great danger lies therein , " to men offence , to god a grieuous sinne . iest not with cowards , for they will but crie , and , as for bawdes pitty their beggerie : " lament the wofull state wherein they stand , " and rightly note , the poison in their hand ; " which soone breakes foorth , and makes the body foule , " but teene times worse , it putrifies the soule . arithmeticke is in euery trade , but true accounts are to be made : for when the last count reckning is cast vp , then shall the craftie take their poysned cup , " and tast the iuyce of that they haue deserued , " for which deeds , by doome it is reserued : " where no woe or horror shall be wanting , " though gold to them on earth was not scanting . " desire no gaine , where vice doth lead the ring , " it is a profit that thy paine doth bring . for lions , beares , wolues , apes , and asses , learne them to figure honors looking glasses , and haue a care to carry so thy selfe , no storme may driue thy ship vpon a shelfe . " many dangers lies hid to thee vnknowne , " no corne comes vp sometimes where seede is sowne . " enuious men sowes tares the scripture saies , " a uoide them then and quite forsake their waies : " let not earths pleasures lead thy heart away , " which is transitory , will soone decay , " and still doth passe on earth , from hand to hand , " neuer constant , nor neuer firme doth stand . swallowes do feed on flies , but light they flie , whiles epicures in too much feeding die , " wallowing in the sinke of sinnes filthinesse , " loathsome to behold , o're growne with beastlines : " spuing out the rankor of selfe delight , " which hath bred a cankor of endlesse spight . by others harmes seeke not thy priuate good , a bloody feast , is an vnkindly foode . and to dissemble loue is such an euill , as neerest shewes the nature of the diuell , " to feede on blood a murtherers delight , " if thou dissemble , thou yeelds no man right . " to gaine by others fall a curse growes on , " a heauie case when infants make their mone . " the widowes note is heard , reuenge she cries , " for those ill gotten goods , which made thee rise . to help thy friend , do not forbeare thy hand , and for thy credit , sell both goods and land : " for he that helpes his friend in time of neede , " it is in heauen inrold a friendly deede . " when that with truth of heart t is freindly done , " no deed on earth is like to that my sonne , " be constant still in friendship euermore , " and of a true friend make thy chiefest store , " what end wert thou inricht , with goods and lands , " but to the end thou shouldst be free from bands : " respect it not aboue the heauens pleasure , " which is the chiefest chiefe of all thy treasure . denie no friend when he doth friendly craue it , for honest mindes will pay when that they haue it . " a small matter sometimes doth help so much , " that by such meanes a poore man may proue rich , " which else might bring a man vnto despaire , " when for his helpe , he findeth naught but aire , " at wants instant , be helpfull euermore , " and god will-giue a blessing to thy store . " be doing this , but doe not boast a whit , " for that dimmes all , and shewes thy lacke of wit : " or how canst thou haue grace , for this thy good , " if thou backbitest in any angrie moode ? " reporting this thy kindnesse done to any , " it is not worth a pin though nere so many , " and those that heare it will thinke thou mai'st lie , " when that thou whisperest things so priuilie . let care of conscience guide thee euery way , to giue thee comfort on the holliday . " prie not at all in trades to offer wrong , " such basenesse vnto rascals doth belong : " those men deseruing it , are fit for gaine , " and fit'st of all to reape the pleasure of their paine ; " the dead in peace doth rest , yet liue they may ; " in endlesse comfort , and in endlesse ioy . " kinde charity amongst men , and loue to all , " may make vs readie for this heauenly call : " that liuing here , we die to liue againe ; " in heauenly blisse , euerlasting to remaine . and if thou be a courtier know thy grace , and seeke in heauen to haue a dwelling place . and if on earth , such seruice profit brings , what shall he haue that serues the king of kings ? " let vertues care , so guide thy conscience still , " thou neerely looke to all , but none to ill ; " what though the prouerbe old be proued true ; " or that some crosses on this earth ensue ; " or that the destinies doe frowne on thee , " or that no rich reward will come neere thee ? " yet if thou be free from vices folly , " thou art in heauen as pure a saint as any . " which is a court , where thou shalt haue a place , " where none shall seeke thine honor to deface . and if thou beest a scholler and canst preach , with simple truth thy simple audience teach : " with feruencie of heart seeke to wooe them . " to gods true knowledge , seeke still to bring them : " be not carelesse of a charge so weightie ; " giuen thee by thy god almightie . but feede thy flocke , thou hast in hand to keepe , least that thou proue a wolfe vnto thy sheepe . feeding on them , that should haue food from thee ; " in bad estate their case is like to be . " attempt not thou at all a labour so diuine , " except thou canst this earthly state resigne ; " and liue to loue thy god , thy flock , thy sheepe ; " so will thy care be good thy flocke to keepe . but whatsoeuer heere be thine estate , there is none poore , but he that god doth hate , " hee 's poore indeed , his case of all is worst ; " no ill so vile , of all ils most accurst . if that thou be a souldier sucke no blood , to knightly mindes , vnknightly food ; " with conscience let poore souldiers haue their pay , " then they will follow thee with loue and ioy : " but if too neerely thou dost pinch or poule , " it may be burdensome vnto thy soule , " and want of pay , is the death of many , " yeeld them due , and neere accusd ' for any . of honors title , who doth truly hold , shall finde it in mercie , not in gold . if that thou be a lawyer iudge the right , and let no briberie blinde a blessed sight , for thou shalt finde it written in mercies roule , better a thredbare gowne , then a thredbare soule . " t is pittie that right should be ouercome , " or pouertie to pleade to want a roome : " alas how heauie is their case in this , " for want of fees , a rightfull case to misse ? " yet haue ( thou ) some conscience , be rul'd by mee , " pittie poore sutors in necessitie . " let not mightie men oppresse their right , " nor ouerthrow their states by power and might . " in doing this , thou shalt haue double fee , " a heauenly paradice thy reward shall bee . " besides on earth thy fame shall spread abroad , " what curtesie to poore thou did'st afford , " this cannot chuse , but bring thee into grace , " and by desert obtaine a higher place , " the law is iust , on reason wisely grounded , " wanting it our state is soone confounded . and if thou be a marchant , know thy cares , and do not wound thy conscience with thy wares , least in repentance all too late thou finde , the gaine is lost that feedes a greedie minde . " what bootes thy toile and trafficke on the seas , " thy hazard of life , disturbing of thine ease , " thy boisterous blasts , and stormes so cold , " which thou indur'st , thy selfe by time made old , " thy riches , when happy returnes are made , " those pretious pearles , whose colours neuer vade , " when that thy conscience shall be working so " how thou maist worke thy brothers woe , " by thy ill wares , trusted at such a rate , " by which meanes his paiment oft proues late . " then to suit of law thy conscience cries , " hee 's in a heauie case in such danger lies . " but far more worse is thine in time to come , " when that thou dost cast vp the totall summe . " when all deceiptfull gaines to losse shall turne , " where vicious pleasures shall haue time to mourne . " a measure in gaine with quiet truly got , " is a perfect treasure that faileth not . " for truth : light gaines doth make a heauie purse , " vnconscionable gaines a heauie curse . " then take thy choice , but wisely chuse the best : " corrupted hearts euermore detest , " their wares are braide , yet fairely shewes to th' eye ; " but he that 's rotten at the heart must die . in briefe of what estate so ere thou be , let truth and conscience euer gouerne thee . let clownes clap on their clowted shooes , seeke thou no earthly gaines the heauen to loose . let garments fit thy body , not thy minde , and to thy friend , as to thy selfe prooue kinde , " looke so wisely to euery action , " that it may be thy soules satisfaction . " and doe not seeke to rise by others fals , " be well prepared when the angell cals ; " doe not thou stand on rich mens fauours here , " but loue thy christ , his loue is passing deare ; " and make the winde serue to a good intent , " and know to what end thy riches are sent . " hoyse vp saile to heauens happinesse , " where thou shalt arriue with great blessednesse ; " there thou mai'st be welcome though wanting gold : " and not by earthly wants thy ioyes controld : " no pouertie shall part thee from that societie , " but bring thee to thy ioyes eternitie : " though wealth doth die the colour here in graine , " in heauen t' is held most base in great disdaine . " phisitians and lawyers are men of fame , " and experience doth auer the same ; " whose labors doth deserue their proper gaine , " no patient can be cur'de without some paine , " if thou dost learne diseases and their cures ; " be carefull what thy patient endures : " haue due respect vnto thy cures and be free , " from corrupted thoughts , then happie shalt thou bee . " delay no cures , but doe thy best for ease , " which both thy patient , and thy god doth please : " pittie the heauie cares of those in paine , " and be not too greedy to seeke thy gaine : " let measure guide thy hand in all thy deeds , " thinke on the greeued heart with paine that bleeds . " thinke vpon his case , say that it were thine , " how hard it were , for want of helpe to pine . " learne no vnlawfull games thy state to raise , " that by deceipt may profit thee any waies , " what though thou shift it from the gamsters eye ? " it is beheld by him that sits on high : " he doth behold your dealings euery way , " how securely so ere you thinke you play . " goods gotten by deceipt , is quickly gone , " by getting so , better nere get none : " but rather well to keep thine owne first learne , " the better how to gaine thou mai'st descerne , " what though this vicious gaine , so vainely got , " with plentie seemes to replenish the pot ? " it is but a feast , or sport that 's passing away , " and the least crosse of all brings it to decay . all cards and dice , and all such idle play ; from thy delight , discard and cast away : for deale or rub , whose hap so ere it be to haue the knaue of clubs will euer be a knaue . flatter no mistris fubs , or ione a nods nor honor golden calues nor wodden gods : nor puffe a pesant vp with rascall pride , a rascall will but like a begger ride . be carefull of the words that thou dost talke , " and be not desirous with a knaue to walke : " be carefull how thou dost thy secrets disclose , " backbiters are full of wrong thou mai'st suppose : " doe not with the letcher seeme to reioyce , " it is but a loathsome and hatefull voice : " but rather perswade them from their follie , " and from the loue of a deed so vnholie . " do not with spend-thrifts smile at pouertie , " least thou thy selfe come to necessitie . " doe not with epicures reioice and say , " with meaner fare thou couldst not well away . " nor do not triumph ouer simple wits , " and lament the state of those franzie fits . " doe not by any meanes learne to deceiue , " that will but vertue from thy conscience driue , " and disanull-thee of thy quiet rest , " exceeding ioyes , of all things else is best . aime at no profit with a poisned breath , left it be paid thee in the second death . " though conscience here be poore and meanly clad , " no meanes but from the baggers to be had ; " yet time shall come , it shall be well respected , " when prodigalitie shall be neglected . " there shall she finde a house adorn'd with state , " when diues repents but all too late . " there shall she finde fine and daintie cheare , " when gluttons in horror shall appeare , " her raiment then shall be euerlasting , " when her foes their bitter cup are tasting ; " then let conscience gouerne thy state aright , " that thou mai'st behold this euerlasting sight . an honest minde in euery trade doth well , the winde blowes ill that blowes the soule to hell . " doe not before the diuell a candle hold , " seeke no corrupt meanes for siluer or gold . if that thy wife be faire , be thou not foule , to let her play the ape , and thou the owle . " winke at no faults , it is but miserie , " by bestiall meanes to releeue necessitie ; " if thou be a husband gouerne so thy wife , " that her peeuish meanes worke not thy strife ; " giue her not too much law , to run before , " too much boldnesse doth bring thy ouerthrow : " yet abridge her not too much by any meane , " but let her still be thy companion . and to thy daughter proue a better sire , then like a hacknie let her out to hire . " what a greiuous case were this for thee , " to extoll thy selfe to prosperitie , " by such insatiat meanes , a heauie sense , " deseruing nought but hell for recompence . " like a kinde father loue thy children deare , " yet to outward view let not loue appeare , " least too boldly they presuming on thy loue , " by audacious meanes doe audacious proue , " seeme not a companion in any case to thy children , learne them know who 's in place ; " that due obedience to thee be done , " the end must needs be good , that 's well begonne . " thus may thy children be at thy command , " with willing heart , still helpfull at thy hand , " familiarity contempt doth breed . " by no meanes do thou stoope vnto thy seede : " while the twig is yong , bend it as thou list , " once being growne , they 'll stubbornely resist ; " caring not for parents nor their talking , " commending their owne wits , age is doting . " looke well to youth , and how their time is spent , " least thou by leasure afterwards repent : " what though thy childe grow rich , thy selfe grow poore , " wil t thou afford him reuerence therefore ? " imperfection to thine age that doth show : " let children expresse what duty they owe , " and not be blinded with a selfe conceipt ; " to wise men hate , to fooles a pleasing bait . " let thy care be great , for childrens good , " it is a charge that 's hardly vnderstood : " vse no corrections in an angrie vaine , " which will but vexe thee much , increase thy paine : " and rashnesse euermore repentance cries , " giue due correction , therein be wise : " the griefe is thine , when children goe astray : " giue them not too much libertie to play , " least that they doe to a custome bring it ; " and euer after forbeare to leaue it . " vrge not with violence thy childrens woe , " as cruell parents many times doe so ; " which to despaire may careleslie driue them , " when that their care doth carelesly leaue them , " to run at randome shifting as they may , " alas , it is a heauie case i say . " let not children vrge their parents vnto ire , " but with duty do what they shall require . " with obedient hearts obedience show , " such true obedience to them you owe. " thinke it not a trifle to forbeare it , " when gods commandement doth require it . " a blessing great , besides he hath reserued , " whose dutie hath this due deserued . " honor thy parents , long may be thy daies , " happie in all , and blessed are thy waies . " be not stubborne at all , it breeds disdaine , " that which they forbid thee that refraine . " this is the course , that thou their loue mai'st haue . " wise parents , childrens hurt will neuer craue . " but with fatherly care admonish them so , " that selfe conceipt , worke not thy ouerthrow : " which now adaies doth raigne too much in all , " no maruell then so many youth doe fall , " when parents counsell is thus reiected , " and their hourely care so much neglected . " salomon saies , smile not on thy daughter , " least thou repent it euer after . " then to sonnes and daughters let care be such , " that thou and they in vertue may be rich . " seeme not to laugh at any vnseemly iest , " a meane in all , in all is euer best . " and for thy seruants , let no belly swell , " a baudie house is but an earthly hell . " keepe not an eye seruant within thy doore , " which will but seeke to vexe thee euermore . " and scoffingly answere with taunting words , " a beastly tricke is all a iade affords . " if that thou find'st a tell tale in thine house , " be watching still as a cat for a mouse . " such seruants can neuer be true nor iust , " who backbites in secret , such neuer trust . " much discord by such is bred oft times , " when most themselues deserueth greatest crimes . " be not familiar with seruants in any case , " but let them with dutie respect their place . " giue but an inch , they 'll quickly take an ell , " a wise tale to a foole , t is vaine to tell . in law and phisicke haue a conscience , in making gaine of thy experience . least that thy clients crie and patients death , doe make thee crie out in the hell beneath . " where grieuous horrors shall still affright thee . " let vertues loue euermore delight thee . " which is a gaine sufficient for thy store , " a perfect ioy delightfull euermore . by wicked plots doe not proule for pelfe , let thy soules care be neerest to thy selfe . " so shall all thy waies prosper and be free , " from thraldome want and great necessitie . " no woe shall once approch where vertue shines , " what needes thou care , though vicious men repines . " their blasts as bubbles , soone doth passe away , " themselues in little time comes to decay . " if thou be rich abandon wicked pride , and doe not on the horse of enuie ride , " least he carry thee with an easie way , " vnto thy ouerthrow and great decay , seeke not the well-deseruing to disgrace , nor put the vertuous spirit out of place . and sooth no humors in an euill minde , for poisned breath is of a poisned kinde : and though to hurt a few to hurt a manie , be good , yet better not the hurt of any . " what bootes small gaines when greater losse doth fall ? " by such measure , seeke not to get at all . " be patient and wise in extremity , " thou mai'st the sooner come to prosperitie . " as gentle dewes , kindly cause flowers to spring , " patience gaines content , though misery be long . " let truth in euery thing be thy companion , " and vice ore thee shall neuer get dominion : " thou hast a bulwarke that defends thee , " and a trustie friend that treasure lends thee : if that thy friend doe trust thee with his loue , vnto his trust doe not a traitor proue ; least he that seeth thy ill gotten treasure , do pay thee home with an euill meaten measure : " though thy gaines be small and trauell great , " thou art certaine to come to iudgement seat , " to receiue a guerdon due to thy deeds , " a blessed food , that blessed creatures feeds : " neuer wanting but still possest with store , " which makes thee rich , though seeming ne're so poore , be faithfull to thy wife , firme to thy friend , and constant in religion to the end . " doe not humor euery sect for priuate gaine , " it is a greiuous sinne , a greeuous paine ; " against the holy ghost a sinfull deed , " then vse it not , what euer be thy need : " religion is sacred pure diuine , " it is a heauenly map , a heauenly signe . " it is that burning lampe that shines so bright , " being with truth receiued , a true delight . " seeke not thou to depraue religious truth , " least thou increase thy paine and endlesse ruth . " for chiefest learning thereon is grounded , " and all errors from thence quite confounded . be rich and wise , in this good wit my boy , that death nor hell , nor diuell can destroy . " let thy chiefest pleasure be to seeke that gaine , " that afterwards may neuer turne to paine . " who so , but for the present time doth care , " oft times is inforst to be poore and beare , " and when those present pleasures past and gone " as much the nere , if he had ne're seene none . " then time to accompt doth call that folly , " checking him for all those deeds vnholy . " how he his time , so loosely spent in vaine , " which being spent , can ne're be had againe . " then with ifts and ands he begins to say , " had i knowne this , fore time had past away , i had preuented that which now i finde , but time is past , and thou tookst hold behinde . " where nought remaines but a scull death portraiture , " ( as time doth passe , ) it is of all most sure . " to spend this precious time it is a woe , " without regarding how the houres do goe . " when time makes full the houres of times accompt , " asking how much the totall doth amount . " then all ill times by time vntimely spent ; " shall by that time , haue time then to repent . " but all too late , sith time was once refus'd , " and time so deerely lost , so much abus'd . " the date is out , 't is true : the clocke hath strooke , " time kindly offered all when all forsooke . " this gem of worth most pretious is to youth . " but their selfe-wils hates knowledge of the truth , " which should bring their tender age vnto blisse , " the right way to that perfect happinesse . " which would shew then how they should spend the day , " with due respect , how to spend the time away ; " not by idlenesse , or foolish fansies , " subiect to many vicious mischances . " which luls their age with pleasure fast asleepe , " such pleasures they were better loose then keepe . " tell thou the clocke , as houres doth passe away , " and thinke how time doth turne all flesh to clay . serue god , thy king , be to thy countrie true , liue till thou diest , then bid the world adue . " but liue in that sort , that thou diest with fame , " that after death men giue thee a good name . " which as cronicles may last for euer , " in liuing thus thy life endeth neuer . " ifto thy king thou prouest vntrue , vniust , " who will afterwards giue thee any trust ? " then to thy prince , giue due obedience , " and to thy betters seemly reuerence . " so shall thy fame on earth be had in store , " and heauenly blessings giuen thee euermore . " ifto countrie thou hast a tretchers heart , " thy words are worse then a deepe venom'd dart . " swine eates the flowers , then nusles vp the roote , " and none but beastly mindes will surely doo 't . " or offer to spoile that , by which they 'r bred , " or betray the country , in which they 'r bred . " how manifest it is , of such mens liues , " how their courses euermore basely thriues . " some themselues vntimely death doth bring , " others , in griefe of conscience still mourning . " some wandring heere , some there in wofull griefe , " others pining in streetes , and wants releife . " some starke mad doth run , quite distract of all , " others , in vaine , for comfort out doth call . " some , in forraine countries desires a place , " but gnawing conscience brings them to disgrace . " some with audacious face doth faine excuse , " but god cries vengeance gainst so vilde abuse . " some to magistrates will sue for fauour , " but poysned hearts doth of poyson sauour . " and all that to such vildnesse bends their courses , " are left comfortlesse without remorses . machiauels rules let machiauels read , loue to thy god , his spirit be thy speede . " his loue is richer then siluer or gold , " his home is paradice the surest hold . " his promise is sure , for euer iust , " and t' is the surest hope that thou canst trust . " thy ancor being cast vpon that shore , " thy cable will hold fast for euermore . " loue not the world , to leaue true vertues loue , " least to thy destruction , it after proue . " the worlds loue , is but faire fansies flower , " though seeming rich , yet wanting richest power . taxe no mans name in any euill matter , but like a christian pray for euery creature . " charitably wishing well to men , " the like rewards shall come to thee againe . " let no mans name at all be wrong'd by thee , " the worsest euill , euer thine will be . " when infamies thou raisest on thy brother , " be sure , gainst thee thou shalt receiue none other . " such measure as thou meatest to thee is giuen , " he liues vprightly that keeps all euen . " but by good indeauour it may be gain'd , " hate vice , the only meanes it is obtain'd . " to be free from euill speech , a christians care , " be a louer of vertue , vice forbeare . be sorrie for the euill thou hast done , and go on with the good thou hast begunne . " a heart that 's penitent true comfort findes , " to finde remorse , the heauenly lawes it bindes . " if thou beginnest any good , then proceed , " thou shalt finde it to be a blessed deed . pray for thy faith , that it may faile thee neuer , so if thou diest , yet shalt thou liue for euer . " then shalt thou be brough to vertues pallace , " to receiue the true comfort of thy solace . " and for thy paine thou didst indure heere , " thou euermore shalt finde a plenteous yeere . " where neither hunger cold nor any want , " shall hinder ioyes , or make thy pleasures scant . " this is the benefit of a vertuous life , " this is true vertues force , to end all strife . " this is vertues garden full of flowers , " though on earth she had many pinching houres . " this is vertues path , rightly leades to blisse , " this is vertues gift , his friends doth neuer misse . " this is vertues harbor voide of cares , " this is vertues bountie who neuer spares , " this is vertues pallace , adorn'd with state , " this is vertues gift , neuer comes too late , " this is vertues parke , infoulds her deare , " this is vertues care , who will not loose a haire , " this is vertues armes , incircling round , " this is vertue , which now her right hath found , " this is vertues walkes , whose aire 's euer sweete , " this is vertue her friends doth kindly greete , " this is vertues citty , whose gates are fast " gainst all that of her name made spoile or wast , " this is vertues banket house , feeding all , " this is vertue that heares the poore mans call , " this is vertue that lou'd her parents kind , " this is vertue that loue to all resign'd , " this is vertue , releeuing friends in want , " this is vertue whose loue was neuer scant , " to any one that pouertie did respect , " who neuer will such kindnesse once reiect , " but kindly seeke , such kindnesse to requite , " and all her friends shall haue their due and right , " no cankered churles shall seeke to crosse her of her will " but in her place , she remaines as empresse still . " then seeke ( my son ) to serue this goddesse pure diuine , " be houerly offring gifts vnto her sacred shrine , " doe not leaue her seruice , for the worlds treasure , " esteeme her paine aboue the chiefest pleasure , " her paines are short , her ioyes for euer lasting , " her loue is deare , her hate to sorrowes hasting , " with reuerence ( my childe ) kneele for her grace , " sue by petition in any case . " and neuer rest till thou hast got her fauour , " and it will be double worth thy labour ; " for thou such a mistris shalt haue of her : " that for her seruants good none comes neere her : " she giues her seruants old good meanes to liue , " when vice her seruants out of doores doth driue , " she helps her seruants in sicknesse and in health , " on such preferments she bestowes her wealth . " then be true seruant to such a mistris , " who at all times with willing heart releeues distresse . " be mindefull of my words , giuen out of loue , " and happy to thy father thou wilt proue . " what in the beginning i did declare , " was but to shew thee what vaine courses are , " that by the knowledge of them thou mightst beware " how thou art caught in any vicious snare . " make vse of them , and wrest them to the best , " and thou shalt finde it yeelds thee quiet rest . " by any meanes do not to vaine humours grow , " least that it quickly seeke thy ouerthrow . " yeeld praise to god , in his lawes seeke to liue , " and at his pleasure he will all things fitting giue . " if thou find'st any thing written heere " that may to thy comfort any way appeare , " t' is all that i craue , or heart requireth , " who only for thy chiefest good desireth . " if thankes thou wilt bestow thou seemest kinde , " if vnthankfull , thou hast a churlish minde , " sith all my labour is only for thy good , " desiring that it be well vnderstood : " which if thou doest , thou shalt be still my sonne , " be true of heart what misery soeuer come . " first to god giue praise , to prince and country true , " thy parents reuerence , and so my sonne adue . " machiauels rules deny , yet vse them as thy pleasure , " false hearted friends defie , in all haue equall measure . " vse all these to good intent , and boldly say , " thou maist with vertue , euermore keepe holiday . finis . fantasticks seruing for a perpetuall prognostication. descants of the vvorld. the earth. vvater. ayre. fire. fish. beasts. man. vvoman. loue. money. the spring. summer. haruest. vvinter. the . moneths christmas. lent. good friday. easter day. morning. the . houres. midnight. the conclusion. breton, nicholas, ?- ? approx. kb of xml-encoded text transcribed from -bit group-iv tiff page images. text creation partnership, ann arbor, mi ; oxford (uk) : - (eebo-tcp phase ). a stc estc s this keyboarded and encoded edition of the work described above is co-owned by the institutions providing financial support to the early english books online text creation partnership. this phase i text is available for reuse, according to the terms of creative commons . universal . the text can be copied, modified, distributed and performed, even for commercial purposes, all without asking permission. early english books online. (eebo-tcp ; phase , no. a ) transcribed from: (early english books online ; image set ) images scanned from microfilm: (early english books, - ; : ) fantasticks seruing for a perpetuall prognostication. descants of the vvorld. the earth. vvater. ayre. fire. fish. beasts. man. vvoman. loue. money. the spring. summer. haruest. vvinter. the . moneths christmas. lent. good friday. easter day. morning. the . houres. midnight. the conclusion. breton, nicholas, ?- ? [ ] p. printed [by miles flesher] for francis williams, london : . dedication signed: n.b., i.e. nicholas breton. the words " the vvorld .. the conclusion" are bracketed together on the title page. printer's name from stc. signatures: [a]⁴ b-f⁴. the first leaf and the last leaf are blank. running title reads: fantastickes. reproduction of the original in the folger shakespeare library. created by converting tcp files to tei p using tcp tei.xsl, tei @ oxford. re-processed by university of nebraska-lincoln and northwestern, with changes to facilitate morpho-syntactic tagging. gap elements of known extent have been transformed into placeholder characters or elements to simplify the filling in of gaps by user contributors. eebo-tcp is a partnership between the universities of michigan and oxford and the publisher proquest to create accurately transcribed and encoded texts based on the image sets published by proquest via their early english books online (eebo) database 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page images - emma (leeson) huber sampled and proofread - emma (leeson) huber text and markup reviewed and edited - pfs batch review (qc) and xml conversion fantasticks : seruing for a perpetvall prognostication . descants of the vvorld . the earth . vvater . ayre . fire . fish. beasts . man. vvoman . loue. money . the spring . summer . haruest . vvinter . the . moneths christmas . lent. good friday . easter day . morning . the . houres . midnight . the conclusion . london , printed for francis williams . . to the vvorshipfull and worthy knight , sir marke ive of riuers hall in essex , n.b. wisheth on earth hearts ease , and heauen hereafter . sir , your many fauours , and my small deserts , make mee study how to discharge my selfe of ingratitude , which not knowing better how to doe , then by the labour of my spirit , to shew the nature of my loue , i haue thought good to present your patience with this little volume of varieties , in which , though the title promise no matter of great worth , yet it may be , if you peruse it , you shall finde somewhat that you may like in it : howsoeuer it be , it may serue you in the winter , to keepe you from sleep by the fire side , and in the summer in shady walkes , to passe away idle time . in briefe , wishing it of that nature , that might come neere the worthinesse of your acceptation , i leaue it with my better seruice , to the fauor of your good discretion : and so in all humilitie rest , yours affectionately to command , n. b. to the reader . it was my hap of late , walking thorow the fields , to light vpon a peece of paper , in which i found a kind of discourse , set down vpon an imagination of midnight . by whom it was written , i know not , but by whomsoeuer , i liked it so well , that wishing my selfe able to doe halfe so well , i fell into an humor of imitating the veyne , so neer as i could , in description of the twelue houres , the twelue moneths , and some speciall dayes in the yere : how wel to your liking , i know not ; but my labour herein hath not bin little , & my desire much , i meane to doe well ; which if i haue not , i can be but sory , that my dull wit hath not bin fed with a more pleasing humour : but if you be able to iudge of the worth of it , and like it , i shall be more glad then proud of it : howsoeuer it be , hoping of your kindnes , i leaue it to your like censure ; & so , loth to entertaine your patience with a long tale to little purpose , i thus conclude , and in affection and discretion , i rest , your friend , n. b. fantasticks . descants of the quarters , moneths , and houres of the yeere , with other matters . the world. touching my opinion of the world , i will tell you as briefly as i can , what i thinke of it : a place wherein are contained the variety of things : men thinke , women talk , beasts féed , birds flye , fishes swim , and wormes créep : ayre pearceth , windes blow , cold nippeth , fire heateth , grasse groweth , and time withereth . wealth is a iewell , and pouerty is a plague : conscience is a charge , and care is a burden . pride is a lord of misrule , and beauty is painted . mars must yéeld to mercury , and diana is a strange woman : cupid is an idle inuention , and all is as good as nothing . loue is more talked of then proued . couetousnesse the key of wit , nature the trouble of reason , and will the master of the senses . beauty is an eye sore , learning a taske , ualour a heat , and reason a study . a king , a great man : a souldier , a stout man : a courtier , a fine man : a lawyer , a wise man : a merchant , a rich man : a begger a poore man : and an honest man , an honest man. fayre weather , is chearfull : foule weather is melancholicke . the day is lightsome , and the night is darksom . meate is necessary , and sléepe is easefull , and drinke doth well , and exercise doth not amisse . law is good , and punishment is méet , and reward would be thought on : and fooles would be pityed , and so . opinions differ , and iudgements vary , and time trauailes , and trueth is a vertue , and wisedome an honor : and honor is a title , and grace a gift , and patience a blessing , and content a kingdome : and so from one thing to another , a trouble in all . a kingdome full of care : wit full of trouble power full of charge : youth full of action : age full of griefe : and none content with his condition : wishing in one , willing in another : thinking in one , doing in another : working in one , crossing in another : thoughts , words , and déeds , so different in their effects , that for ought i can sée in it , when i haue well considered of it , i can say thus much of it , he is happy that hath not to doe with it . and not to dwell too long vpon it , to conclude my opinion briefl● of it , i hold it the labyrinth of wit , and the toyle of vnderstanding , the pilgrimage of patience , and the purgatory of reason . farewell . loue. touching my iudgement of loue , it is , if it bee any thing , such a thing to speake of , that to tell truly , i know not well what to say of it : but yet what i imagine of it , i will tell you : at the first , i ghesse , it was an old nothing , to exercise wit in idlenes , and now , is a kind of new-nothing to féed folly with imagination : but be it what it will be , or may be , this wanton loue that this world is too full of , whatsoeuer it is , thus much i find of it : it is begotten by the eyes , bred in the braines , walkes in the tongue , growes with the flesh , and dyes in an humour : and this ill commonly doth trouble wit , hinder arte hurt nature , disgrace reason lose time , and spoile substance : it crosseth wisedome , serueth beautie , and sotteth folly : weakneth strength , and baseth honour : it is only willes darling , patience triall , and passions torture , the pleasure of melancholy , and the play of madnesse , the delight of varieties , and the deuiser of vanities : the uirgins cracke , and the widowes crosse : the batchelors bane and the maried mans purgatory : the yong mans misery and the ageds consumption : the abuse of learning , the ground of enuy , the stirrer of wrath , and the cause of mischiefe : the disquiet of the mind , the distractor of the wit , the disturber of the senses , and the destruction of the whole body . a fained god , an idle fancy , a kind of fury , and in some kind a frenzy . to conclude , i hold it an inuention of idlenesse , and an imagination of indiscretion : the plague of people , an dt he mocke of the word . farewell . money . to tell you mine opinion of money , i thinke it the monarch of the world : the maintainer of pride , the nurse of couetousnesse , the steward of lechery , the sower of sedition , the cause of war , the sacke of a city , and the ouerthrow of a campe : the gluttons purueyour , and the drunkards cupbearer : the thiefes tempter , and the hangmans master : the misguider of wit , the corrupter of conscience , the blinder of reason , and the ouerthrow of honour : the usurers god , the poore mans oppression , the lawyers hope , & the laborers hire : doth good to few , but hurt to many : puls downe the churches , and builds the faire houses , makes the prodigall an ape , and the miser dogged : makes bridges ouer the sea , and fire in mens braines : fetch●th the beasts from the wildernesse , and the birds from the ayre : it drawes fansies out of fine wits , and eloquence from learned mouths : it makes friends foes , and enemies friends : it serues all professions , all qualities , and conditions , from the king to the begger . in summe , not to talke too much of it , hauing so little of it : i thus conclude my opinion of it : i thinke it a necessary drosse , and a dangerous mettall , the reliefe of the honest , and the ruine of the wicked . farewell . the spring . it is now spring : a time blest of the heauens for the comfort of the earth , now begins the sunne to giue light vnto the ayre , and with the replexion of his beames to warme the cold earth : the beasts of the woods looke out into the plaines , and the fishes out of the déepe run vp into the shallow waters , the bréeding fowles fall to building of their nests , and the senselesse creatures gather life into their bodies , the birds tune their throats to entertaine the sunne rising , and the little flies begin to flocke in the ayre : now cupid begins no nocke his arrowes and sharpe their heads : and venus , if she be , will be knowne what she is : now pallas and her muses try the poets in their pamphlets , and diana , if shee bee to bée séene , is a grace to her fayrest nymph : time is now gracious in nature , & nature in time : the ayre wholesome , and the earth pleasant , and the sea not vncomfortable : the aged féele a kind of youth , & youth , the spirit ful of life : it is the messenger of many pleasures : the courtiers progresse , and the farmers profit : the labourers haruest , and the beggers pilgrimage . in summe , there is much good to be spoken of this time : but to auoyd tediousnes , i will thus conclude of it : i hold it in all that i can sée in it , the iewell of time , and the ioy of nature . farewell . summer . it is now summer , & zephirus with his swéet breath cooles the parching beames of titan the leaues of the trées are in whisper talkes of the blessings of the aire , while the nightingale is tuning her throat to refresh the weary spirit of the trauayler : flora now brings out her wardrop , and richly embroydreth her gréene apron : the nymphes of the woodes in consort with the muses sing an aue to the morning , and a vale to the sunnes setting : the lambes and the rabbettes run at base in the sandy warrens , and the plow landes are couered with corne : the stately hart is at layre in the high wood , while the hare in a surrow sits washing of her face : the bull makes his walke like a master of the field , and the broad-headed oxe beares the garland of the market : the angler with a sly takes his pleasure with the fish , while the little merline hath the partridge in the foot : the hony-dewes perfume the ayre , and the sunny-showers are the earths comfort : the greyhound on the plaine makes the faire course : & the wel-mouthed hound makes the musicke of the woods : the battaile of the field is now stoutly fought , and the proud rye must stoupe to the sickle : the carters whistle chéeres his forehorse , and drinke and sweat is the life of the labourer : idle spirits are banished the limits of honour , while the studious braine brings forth his wonder : the azure sky shewes the heauen is gracious , and the glorious sunne glads the spirit of nature : the ripened fruits shew the beauty of the earth , and the brightnesse of the aire the glory of the heauens : in summe , for the world of worth i find in it , i thus conclude of it : i hold it a most swéet season , the variety of pleasures , and the paradise of loue . farewell . haruest . it is now haruest , and the larke must lead her yong out of the nest : for the sithe and the sickle wil down with the grasse and the corne : now are the hedges ful of berries , & the highwayes full of rogues , and the lazy limmes must ●●éepe out their dinner : the ant and the bee worke for their winter prouision , and after a frost , the grashopper is not séene : butter , milke , and cheese , are the labourers dyet , and a pot of good béere quickens his spirit . if there be no plague , the people are healthy , for continuance of motion is a preseruation of nature : the fresh of the morning , and the coole of the euening are the times of court walkes ; but the poore traueller treads out the whole day : malt is now aboue wheat with a number of mad people , and a fine shirt is better then a frize ierkin : peares and plummes now ripen apace , and being of a watry substance , are cause of much sicknesse : the pipe and the taber now follow the fayres , and they that haue any money , make a gaine of their markets . bucks now are in season , and partridges are rowen-taild , & a good retriuer is a spaniell worth the keeping . in sum , it is a time of much worth , when , if god bee well pleased , the world will thriue the better . and to conclude , this is all that i will say of it ; i hold it the heauens bounty , the earths beauty , and the worlds benefit , farewell . vvinter . it is now winter , and boreas beginnes to fill his chéekes with breath , shaketh the tops of the high cedars , and hoyseth the waues of the sea , to the danger of the saylers comfort : now is the earth nipt at the heart with a cold , and her trées are disrobed of their rich apparell : there is a glasse set vpon the face of the waters , and the fishes are driuen to the bottomes of the déepe : the usurer now sits lapt in his furres , and the poore makes his breath , a fire to his fingers ends : beautie is maskt for feare of the ayre , and youth runnes to physicke for restoratiues of nature : the stagge roares for losse of his strength , and the flea makes his castle in the wooll of a blanket : cards and dice now begin their haruest , and good ale and sack are the cause of ciuill warres : machiauil and the deuill are in counsell vpon destruction , and the wicked of the world make hast to hell : money is such a monopoly , that hee is not to be spoken of , and the delay of suits is the death of hope . in it selfe it is a wofull season , the punishment of natures pride , and the play of misery . farewell . ianuary . it is now ianuary , and time beginnes to turne the whéele of his reuolution , the woods begin to lose the beauty of their spreading boughes , and the proud oke must stoop to the axe : the squirrell now surueyeth the nut and the maple , and the hedgehogge rowles vp himselfe like a football : an apple and a nutmeg make a gossips cup : and the ale and the fagot are the uictuallers merchandise : the northerne black dust is the during fuell ▪ and the fruit of the grape heats the stomake of the aged : downe beds and quilted cappes are now in the pride of their seruice , and the cooke and the pantler are men of no meane office : the oxe and the fat weather now furnish the market , and the coney is so ferreted , that she cannot keepe in her borough : the currier & the lime-rod are the death of the fowle , and the faulcons bels ring the death of the mallard : the trotting gelding makes a way through the mire , and the hare & the hound put the huntsman to his horne : the barren doe subscribes to the dish , and the smallest séed makes sauce to the greatest flesh : the dryed grasse is the horses ordinary , and the meale of the beanes makes him goe through with his trauell : fishermen now haue a cold trade , and trauellers a foule iourney : the cook room now is not the worst place in the ship , and the shepheard hath a bleake seat on the mountaine : the blackbird leaueth not a berry on the thorne , and the garden earth is turned vp for her roots : the water floods runne ouer the proud bankes , and the gaping dister leaues his shell in the streets , while the proud peacocke leaps into the pye : muscouia commodities are now much in request , and the water spaniell is a necessary seruant : the lode horse to the mill hath his full backe burthen ; and the thresher in the barne tryes the strength of his flayle : the woodcocke and the pheasant pay their liues for their féed , and the hare after a course makes his hearse in a pye : the shoulder of a hog is a shooing horne to good drink , and a cold almes makes a begger shrug . to conclude , i hold it a time of little comfort , the rich mans charge , and the poore mans misery . farewell . february . it is now february , & the sun is gotten vp a cockestride of his climbing , the ualleyes now are painted white , and the brookes are full of water : the frog goes to séeke out the paddocke , and the crow and the rooke begin to mislike their old makes : forward connies begin now to kindle , & the fat grounds are not without lambes : the gardiner fals to sorting of his seeds , and the husbandman falls afresh to scowring of his ploughshare : the terme trauellers make the shooe-makers haruest , and the chaundlers cheese makes the chalke walke apace : the fishmonger sorts his ware against lent : and a lambe-skinne is good for a lame arme : the waters now alter the nature of their softnes , and the soft earth is made stony hard : the ayre is sharp and piercing , and the winds blow cold : the tauernes and the innes seldome lack guest● , & the ostler knows how to gaine by his hay : the hunting horse is at the héeles of the hound , while the ambling nagge carrieth the physitian and his footcloth : the blood of youth begins to spring , and the honour of art is gotten by exercise : the trees a little begin to bud , and the sap begins to rise vp out of the root : physick now hath work among weake bodies , and the apothecaries drugges are very gainfull : there is hope of a better time not farre off , for this in it selfe is little comfortable : and fo● the small pleasure that i find in it , i will thus briefly conclude of it : it is the poore mans pick-purse , and the misers cut-throat , the enemy to pleasure , and the time of patience . farewell . march. it is now march , and the northerne wind dryeth vp the southerne durt : the tender lippes are now maskt for feare of chopping , and the faire hands must not be vngloued : now riseth the sunne a pretty step to his faire height , and saint valentine calls the birds together , where nature is pleased in the varietie of loue : the fishes and the frogs fall to their manner of generation , and the adder dyes to bring forth her young : the ayre is sharpe , but the sunne is comfortable , and the day beginnes to lengthen : the forward gardens giue the fiue sallets , and a nosegay of uiolets is a present for a lady : now beginneth nature ( as it were ) to wake out of her sleepe , and sends the taueller to suruey the walkes of the world : the sucking rabbit is good for weake stomackes , and the dyet for the rhume doth many a great cure : the farrier now is the horses physitian , and the fat dog feeds the faulcon in the mew : the trée begins to bud , and the grasse to péepe abroad , while the thrush with the black-bird make a charme in the young springs : the milke-mayd with her best beloued , talke away wearinesse to the market , and in an honest meaning , kind words doe no hurt : the foot-ball now tryeth the legges of strength , and merry matches continue good fellowship : it is a time of much worke , and tedious to discourse of : but in all i find of it , i thus conclude in it : i hold it the seruant of nature , and the schoole-master of art : the hope of labour , and the subiect of reason . farewell . aprill . in is now april , and the nightingale begins to tune her throat against may : the sunny showers perfume the aire , and the bées begin to goe abroad for honey : the dewe , as in pearles , han●s vpon the tops of the grasse , while the turtles sit billing vpon the little gréene boughes : the trowt begins to play in the brookes , and the sammon leaues the sea , to play in the fresh waters . the garden bankes are full of gay flowers , and the thorne and the plumme send forth their faire blossomes : the march colt begins to play , and the cosset lamb is learned to butt . the poets now make their studies in the woods , & the youth of the country make ready for the morris-dance ; the little fishes lye nibling at a bait , and the porpas playes in the pride of the tide : the shepheards pipe entertaines the princesse of arcadia , and the healthfull souldier hath a pleasant march . the larke and the lambe looke vp at the sun , and the labourer is abroad by the dawning of the day : sheepes eyes in lambs heads , tell kind hearts strange tales , while faith and troth make the true louers knot : the aged haires find a fresh life , and the youthfull chéeks are as red as a cherry : it were a world to set downe the worth of this moneth : but in summe , i thus conclude , i hold it the heauens blessing , and the earths comfort . farewell . may. it is now may , and the swéetnesse of the aire refresheth euery spirit : the sunny beames bring forth faire blossomes , and the dripping clouds water floraes great garden : the male déere puts out the ueluet head , and the pagged doe is neere her fawning : the sparhawke now is drawne out of the mew , and the fowler makes ready his whistle for the quaile : the larke sets the morning watch , and the euening , the nightingale : the barges like bowers , keep the streams of the swéet riuers , and the mackrell with the shad are taken prisoners in the sea : the tall young oke is cut downe for the maypole : the sithe and the sickle are the mowers furniture , and fayre weather makes the labourer merry : the physitian now prescribes the cold whey , and the apothecary gathers the dew for a medicine : butter & sage make the wholsome breakf●st , but fresh chéese and creame are meat for a dainty mouth ▪ and the strawbery and the pescod want no price in the market : the chicken and the ducke are fatned for the market ▪ and many a goflin neuer liues to be a goose. it is the moneth wherein nature hath her full of mirth , and the senses are filled with delights . i conclude , it is from the heauens a grace , & to the earth a gladnesse . farewell . iune . it is now iune , and the hay-makers are mustered to make an army for the field , where not alwayes in order , they march vnder the bagge and the bottle , when betwixt the forke and the rake , there is séene great force of armes : now doth the broad oke comfort the weary laborer , while vnder his shady boughes he sits singing to his bread and cheese : the ●ay-cocke is the poore mans lodging , and the fresh riuer is his gracious neighbour : now the faulcon and the tassell try their wings at the partridge , and the fat bucke fils the great pasty : the trees are all in their rich aray : but the séely shéep is turned out of his coat : the roses and swéet herbes put the distiller to his cunning , while the gréene apples on the trée are ready for the great bellied wiues : now begins the hare to gather vp her heeles , and the foxe lookes about him , for feare of the hound : the hooke and the sickle are making ready for haruest : the medow grounds gape for raine , and the corne in the eare begins to harden : the little lads make pipes of the straw , and they that cannot dance , will yet bee hopping : the ayre now groweth somewhat warme , and the coole winds are very comfortable : the sayler now makes merry passage , and the nimble foot-man runnes with pleasure : in briefe , i thus conclude , i hold it a sweet season , the senses perfume , and the spirits comfort . farewell . iuly . it is now iuly , and the sunne is gotten vp to his height , whose heat parcheth the earth , and burnes vp the grasse on the mountaines . now begins the canon of heauen to rattle , and when the fire is put to the charge , it breaketh out among the cloudes : the stones of congealed water cut off the eares of the corne : and the blacke stormes affright the faint-hearted : the stag and the bucke are now in pride of their time , and the hardnesse of their heads makes them fit for the horner : now hath the sparhawke the partridge in the foot , and the ferret doth tickle the cony in the borough . now doeth the farmer make ready his teame , and the carter with his whip , hath no small pride in his whistle ? now doe the reapers try their backs and their armes , and the lusty youthes pitch the sheafes into the cart , the old partridge calles her couey in the morning , and in the euening , the shepheard fals to folding of his flocke : the sparrowes make a charme vpon the gréene bushes , till the fowler come and take them by the dozens : the smelt now begins to be in season , and the lamprey out of the riuer leapes into a pye : the souldier now hath a hot march , and the lawyer sweats in his l●ned gowne : the pedler now makes a long walke , and the aqua vitae bottle sets his face on a fiery heat : in summe , i thus conclude of it , i hold it a profitable season , the labourers gaine , and the rich mans wealth . farewell . august . it is now august , and the sunne is somewhat towards his declination , yet such is his heat as hardeneth the soft clay , dries vp the standing ponds , wythereth the sappy leaues , and scorcheth the skin of the naked : now beginne the gleaners to follow the corne cart , and a little bread to a great deale of drinke makes the trauailers dinner : the melowne and the cucumber is now in request : and oyle and vineger giue attendance on the sallet hearbes : the alehouse is more frequented then the tauerne , and a fresh riuer is more comfortable then a fiery furnace : the bathe is now much visited by diseased bodies , and in the fayre riuers , swimming is a swéet exercise : the bow and the bowle pirke many a purse , and the cockes with their héeles spurne away many a mans wealth : the pipe and the taber is now lustily set on worke , and the lad and the lasse will haue no lead on their héeles : the new wheat makes the gossips cake , and the bride cup is caried aboue the heads of the whole parish : the fo● ne●ty pot welcomes home the haruest cart , and the garland of flowers crownes the captaine of the reapers . oh , 't is the mercy time , wherein honest neighbours make good chéere , and god is glorified in his blessings on the earth . in summe , for that i find , i thus conclude , i hold it the worlds welfare , and the earths warming-p●● . farewell . september . it is now september , and the sunne begins to fall much from his height , the medowes are left bare , by the mouthes of hungry cattell , and the hogges are turned into the corne fields : the windes begin to knocke the apples heads together on the trees , and the fallings are gathered to fill the pyes for the houshold : the saylers fall to worke to get afore the wind● , and if they spy a storme , it puts them to prayer : the souldier now begins to shrug at the weather , and the campe dissolued , the companies are put to garison : the lawyer now begins his haruest , and the client p●yes for words by waight : the innes now begin to prouide for ghests , and the night ●aters in the stable , pinch the trauailer in his bed : paper , pen , and inke are much in request , and the quarter sessions take order with the way-layers : c●ales and wood make toward the chimney , and ale and sacke are in account with good fellowes : the butcher now knocks downe the great béeues , and the poulters feathers make toward the upholster : walflet oysters are the fishwiues wealth , and pippins fine are the costermongers rich merchandise : the flayle and the fan fall to worke in the barne , and the corne market is full of the bakers : the porkets now are driuen to the woods , and the home-fed pigges make porke for the market . in briefe , i thus conclude of it , i hold it the winters forewarning , and the summers farewell . adieu . october . it is now october , and the lofty windes make bare the trées of their leaues , while the hogs in the woods grow fat with the falne acorns : the forward déere begin to goe to rut , and the barren doe groweth good meat : the basket makers now gather their rods , and the fishers lay their leapes in the déepe : the loade horses goe apace to the mill , and the meal-market is seldome without people : the hare on the hill makes the greyhound a faire course & the foxe in the woods cals the hounds to a full cry : the multitude of people raiseth the price of wares , and the smoothe tongue will sell much : the saylor now bestirreth his stumps , while the merchant liueth in feare of the weather : the great feasts are now at hand for the city , but the poore must not beg for feare of the stockes : a fire and a pai●e of cards kéepe the ghests in the ordinary , and tobacco is held very precious for the rhewme : the coaches now begin to rattle in the stréet : but the cry of the poore is vnpleasing to the rich : muffes and cuffes are now in request , and the shuttel-cocke with the battel-doore is a pretty house-exercise : tennis & baloune are sports of some charge , and a quicke bandy is the court-kéepers commodity : dancing an●●encing are now in some vse , and kind hearts and true louers lye close , to kéepe off cold : the titmouse now kéepes in the hollow trée , and the black bird sits close in the bottome of a hedge : in briefe , for the little pleasure i find in it , i thus conclude of it : i hold it a messenger of ill newes , and a second seruice to a cold dinner . farewell . nouember . it is now nouember , and according to the old prouerbe , let the thresher take his flayle , and the ship no more sayle : for the high winds and the rough seas will try the ribs of the shippe , and the hearts of the sailers : now come the countrey people all wet to the market , and the toyling carriers are pittifully moyled : the yong herne and the shoulerd are now fat for the great feast , and the wood cocke begins to make toward the cockeshoot : the warriners now beginne to plie their haruest , and the butcher , after a good bargaine drinks a health to the grasier : the cooke and the comfitmaker , make ready for christmas , and the minstrels in the countrey , beat their boyes for false fingring : schollers before breakefast haue a cold stomacke to their bookes , and a master without art is fit for an a b. c. a red herring and a cup of sacke , make warre in a weake stomacke , and the poore mans fast , is better then the gluttons surfet : trenchers and dishes are now necessary seruants , and a locke to the cubboord kéepes a bit for a néede : now beginnes the goshauke to wéede the wood of the phesant , and the mallard loues not to heare the belles of the faulcon : the winds now are cold , and the ayre chill , and the poore die through want of charitie : butter and chéese beginne to rayse their prices , and kitchen stuffe is a commoditie , that euery man is not acquainted with . in summe , with a conceit of the chilling cold of it , i thus conclude in it : i hold it the discomfort of nature , and reasons patience . farewell . december . it is now december , & hée that walkes the stréets , shall find durt on his shooes , except hée goe all in bootes : now doth the lawyer make an end of his haruest , and the client of his purse : now capons and hennes , beside turkies , geese and duckes , besides béefe and mutton , must all die for the great feast , for in twelue dayes a multitude of people will not bée fed with a little : now plummes and spice , sugar and honey , square it among pies and broth , and gossip i drinke to you , and you are welcome , and i thanke you , and how doe you , and i pray you bée merrie : now are the taylors and the tiremakers full of worke against the holidayes , and musicke now must bée in tune , or else neuer : the youth must dance and sing , and the aged sit by the fire . it is the law of nature , and no contradiction in reason : the asse that hath borne all the yeare , must now take a little rest , and the leane oxe must féed till hée bée fat : the footman now shall haue many a foule step , and the ostler shall haue worke enough about the héeles of the horses , while the tapster , if hée take not heed , will lie drunke in the seller : the prices of meat will rise apace , and the apparell of the proud will make the taylor rich : dice and cardes , will benefit the butler : and if the cooke doe not lacke wit , hée will swéetly licke his fingers : starchers and launderers will haue their hands full of worke , and periwigs and painting wil not bee a little set by , strange stuffes will bee well sold , strange tales well told , strange sights much sought , strange things much bought , and what else as fals out . to conclude , i hold it the costly purueyour of excesse , and the after breeder of necessitie , the practice of folly , and the purgatory of reason . farewell . christmas day . it is now christmas , and not a cup of drinke must passe without a caroll , the beasts , fowle and fish , come to a generall execution , and the corne is ground to dust for the bakehouse , and the pastry : cards and dice purge many a purse , and the youth shew their agility in shooing of the wild mare : now good cheere and welcome , and god be with you , and i thanke you : and against the new yeare , prouide for the presents : the lord of mis-rule is no meane man for his time , and the ghests of the high table must lacke no wine : the lusty bloods must looke about them like men , and piping and dauncing puts away much melancholy : stolne uenison is swéet , and a fat coney is worth money : pit-falles are now set for small birdes , and a woodcocke hangs himselfe in a gynne : a good fire heats all the house , and a full almes-basket makes the beggers prayers : the maskers and the mummers make the merry sport : but if they lose their money , their drumme goes dead : swearers and swaggerers are sent away to the ale-house , and vnruly wenches goe in danger of iudgement : musicians now make their instruments speake out , and a good song is worth the hearing . in summe , it is a holy time , a duty in christians , for the remembrance of christ , and custome among friends , for the maintenance of good fellowship : in briefe , i thus conclude of it : i hold it a memory of the heauens loue , and the worlds peace , the myrth of the honest , and the meeting of the friendly . farewell . lent. it is now lent , and the poore stockfish is sore beaten for his stubbornnesse : the herring dominiers like a lord of great seruice , and the fruit of the dairy makes a hungry feast : fasting and mourning is the life of the poore , and the dogges grow leane , with the lacke of bones , while the prisoners heart is nipt with penury : the beasts of the forrests haue a bare feed , and the hard crusts try the téeth of the begger : the byrd hath a little shelter in the bush , and a bitter frost makes a backward spring : the sunne giues but little warmth , and the march wind makes the ayre cold : the fisher-men now are the rakers of the sea , and the oyster gapes , to catch hold of the crab : solitarinesse and melancholy bréed the hurt of nature , and the naked nesse of the earth is the eyes discomfort : idle people sit picking of sallets , and necessity of exercise is an enemy to study : the winds grow dangerous to the sayler , and the rockes are the ruine of the merchant : the sentinell now keeps a cold watch , and the sconce is nothing comfortable to the souldier : the shepheard hath little pleasure in his pipe , and age hath but a dead feeling in loue : the colt hath a ragged coat , and the halfe mewed head disgraceth the déere : the faulcons wing is but young feathered , and the déepe f●llow wearies the huntsman : there is nothing pleasing but hope , that the dayes will lengthen and time will be more comfortable . i conclude , in it selfe , it is an vncomfortable season , the heauens frown , and the earths punishment . farewell . good friday . it is now good friday , and a generall fast must be kept among all christians , in remembrance of christs passion : flesh and fish must bee vanished all stomackes , strong or weake : now beginnes the farewell to thin fare , and the fishmongers may shut vp their shops till the holy-dayes be past : the butchers now must wash their boords , make cleane their aprons , sharpen their kniues , and sort their prickes , and cut out their meat for easter eue market : now must the poulters make ready their rabbet● and their fowle , the cookes haue their ouens cleane , and all for pies and tarts against the merry feast : now the maids bestir them about their houses , the launders about their linnen , the taylors about apparell , and all for this holy time : now young lambs , young rabbets , and young chickens dye for fine appetites , and now the minstrell tunes his instruments , to haue them ready for the yong people : but with the aged and the religious , there is nothing but sorrow and mourning , confession , contrition , and absolution , and i know not what : few that are merry , but children that breake vp schoole , and wenches that are vpon the mariage . in summe , it is such an odde day by it selfe , that i will onely make this conclusion of it : it is the bridle of nature , and the examiner of reason . farewell . easter day . it is now easter , and iacke of lent is turned out of doores : the fishermen now hang vp their nets to dry , while the calfe and the lambe walke toward the kitchin and the pastry : the veluet heads of the forrests fall at the loose of the crosse-bow : the samman trowt playes with the fly , and the march rabbit runnes dead into the dish : the indian commodities pay the merchants aduenture : and barbary sugar puts honey out of countenance : the holy feast is kept for the faithfull , and a knowne iew hath no place among christians : the earth now beginnes to paint her vpper garment , and the trées put out their young buds , the little kids chew their cuds , and the swallow féeds on the flyes in the ayre : the storke clenseth the brookes of the frogges , and the sparhawke prepares her wing for the partridge : the little fawne is stolne from the doe , & the male déere beginne to heard : the spirit of youth is inclined to mirth , and the conscionable scholler will not breake a holy-day : the minstrell cals the maid from her dinner , and the louers eyes doe troule like tennis balls . there is mirth and ioy , when there is health and liberty : and he that hath money , will be no meane man in his mansion : the ayre is wholsome , and the skye comfortable , the flowers odoriferous , and the fruits pleasant : i conclude , it is a day of much delightfulnesse : the sunnes dancing day , and the earths holy-day . farewell . morning . it is now morning , and time hath woond vp the whéeles of his day watch , while the larke , the sunnes trumpet , calls the labourer to his worke : there is ioy and comfort through the whole world , that the spirits of life are awaked out of their dead sléepe : it is the blessed time of reason , in which the best things are begunne , while nature goes to experience for the better perfection of her businesse : the sunne now beginnes to draw open the curtaine of his pauilion , and with the heat of his beames drawes vp the vnwholesome mists in the ayre : the mother earth is recouered of her cold sicknesse , and sends forth her fayre flowers to perfume the infected ayre : now the sorceresse with her magicke art puts her charmes to silence , and the birds of the woods make musicke to the poore traueller . now begin the wits of the wise , and the limbes of strength to compasse the world , and make art honorable : theeues now are either caued or imprisoned , and knowledge of comfort puts care to a non plus . the beasts of the forrests vse the silence of feare , and the wolfe like a dog dares not looke out of his denne : the wormes into the earth , and the toads into the waters , flye for feare of their heads : this is a time that i ioy in , for i think no time lost , but in sléepe : and now haue imaginations their best meanes to attire themselues in the golden liuerie of their best graces ; to which the night is at no time by depriuation of action . i conclude , it is in it selfe a blessed season , a dispersing of the first darknesse , and the diall of alexander . farewell . one of the clocke . it is now the first houre , and time is , as it were , stepping out of darknesse , and stealing towards the day : the cocke cals to his ●enne , and bids her beware of the foxe , and the watch hauing walkt the stréets , take a nap vpon a stall : the bell-man cals to the maids to looke to their lockes , their fire , and their light , and the child in the cradle cals to the nurse for a dug : the cat sits watching behind the cupboord for a mouse , and the flea sucks on swéet flesh , till he is ready to burst with the blood : the spirits of the studious start out of their dreames , and if they cannot fall asléepe againe , then to the booke and the waxe candle : the dog at the doore frayes the théefe from the house , and the théefe within the house may hap to be about his businesse . in some places bels are rung to certaine orders : but the quiet sléeper neuer tels the clocke : not to dwell too long vpon it , i hold it the farewell of the night , and the forerunner to the day , the spirits watch , and reasons workemaster . farewell . two of the clocke . it is now the second houre , and the point of the diall hath stept ouer the first stroake , and now time beginnes to draw backe the curtaine of the night : the cocke againe cals to his henne , and the watch beginne to buss●e toward their discharge : the bell-man hath made a great part of his walke , and the nurse beginnes to huggle the child to the dugge : the cat sits playing with the mouse which she hath catched , and the dog with his barking wakes the seruants of the house : the studious now are neere vpon waking , and the théefe will be gone , for feare of being taken : the forresters now be about their walkes , and yet stealers sometim● cozen the kéepers : warreners now beginne to draw homeward , and far dwellers from the towne , will be on the way to the market ; the souldier now lookes towards the court de garde , and the corporall takes care for the reliefe of the watch : the earnest scholler will be now at his ●ooke , and the thrifty husbandman will rowse towards his rising : the seaman will now looke out for light , and if the wind be faire , hee cals for a can of ●ee●e : the fishermen now take the benefit of the tyde , and he that bobs for eeles , will not be without worms . in summe , i hold it much of the nature of the first houre , but somewhat better . and to conclude , i thinke it the enemy of sleepe , and the entrance to exercise . farewell . three of the clocke . it is now the third houre , and the windowes of heauen beginne to open , and the sunne beginnes to colour the clouds in the sky , before he shew his face to the world : now are the spirits of life , as it were , risen out of death : the cocke cals the seruants to their dayes work , and the grasse horses are fetcht from the pastures : the milke-maids begin to looke toward their dayry , and the good huswife beginnes to looke about the house : the porrage pot is on for the seruants breakfast , and hungry stomackes will soone bee ready for their victuall : the sparrow beginnes to chirpe about the house , and the birds in the bushes will bid them welcome to the field : the shepheard sets on his pitch on the fire , and fills his tar-pot ready for his flocke : the wheele and the reele beginne to be set ready , and a merry song makes the worke seeme easie : the plough-man falls to harnesse his horses , and the ●hrasher beginnes to looke toward the barne : the scholler that loues learning , will be hard at his booke , and the labourer by great , will be walking toward his worke . in briefe , it is a parcell of time , to good purpose , the exercise of nature , and the entrance into art. farewell . foure of the clocke . it is now the fourth houre , and the sunne beginnes to send her beames abroad , whose glimmering brightnesse no eye can behold : now crowes the cocke lustily , and claps his wings for ioy of the light , and with his hennes leaps lightly from his roust : now are the horses at their chaffe and prouender : the seruants at breakfast , the milk-maid gone to the field , and the spinner at the wheele : and the shepheard with his dog are going toward the fold : now the beggers rouse them out of the hedges , and begin their morning craft ; but if the constable come , beware the stocks : the birds now beginne to flocke , and the sparhawke beginnes to prey for his ayry : the thresher beginnes to stretch his long armes , and the thriuing labourer will fall hard to his worke : the quicke witted braine will be quoting of places , and the cunning work-man will bee trying of his skill : the hounds begin to bee coupled for the chase , and the spaniels follow the faulconer to the field : trauellers beginne to looke toward the stable , where an honest hostler is worthy his reward : the souldier now is vpon discharge of his watch , and the captaine with his company may take as good rest as they can : in summe , i thus conclude of it : i hold it the messenger of action , and the watch of reason . farewell . fiue of the clocke . it now fiue of the clocke , and the sunne is going apace vpon his iourney : and fie sluggards , who would be asleepe ? the bels ring to prayer , and the streéts are full of people , and the high-wayes are stored with trauellers : the schollers are vp and going to schoole , and the rods are ready for the truants correction : the maids are at milking , and the seruants at plough , and the wheele goes merrily , while the mistresse is by : the capons and the chickens must bee serued without doore , and the hogges cry till they haue their swill : the shepheard is almost gotten to his fold , and the heard beginnes to blow his horne through the towne . the blind fidler is vp with his dance and his song , and the alehouse doore is vnlocked for good fellowes : the hounds begin to find after the hare , and horse and foot follow after the cry : the traueller now is well on his way , and if the weather be faire , he walkes with the better chéere : the carter merrily whistles to his horse , and the boy with his sling casts stones at the crowes : the lawyer now begins to look on his case , and if he giue good counsell , he is worthy of his fee : in briefe , not to stay to● long vpon it , i hold it the necessity of labour , and the note of profit . farewell . sixe of the clocke . it is now the sixt houre , the swéet time of the morning , and the sunne at euery window calls the sléepers from their beds : the marygold beginnes to open her leaues , & the dew on the ground doth swéeten the ayre : the faulconers now méet with many a faire flight , and the hare and the hounds haue made the huntsman good sport : the shoppes in the city begin to shew their wares , and the market people haue taken their places : the schollers now haue their fourmes , and whosoeuer cannot say his lesson , must presently looke for absolution : the forester now is drawing home to his lodge , and if his déere be gone , hée may draw after cold scent : now begins the curst mistresse to put her girles to their taskes , and a laz ▪ hylding will doe hurt among good workers : now the mower falles to whetting of his sythe , and the beaters of hempe giue a hoh to euery blow : the ale knight is at his cup ere hée can well see his drinke , and the begger is as nimble toung'd , as if he had béene at it all day : the fishermen now are at the craier for their oysters , and they will neuer lyn crying , while they haue one in their basket : in summe , not to be tedious , i hold it , the sluggards shame , and the labourers praise . farewell . seuen of the clocke . it is now the seuenth houre , and time begins to set the world hard to worke : the milke-maides in their dayry to their butter and their chéese , the ploughmen to their ploughes and their harrowes in the field : the schollers to their lessons , the lawyers to their cases , the merchants to their accounts , the shop-men to what lacke you ? and euery trade to his businesse : oh t is a world to sée how life leapes about the lims of the healthfull : none but findes something to doe : the wise , to study , the strong , to labour : the fantasticke , to make loue : the poet , to make uerses : the player , to conne his part : and the musitian to try his note : euery one in his qualitie ▪ and according to his condition , sets himself to some exercise , either of the body , or the minde : and therefore since it is a time of much labour , and great vse , i will thus briefly conclude of it : i hold it the enemy of idlenesse , and imployer of industry . farewell . eight of the clocke . it is now the eight houre , and good stomackes are ready for a breakfast : the huntsman now calls in his houndes , and at the fall of the déere the hornes goe apace : now beginne the horses to breathe and the labourer to sweat , and with quicke hands , worke rids apace : now the schollers make a charme in the schooles , and ergo kéepes a stirre in many a false argument : now the chapmen fall to furnish the shoppes , the market people make away with their ware : the tauerne hunters taste of the tother wine , and the nappy ale makes many a drunken noll : now the thrasher beginnes to fall to his breakfast , and eate apace , and worke apace , riddes the corne quickely away : now the piper lookes what hée hath gotten since day , and the begger , if hée haue hit well , will haue a pot of the best : the traueller now begins to water his horse , and if he were earely vp , perhaps a bait will doe well . the osteler now makes cleane his stables , and if ghestes come in , hée is not without his welcome . in conclusion , for all i finde in it , i hold it the mindes trauaile , and the bodies toyle . farewell . nine of the clocke . it is now the nynth houre , and the sunne is gotten vp well toward his height , and the sweating traueller beginnes to féele the burthen of his way : the scholler now falles to conning of his lesson , and the lawyer at the barro falls to pleading of his case : the soldier now makes many a weary steppe in his march , and the amorous courtier almost ready to goe out of his chamber : the market now growes to bée full of people , and the shopmen now are in the heat of the market : the faulconers now finde it too hote flying , and the huntsmen begin to grow weary of their sport : the byrders now take in their nets and their roddes , and the fishermen send their fish to the market : the tauerne and the ale-house are almost full of guestes , and westminster and guild hall are not without a word or two on both sides : the carriers now are loading out of towne , and not a letter but must bée payd for ere it passe : the cryer now tryes the strength of his throat , and the beareward leades his beare home after his challenge : the players billes are almost all set vp , and the clarke of the market begins to shew his office : in summe , in this houre there is much to doe , as well in the city , as the countrey : and therefore to be short , i will thus make my conclusion : i hold it the toyle of wit , and the tryall of reason . farewell . ten of the clocke . it is now the tenth houre , and now preparation is to bée made for dinner : the trenchers must be scraped , and the napkins folded , the salt couered , and the kniues scoured , and the cloth layed , the stooles set ready , and all for the table : there must bee haste in the kitchin for the boyld and the roste , prouision in the sellar for wyne , ale , and béere : the pantler and the butler must bée ready in their office , and the usher of the hall must marshall the seruingmen : the hawke must bée set on the pearch , and the dogges put into the kennell , and the guests that come to dinner , must bée inuited against the houre : the schollers now fall to construe and parce , and the lawyer makes his clyent either a man or a mouse : the chapmen now draw home to their innes , and the shopmen fall to folding vp their wares : the ploughman now beginnes to grow towards home , and the dayry mayd , after her worke , falls to clensing of her uessels : the cooke is cutting soppes for broth , and the butler is chipping of loaues for the table : the minstrels beginne to goe towards the tauernes , and the cursed crue visit the vyle places : in summe , i thus conclude of it : i hold it the messenger to the stomacke , and the spirits recreation . farewell . eleuen of the clocke . it is now the eleuenth houre , children must breake vp schoole , lawyers must make home to their houses , merchants to the exchange , and gallants to the ordinary : the dishes set ready for the meat , and the glasses halfe full of faire water : now the market people make towards their horses , and the beggers begin to draw néere the townes : the porrage put off the fire , is set a cooling for the plough folke , and the great loafe , and the chéese are set ready on the table : colledges and halles ring to dinner , and a schollers commons is soone disgested : the rich mans guests are at courtsey , and i thanke you : and the poore mans feast is welcome , and god be with you : the page is ready with his knife and his trencher , and the meat will bée halfe cold , ere the guests can agrée on their places : the cooke voides the kitchin , and the butler , the buttery , and the seruing men stand all ready at the dresser : the children are called to say grace before dinner , and the nice people rather looke then eate : the gates be loekt for feare of the beggers , and the minstrels called in , to bée ready with their musicke : the pleasant wit is now breaking a iest , and the hungry man puts his iawes to their proofe : in summe , to conclude my opinion of it , i hold it the epicures ioy , and the labourers ease . farewell . twelue of the clocke . it is now the twelfth houre , the sunne is at his height , and the middle of the day , the first course is serued in , and the second ready to follow : the dishes haue béen red ouer , and the reuersion set by : the wine beginnes to be called for , and who waits not is chidden : talke passeth away time , and when stomackes are full , discourses grow dull and heauy : but after fruit and chéese , say grace and take away : now the markets are done , the exchange broke vp , and the lawyers at dinner , and duke humphreys seruants make their walkes in paules , the shop men kéepe th●ir shops , and their seruants goe to dinner : the traueller begins to call for a reckoning , and goes into the stable to sée his horse eate his prouender : the plough man now is in the bottome of his dish , and the laborer drawes out his dinner out of his bagge : the beasts of the field take rest after their feed , and the birds of the ayre are at i●ke in the bushes : the lambe lies sucking , while the ewe chewes the cud , and the rabbet will scarce péepe out of her borough : the hare sits close asléepe in her muse , while the dogges sit waiting for a bone from the trencher : in briefe , for all i find of it , i thus conclude in it : i hold it the stomacks pleasure , and the spirits wearines . farewell . midnight . now is the sunne withdrawne into his bed-chamber , the windowes of heauen are shut vp , and silence with darknesse haue made a walke ouer the whole earth , and time is tasked to worke vpon the worst actions : yet uertue being her selfe , is neuer weary of well doing , while the best spirits are studying for the bodies rest : dreames and uisions are the haunters of troubled spirits , while nature is most comforted in the hope of the morning : the body now lyes as a dead lump , while sleepe , the pride of ease , lulls the senses of the sloathfull : the tired limbs now cease from their labours , and the studious braines giue ouer their businesse : the bed is now an image of the graue , and the prayer of the faithfull makes the pathway to heauen : louers now enclose a mutuall content , while gracious minds haue no wicked imaginations : théeues , wolues , and foxes , now fall to their pray , but , a strong locke , and a good wit , will aware much mischiefe : and he that trusteth in god will be safe from the deuill . farewell . the conclusion . and thus to conclude , for that it growes late , and a nod or two with an heauy eye , makes me feare to proue a plaine noddy , entreating your patience till to morrow , and hoping you will censure mildly of this my fantasticke labour , wishing i may hereafter please your senses with a better subiect then this ; i will in the meane time pray for your prosperity , and end with the english phrase , god giue you good night . finis . crossing of prouerbs crosse-answeres. and crosse-humours. by b.n. gent. crossing of proverbs. part breton, nicholas, ?- ? approx. kb of xml-encoded text transcribed from -bit group-iv tiff page images. text creation partnership, ann arbor, mi ; oxford (uk) : - (eebo-tcp phase ). a stc estc s this keyboarded and encoded edition of the work described above is co-owned by the institutions providing financial support to the early english books online text creation partnership. this phase i text is available for reuse, according to the terms of creative commons . universal . the text can be copied, modified, distributed and performed, even for commercial purposes, all without asking permission. early english books online. (eebo-tcp ; phase , no. a ) transcribed from: (early english books online ; image set ) images scanned from microfilm: (early english books, - ; : ) crossing of prouerbs crosse-answeres. and crosse-humours. by b.n. gent. crossing of proverbs. part breton, nicholas, ?- ? [ ]+ p. printed [by g. eld] for iohn wright, and are to be solde at his shop without newgate, at the signe of the bible, at london : . b.n. = nicholas breton. printer's name from stc. signatures: a b - . collation from incomplete l copy as reported in stc. a second part was published the same year. reproduction of the original in the henry e. huntington library and art gallery. created by converting tcp files to tei p using tcp tei.xsl, tei @ oxford. re-processed by university of nebraska-lincoln and northwestern, with changes to facilitate morpho-syntactic tagging. gap elements of known extent have been transformed into placeholder characters or elements to simplify the filling in of gaps by user contributors. eebo-tcp is a partnership between the universities of michigan and oxford and the publisher proquest to create accurately transcribed and encoded texts based on the image sets published by proquest via their early english books online (eebo) database (http://eebo.chadwyck.com). the general aim of eebo-tcp is to encode one copy (usually the first edition) of every monographic english-language title published between and available in eebo. eebo-tcp aimed to produce large quantities of textual data within the usual project restraints of time and funding, and therefore chose to create diplomatic transcriptions (as opposed to critical editions) with light-touch, mainly structural encoding based on the text encoding initiative (http://www.tei-c.org). the eebo-tcp project was divided into two phases. the , texts created during phase of the project have been released into the public domain as of january . anyone can now take and use these texts for their own purposes, but we respectfully request that due credit and attribution is given to their original source. users should be aware of the process of creating the tcp texts, and therefore of any assumptions that can be made about the data. text selection was based on the new cambridge bibliography of english literature (ncbel). if an author (or for an anonymous work, the title) appears in ncbel, then their works are eligible for inclusion. selection was intended to range over a wide variety of subject areas, to reflect the true nature of the print record of the period. in general, first editions of a works in english were prioritized, although there are a number of works in other languages, notably latin and welsh, included and sometimes a second or later edition of a work was chosen if there was a compelling reason to do so. image sets were sent to external keying companies for transcription and basic encoding. quality assurance was then carried out by editorial teams in oxford and michigan. % (or pages, whichever is the greater) of each text was proofread for accuracy and those which did not meet qa standards were returned to the keyers to be redone. after proofreading, the encoding was enhanced and/or corrected and characters marked as illegible were corrected where possible up to a limit of instances per text. any remaining illegibles were encoded as <gap>s. understanding these processes should make clear that, while the overall quality of tcp data is very good, some errors will remain and some readable characters will be marked as illegible. users should bear in mind that in all likelihood such instances will never have been looked at by a tcp editor. the texts were encoded and linked to page images in accordance with level of the tei in libraries guidelines. copies of the texts have been issued variously as sgml (tcp schema; ascii text with mnemonic sdata character entities); displayable xml (tcp schema; characters represented either as utf- unicode or text strings within braces); or lossless xml (tei p , characters represented either as utf- unicode or tei g elements). keying and markup guidelines are available at the text creation partnership web site . eng proverbs, english. - tcp assigned for keying and markup - aptara keyed and coded from proquest page images - mona logarbo sampled and proofread - mona logarbo text and markup reviewed and edited - pfs batch review (qc) and xml conversion crossing of proverbs . crosse-answeres . and crosse-humours . by b. n. gent. at london , printed for iohn wright , and are to be solde at his shop without new-gate , at the signe of the bible , . to the reader . meeting with many crosses in the world , among them all i found some in books , as crossing of prouerbs , crosse answers and such other like crosse humours , as i haue collected out of crosse authors , which i haue here put together in this little booke , in which , if you find any thing crosse to your liking , crosse it out : and if there bee any thing that is better worth then nothing , be not crosse to patience to esteeme of a little , though but a little : so loth to crosse mine owne reason , with too much persswasion of your too kinde , either disposition or discretion , i rest as i finde cause . your well-wisher , b , n. crosse & pile or crossing of prouerbs prouerbs . the more , the merrier cross. not so , one hand is enough in a purse . p. euery man loues himselfe best . cros. not so , when man is vndone by surety-ship . prou. hee that runnes fastest , gets most ground . c. not so , for then foote-men would haue more land then their masters . pro. he runnes far that neuer turnes . cros. not so : he may breake his necke in a short course . p. no man can call againe yesterday . c. yes , hee may call till his heart ake , though it neuer come . p. had i wist was a foole . c. no , he was a foole that said so . p. he that goes softly goes safely . c. not among thieues . prou. nothing hurts the stomake more then surfeiting cross. yes , lacke of meat pro. nothing hard to a willing mind . cros. yes , to get money . pro. women are necessary euills . cros. not so , for no euill is necessary . pro. a faire woman is a pearle in a black mans eye . cros. not so , for then shee would put it out . pro. the nearer the bone , the sweeter the flesh . c. not , when it hath taken wind . p. none so blind as they that will not see . c. yes , they that cannot see . p. the deeper the sweeter : c. not in a foule hole . p. to day for me , to morrow for thee . c. not so , wee may both be fox't together . p. a crust is better then no bread . c. not for the gummes that haue no teeth . p. a woman is the weaker vessell . c. not when a curst wife beates her husband . p. salt sauers euery thing . c. not a sir-reuerence . p. labour in vaine is losse of time c. not where endeauours are wel accepted . p. no man so wise but may bee deceiued . c. not so , for hee is not wise when he is deceiued . p. there is no such griefe as ingratitude . c. yes , lacke of money . p. faire water makes all cleane . cros. no , not a foule minde . prou. it is in vaine to striue against the streame . cros. not if the winde be with them . p. the sunne giues comfort to all creatures . cros. no not to an owle , for she connot endure the light . pro. ther is no creature so like a man as an ape . cros. yes a woman . pro. soft fier makes sweet male . cros. not if the barley be musty . pro lawe is the scourge of sinne . cros. not till it be executed . pro. a man may see day at a little hole . cros. not so , he may be blind , and then he cannot see . pro. patience is a plaster for al sores . cros. not if it be forced . pro. he that trauels far knowes much . cros not if he be a foole . pro. nothing but is good for something , cros. not so , nothing is not good for any thing . p. couetuousnesse is the roote of all euill . c. no , not of gluttony in a miser . p. euery thing hath an end . cros. not so , a ring hath none , for it is round . p. mony is a great comfort . cros. not when it brings a thiefe to the gallowes . p. the world is a long iourney . cors. not so , the sunne goes it euery day . p. it is a great way to the bottome of the sea. c. not so , it is but a stones cast . p. hee playes well that winnes . c. not , if hee lose his time for trifles . p. birds of a feather will flye together . c. not if their wings be clipt . p. change of pasture makes fat calues . c. not if the ground be barraine . p. as the tree is , so is the fruit . c. not so , when a pippin is graft vpon a crabbe . p. a ragged coult may proue a good horse . c. not except he be wel managed . p farre fetcht and deare bought is good for ladies . c. not if the ware bee nought , when it comes home . p. when the cat is away , the mouse may play . c. not if the wezill be neere . p. hunger is the best sauce . c. not without meat . p. blacke will take no other hue . c. yes , when a foule slut is painted faire , p. honesty is ill for thriuing . c. not amongst honest men . p. time is precious to an vnderstanding spirit . c. not to a theefe when hee is going to hanging . p. he is not wise that is not wise to himselfe . c. ye● , when he can giue better counsell then he can take . p. after a storme comes faire weather . c. not when a boy is whipt for pissing in his bed . p. nature is no botcher . c. yes , when she couers young flesh with an old skin . p. no such losse as the losse of a friend . c. yes , the losse of life . p. a friend is best found in aduersity . c. not so , for then there is none to bee found . p. the pride of the rich makes the labours of the poore . c. no , the labours of the poore make the pride of the rich . p. no greater shame to a man , then to bee a cuckolde . c. yes , to be a wittoll . p. true loue is the ioy of life . c. not without mony to maintaine it . p. will is the cause of woe . c. no it is the lack of wit to guide it . p. a faire wife is a comfortable creature . c. not if she be not constant . p. valour is the noblenes of the minde . c. not except it be guided by reason . p. there is no lack , to the lack of mony . c. yes lacke of grace . p. high flying hauks are fittest for princes ▪ c. not except they will come downe to the lure . p. he that will borrow must pay . c. not if he haue it not . p. delayes are the death of sutors . c. not so for then lawyers should haue no clients . p. wealth makes the worship of the world . cros. not so , for then euery iacke would bee a gentleman . p. he is wise that is honest . c. not , if he cannot doe withall . p. vertue is a iuell of great price . c. not so , for then the poore could not come by it . p. dicing , drabbing , and drinking , are the three ds. to destruction . c. not so , it is the fourth d. the diuell , that leades men to it . p. sweet is the fruit of labour . c. not except god blesse the businesse sir philip sydneys ouránia that is, endimions song and tragedie, containing all philosophie. written by n.b. baxter, nathaniel, fl. . approx. kb of xml-encoded text transcribed from -bit group-iv tiff page images. text creation partnership, ann arbor, mi ; oxford (uk) : - (eebo-tcp phase ). a stc estc s this keyboarded and encoded edition of the work described above is co-owned by the institutions providing financial support to the early english books online text creation partnership. this phase i text is available for reuse, according to the terms of creative commons . universal . the text can be copied, modified, distributed and performed, even for commercial purposes, all without asking permission. early english books online. (eebo-tcp ; phase , no. a ) transcribed from: (early english books online ; image set ) images scanned from microfilm: (early english books, - ; : ) sir philip sydneys ouránia that is, endimions song and tragedie, containing all philosophie. written by n.b. baxter, nathaniel, fl. . breton, nicholas, ?- ? [ ] p. printed by ed. allde, for edward white, and are to be solde at the little north doore of saint paules church, at the signe of the gun, london : . n.b. = nathaniel baxter. sometimes attributed to nicholas breton. in verse. signatures: a-n⁴. some running titles read: sir philips sidney's ouránea. reproduction of the original in the british library. created by converting tcp files to tei p using tcp tei.xsl, tei @ oxford. re-processed by university of nebraska-lincoln and northwestern, with changes to facilitate morpho-syntactic tagging. gap elements of known extent have been transformed into placeholder characters or elements to simplify the filling in of gaps by user contributors. eebo-tcp is a partnership between the universities of michigan and oxford and the publisher proquest to create accurately transcribed and encoded texts based on the image sets published by proquest via their early english books online (eebo) database (http://eebo.chadwyck.com). the general aim of eebo-tcp is to encode one copy (usually the first edition) of every monographic english-language title published between and available in eebo. eebo-tcp aimed to produce large quantities of textual data within the usual project restraints of time and funding, and therefore chose to create diplomatic transcriptions (as opposed to critical editions) with light-touch, mainly structural encoding based on the text encoding initiative (http://www.tei-c.org). the eebo-tcp project was divided into two phases. the , texts created during phase of the project have been released into the public domain as of january . anyone can now take and use these texts for their own purposes, but we respectfully request that due credit and attribution is given to their original source. users should be aware of the process of creating the tcp texts, and therefore of any assumptions that can be made about the data. text selection was based on the new cambridge bibliography of english literature (ncbel). if an author (or for an anonymous work, the title) appears in ncbel, then their works are eligible for inclusion. selection was intended to range over a wide variety of subject areas, to reflect the true nature of the print record of the period. in general, first editions of a works in english were prioritized, although there are a number of works in other languages, notably latin and welsh, included and sometimes a second or later edition of a work was chosen if there was a compelling reason to do so. image sets were sent to external keying companies for transcription and basic encoding. quality assurance was then carried out by editorial teams in oxford and michigan. % (or pages, whichever is the greater) of each text was proofread for accuracy and those which did not meet qa standards were returned to the keyers to be redone. after proofreading, the encoding was enhanced and/or corrected and characters marked as illegible were corrected where possible up to a limit of instances per text. any remaining illegibles were encoded as <gap>s. understanding these processes should make clear that, while the overall quality of tcp data is very good, some errors will remain and some readable characters will be marked as illegible. users should bear in mind that in all likelihood such instances will never have been looked at by a tcp editor. the texts were encoded and linked to page images in accordance with level of the tei in libraries guidelines. copies of the texts have been issued variously as sgml (tcp schema; ascii text with mnemonic sdata character entities); displayable xml (tcp schema; characters represented either as utf- unicode or text strings within braces); or lossless xml (tei p , characters represented either as utf- unicode or tei g elements). keying and markup guidelines are available at the text creation partnership web site . eng sidney, philip, -- sir, - . - tcp assigned for keying and markup - spi global keyed and coded from proquest page images - judith siefring sampled and proofread - spi global rekeyed and resubmitted - judith siefring sampled and proofread - judith siefring text and markup reviewed and edited - pfs batch review (qc) and xml conversion sir philip sydneys ourania , that is , endimions song and tragedie , containing all philosophie . written by n. b. london printed by ed. allde , for edward white , and are to be solde at the little north doore of saint paules church , at the signe of the gun. . to my ever-honored lady and mistris arcadian cynthia , maria pembrokiana . worlds wonder , learned , mightie cinthia , artes darling , & times babe , subiect of fame , wits obiect , arcadian pastorella wisdomes trophae honor and vertues frame , pardon ( princesse ) though i conceale thy name . thy traine , and paragons of high degree homer and virgill , vsed to doe the same , and astrophill when hee decyphred thee , baxtero mastix may disparage mee , that i dare make thee subiect of my pen , at whose aspect poets amazed be , as things beyond the reach , of priuate men . but wonder , learning , witte , fame , wisdome , time , shall glorifie the subiect of this rime . time , wisdome , learning , witte wonder and fame , endimion tould me should attend on thee : he consecrat's ourania to thy name , without respect of paedanticall fee , but if perchaunce great astrophill thou see , and fates with-holde thee from endymion : hee humbly sues that hee released be , of arrogancy , and proesumption , that he without his knights iniunction should dedicate vnto thy princely shrine , the treasurie , and hidden function , of iehouahs hexameron diuine . and he that whilome liu'd in graecian deep 's , craues helpe of thee , as he in english creep's . n. b. to the right honorable and vertuous 〈◊〉 the la. katherine countesse of huntington , the ladie mary countesse of pembrooke : the ladie susan countesse of mongomria : and the lady barbara viscounte● lisle , wife to the noble knight sir robert sidney viscount lisle . they say the soaring eagle eates no flies , yet it may pleasure her to see them play : the smallest sparke that couch'd in embers lies , shew's whilom sier in that circle lay , each thing created may yeeld a sweet delight , to wi●est witts perpending it aright . great macedon when he laid by his launce , sported himselfe with homers golden verse , and hercules in his obscured traunce , would needs haue theseus madrigals reherse , and astrophill when bloodie warrs were donne , pastim'd himselfe to see the muses ronne . the wisest monarch of hierusalem , view'd the pismire for recreation , glorious adam , seth , methusalem , had marble stones in admiration . plinie , and virgill wrote of seely bees , of gnats , of fleas , of shrubs , and mirtle trees . yea simple●wormes are vsed for a sport , and ladies loue to see a monkey play , and euerie tyred wit seeketh comfort , in honest myrth to passe the time away : the ladies spaniel snarling in her lap , sometimes delights her after her mis-hap . the greatest clearks of yore to trie their wit , made foolishnesse the subiect of their pen , and for their pleasures others thought it fit , to proue that baldnesse best becommeth men . and euerie stationer hath now to sale , pappe with a hatchet , and madge-howlets tale . and now comes cre●ping 〈◊〉 endymion , leauing mysteries theologicall , scarce worth the rotten earth he ●readeth on , and tells strange tales philosophicall , anatomizing th'uniuersall round , and whatsoeuer may there●● be found . he pipeth in his homely countrey reed , made of an olde aristotelia● quill , he ken● no crochets of contentious breed , nor ha's that quintessentiated skill , he ha's no fine dichotom●ating wit , such musicke as he learn'd , he descants it . you mightie ladies that seeken repaste , when weightie causes haue your spirits tyr'd , rest here your wearied lims , and take a taste , here view the works of god so much admyr'd . and fit your selues of byr●● , of beasts or fish , twist laurell garlands , a● your hearts can wish . high-pryz'd ourania , let her liue with you , and shield her from surprizing infamie , that vertue entertaines with frowning brow , and learning scorns as pining beggerie , making more reckoning o● a golden asse , then of trismegist-caelestiall - a●l●s . endymion vow 's if fates do 〈◊〉 aright , with corollaries of a laurell tw●ne ▪ that shall endure th'euerlasting light , hee 'll shortly dignifie your princely shrine●punc ; mean-while all honor shal your states attend , blest ●e your life , and hap●●e be your end . n. b. to the right noble , and honorable lady susan vera mongomriana . valiant whilome the prince that bare this mot , engraued round about his golden ring : roaming in venice ere thou wast begot , among the gallants of th' italian spring . neuer omitting what might pastime bring , italian sports , and syren● melodie : hopping h●lena with her warbling sting , infested th' albanian dignitie , like as they poysoned all italie . vigilant then th' eternall majestie , enthraled soules to free from infamie : remembring thy sacred virginitie , induced vs to make speedie repaire , vnto thy mother euerlasting faire , so did this prince begette thee debonaire . so wast thou chast and princely nymph begot , vnder ce●ilias education strong in allyed friendes of highest lot , amidd the court of estimation nor doe i giue thee this for adulation : no pen can show thy propagation , all heauens blesse thine operation . naked we landed out of italie , inth●al'd by pyrats men of noe regard , horror and death assayl'd nobilitie , if princes might with crueltie be scar'd lo thus are excellent beginnings hard . conioyn'd thou art to great mongomria , a peerelesse ladie onely fit for him : sober and chaste , he was in cardiff cambria , the knight i knew before mine eyes were dimme , if temperance , and continence , an earle may trimme , vnder the orbe of mightie phoebes round , sydn●ian knights like him are hardly found . n. b. to the honourable la. kalandra , the noble d. hastings . noble kalendra neece to cynthia ; endymion with all humilitie , sends to thy blessed selfe o●ra●●a , with her accomplished philosophie , long kept she greekish ladies companie . and thence arriued in britannia , inquiring for nymphs of high dignitie , great pastorellas of albania : tritonizing fame blaz'd doro●beia ▪ thrice renowmed , learned , religious , thy selfe , modest , vertuous , hastinguia , in the garland of nimphs illus●rious : high prized branch of noble huntington , cherish ourania , and grace endymion . n. b. to the vertuous ladie m. agape wrotha . in all the greeke none but this word is found , that doth containe a true description , of vertues cardinall , which d● on abound in thine heroy call disposition ▪ agape shewes thy compositio● loue it is called in our dialect ▪ eros is venerie ; but this di●ection , chast , holy , modest , diuine and perfect , arcadian sydney gaue thee this aspect , when he forsooke this transitor●e globe , to mount the whirling orb● with course direct , adorning thee with loue for marriage robe . sith famous w●oth agape hath possest : ourania pray's a while to be your guest . n. b. to the right vertuous young 〈…〉 mansella . vertuous young lady deigne endymion , though he be chained in obscuritie , humbly to send thee salutation : presenting thee with shepheards melodie , as wanting ritcher meanes to glorifie thy noble knight , and thee , whose high estate , ourania crowneth with faelicitie : prysing thy youngest yeares at highest rate . noble sydneian babe intemerate , endymion's feeble infant is his wit , such stile and phrase , of worth to fabricate , as might giue life , and luster vnto it . but my defects ourania shall supplie , in teaching thee and thine philosophie . n. b. to the right worshipfull , and vertuous lady , the lady anne daniell wife to the right worshipfull sir william daniel● knight one of his majesties iustices of the common-pleas . right vertuous lady , health and happinesse , mourning endymion in obscuritie ▪ doth wish to thee , though hee be in distresse , entrapped by malicious trechery , of such as glorie in his miserie . he found thy knight a patrone in his griefe , commiserating his extremitie , vn-monyed preachers seldome finde reliefe , of men excelling in that facultie . there lyeth some secret hidden misterie ▪ that wit of mortall man cannot vnfolde , why blessed caelestiall diuinitie , and learned men , are measur'd by their golde , happily ourania shall vntwine this string , good ladie reade her booke , and heare her sing . n.b. sir philip sidney's our●nia . or ▪ endimions song and tragedie , containing all phylosophie . when phoebus gaue his fierie horses rest ▪ and circled had his glorious hemisphere : whē euery creature thought him fully blest and tytan gan old thetu● bed to cheere , when silent-nights blacke mantle did appeare , in secret sort i gaue the looking on , while blessed cynthia grac't endymion . i saw how that the sacred nymph came downe in purple robe , with starres y●retyzed i sawe her guard , chaste ladyes of renowne , blest of the gods , with fame enthronized : in neuer-dying rowles eternized . i knew them all ; endymion the swayne ▪ and mightie cynthia with her blessed traine . shee is well knowne whom all the world admires for vertuous life , and prudent modestie ; rare are her gifts full of sydner●an-fyres , muses and graces of high soueraigntie : attend and garnish her with modstie . i meane not now therefore to paint her praize , being a taske too high for withered baize . but shew the storie as it then fell out , when she first fauoured endymion : and how false lyuidus brought it about , that cynthia had him in suspi●ion : ( no heart can shrowde it in obl●uion ) and who so reades endymions wofull verse let him with teares his tragedie reherse . it greeues my heart to se the gentle swayne , that kept his tender lambes on ida mount : and brought them downe againe into the plaine , to take their pleasure by the siluered fount , folding them all , and taking iust account , least one of them by carelesse ouersight should wandring perish in the darke-some night . it greeues my heart ( i say ) to heare his moane , fast by the walles of troy where once he dwelt : with wringing hands and many a greeuous groane , he did expresse the miseries he felt . a heart of flint i thinke would surely melt , to see a gentle shepheard thus cast downe , by enuies practise and great cynthyas frowne . you mightie princes and high potentates , that with your scepters swaye great monarchies , you lords and knights and all you meaner states ▪ which doe excell in happie dignities : fore-see your fall by enuies treacheryes ; and chase her from your habitation , as hagge of hellish generation . obserue her practises in tumbling downe , the greatest princes of the oulderne times : bereauing monarchs of th' imperiall crowne , against their persons vrging fayned crymes , as you may read in poets golden rymes . and see in this most wofull hystorie , glorious endymions catastrophie . in troy towne scituate in cambria , there dwelt this sheapherd of a gentle race ; neer fronting vpon great mongomria , where princely arthur kept his courtly place , guiding great albion with his golden mace , where knights and ladies cladde in princely wee●s , shew'd testimonie of their worthy deedes . there did this gentle shepheard feed his flocke ; there tuned hee his well contryued reede : sitting on top of highest ida rocke , suffring his tender lambes meane while to feede , vvhiles he , clad in his homely countrey weede , sang madrigals and stanzies of great worth , and descanted to bring his musicke forth . well could he sing diuine and sacred layes , with blessed notes as poets did record , in siluered lines painting high ionahs praise . and eke the death of christians dying lord. such musicke did he oft his ●●ocke afford . as made them leaue their foode to listen well , as if they were inchaunted with the spell . satyrs and siluans at the harmonie , sometime came darting from the darkesome groue , approouing oft the chaunting melodie , and with their harsh and rurall voyces stroue , to sound the praises of celestiall ioue ; but when their pipes and voices disagreed , they held their peace and cast away their reed . sometimes he made the rocks for to rebound , with eccho of his notes ; sometime the dales , and woods , and springs , to yeeld a burbling sound , as beaten with reflexe of madrigales ; sibillas oracles , and prophets ●ales : which shew the way to immortalitie , in perfect hymnes of true diuinitie . so well he could his warbling notes diuide , that other shepheards did his ●ayes admire , and set their notes , as he their pipes did guide , vntill they could vnto the like aspire : yet neuer tooke he recompence or hire , but as he lay vpon th' idaean hill , he dayly sounded lowde his 〈◊〉 quill , long liu'd vpon this mounte the gentle swayne , recording songs vnto the deitie : till cynthia walking with her blessed traine , approach'd the shepheard and his melodie . where she obseruing well the harmonie , with maiestie diuine and princelie grace , retyr'd her selfe and pauz'd a little space . i well did view the coronet she ware , with diamonds and saphyres orient , a carkenet most pretious and rare , fretized with carbuncles which hebae sent , ( the same which pyrocles did first inuent ) did circle twise , her sacred necke , & brest , in which the muses , and the graces , rest . betweene her paps a lustrious diamond ; link'd to her carkenet by curious arte , ( of yore found out by skilfull belysond , and giuen by the mightie britomarte ) so placed was , that light it might imparte , to all inferiour orbs in darkest night , when phoebus had with-draw'n his glorious light ▪ a surcote all of purple silke she wore , diapred with flora's curious skill , butned with orientall pearles before , with golden loops to fasten at her will , fram'd for her bodie by great astrophill . such as bellona vsed heretofore , in chasing of the feirce adonian bor● . wauing and wide tuck 't vp vnto her knee , adorned with a frinoge of purest gould , whence parcell of the lawne i chanc'd to see , that whiter then it selfe , her skinne doth fould ; by physis fram'd for feature vncontrould : like whitest iuorie beautifull and trymme ▪ whiter then swannes that in meander swimme ▪ part of her legges gaue lustre to my viewe , as iuorie pillars bearing vp the frame ; by that i iudge my other speeches true , which who so sees shal verifie the same . pardon diuine and most illustrious dame , though simple swaynes do glorifie thy name , since by this subiect get we lasting fame . her iuorie legs and feet the bu●ltins hide , of curious stuffe with gold imbellished , lest natures ornaments should be espyed , of worth-lesse wantons , rude , vnpolished , or venus brats of wits vnfurnished : for ouer all , she vaild her with a robe , as azur'd welkin ouer-spreads the globe . two grey-hounds swift and white as whitest snow , attend her to pursue the nymble deere : and in her hand she bare a dreadefull bowe , to kill the game , if any should appeere , or any deadly foe approach too neere , thus stands great cynthia in the midst of may , with all her traine to heare endymions lay. what was the subject of the shepheards song , aske noble cynthia , for shee can tell : i list not now to keep you ouer-long , for needlesse things become not stories well : the stationers the shepheard● musicke sel. but listen well i le tell you more anon , of cynthias ladies and endymion . the first was vera daughter to an earle , whilom a paragon of mickle might : and worthily then termed albions pearle , for bountie in expence , and force in fight , ( mee list to giue so great a prince his right ) in all the tryumphs held in albion soyle , he neuer yet receiu'd disgrace or foyle . onely some thinke he spent too much in vaine , that was his fault : but giue his honour due , learned he was , iust , affable and plaine ; no traytor , but euer gratious , and true : gainst princes peace , a plot he neuer drewe . but as they be deceiu'd that too much trust : so trusted hee some men , that prou'd vnjust . weake are the wits that measure noble-men , by accidentall things that ebbe and flowe ; his learning made him honourable then , as trees their goodnesse by their fruites doe showe , so we doe princes by their vertues knowe . for riches , if they make a king ; tell then ; what d●ffer poorest kings , from poorest men ▪ one branch amongst the rest ; he left behinde , to spread the glory of th'oxonian lyne : noble by birth , true , liberall , and kinde . the glorious fruite of high cecilian vine ; sacred in marriage with euerlasting twyne , which iuno sponne for great mongomria , a mightie prince in western cambria . calandra was the next of princely race , hastingua bred her , in her sacred cell , of wisedome excellent , of modest grace , profoundest oracles of christian spell , shee wisely could vnfould and plainely tell , shee learn'd this skill of that ashbeian prince , who often did carpocrates conuince . agape , with musophila the bride , ladyes of worthe , and babes of sydneia , euph●es ornaments , and natures pride , nimphs , pastorellas of arcadia ; fostered in the muses gunakeia . these foure followed blessed cynthia , to view the gardens of hesperida . with many another honourable dame , blessed phileta , clara , candida ; these lodge within the house of cynthia , within the lande of terra florida , fronting the fountaines of ca●●alida● ; these circle fairest cynthia in a king , while she doth stay to heare endymion sing . the iewels which they wore gaue such a shine , vpon a suddaine to the sillie swaine , that all vnable were his feeble ●yne , so great a luster longer to sustaine , downe fell his pipes , dead was his musick●straine , for priuate men , hardly behold● her face , but straite they stande amazed in the place . but cynthia stoop'd and tooke him vp againe , and rub'd his temples with her tender hand : each ladie stroue to take the greatest paine , to rouze him from his trance , and make him stand . each way to saue his life , was deepely scand , but all in vaine , till cynthia layde aside , her maiestie , that daunteth rurall pride . at last the sillie shepheard gan reuiue , yet as amaz'd he knew not where he was : but stood as one halfe dead , and halfe aliue , as often times we see it come to passe , ( for mortall man compared is to grasse ) flora cannot susteine the parching heate , of phoebus beames vncessantly to beat . but shee that knew the cause of his distresse , releiued him with words of sweetest grace and saide : thou gentle swayne , the gods thee blesse , be of good cheere : cast sorrowe from thy face : keepe on thy laye , and blessed be thy race , thrice happie he that taught thy musicke sownd , ioye to their hearts , whom mis●rye doth wound . cast feare away , i le be thy patronesse : while chynthia liues endymion is sure ; let no astonishment , thy minde oppresse : thus did her gracious words , the shepheard cure . who looking vp with countenance demure , bowing himselfe with humble reuerence , address●d this speech , vnto her excellence . renowned cynthia glorie of thy sexe , for learning had in admiration : the shine of whose illustrious reflexe , may dazle wits of high inuention : diuine mistresse of elocution , pardon poore shepheards rude , and worthlesse rymes , not such as were the layes of olderne tymes . rare is thy skill , in mightie poesie ; whom poets laureat crowne , with lasting bayes , in songs of neuer dying memorie , such as greater homer sung in former dayes . when he with hymnes , did chaste cassandra praise . o let me liue i pray thee , on this hill , and tune in country sort my crazed quill . this modest sute , ( quoth cynthia ) is not fit for thee to craue ; nor for my state to graunt : thou oughtst in higher straine t' aduance thy wit , and sacred notes mongst learned men to chaunt ; mee list not to thy face thy musicke vaunt . i like it well , and this may thee suffice , songs of no worth i vtterly dispise . if thou accountst my iudgement any thing , and deemst mee farre remote from flatterie , let me entreate thee once againe to sing , melodious notes of sweetest harmonie . for such doe please the highest deitie , and comfort vs after our weary howers , which we haue spent in gathering gilliflowers . the shepheard lowting low , m●●le obeysance , to all the blessed ladies in their gre● : hee promised to shew his puissance , and tooke his pipe downe from a lawrell tree . ( for hundreds such on ida planted be ) appollo set them circle-wise for w●nder ▪ to shrowd the shepheards from lame vulcans thunder . and all the ladies plac'd themselues a rowe , to compasse round the mightie cynthia . before was neuer seene such glorious showe ▪ to grace endymion in cambria . who ( encouraged by musophila , the lady bride , and bride of happy choyce ) tun'de well his pipe , vnto his trembling voice ▪ and sang the song of vniuersall pan , high soueraigne god , and prince of happines : when , where , and how , great iou● this globe began , to shew his euerlasting mighti●es . how euerie orbe his center doth possesse , and all things else as now they framed beene , in blessed order , comelie to be seene . i heard him sing a laye of mickle worth , which i by partes will orderly relate , helpe me great cynthia to set it foorth , being choice melodie and intricate , prized by poets at the highest rate , a subject fit for sydneys eloquence , high chaucers vaine , and spencers influence . the song . before this world ( quoth he ) ●as set in frame , or any thing , had essence , fo●●e , or name , or sunne or moone or starry f●●mament , or planetarie orbes , or element ▪ or snow ▪ o● haile , or any meteore , whereof each element produceth store : or sea , or sand , or pearle ▪ or fowle , or fish , or any iewell , which the world may wish , or flora● mantle garnished with flowers , wherewith you ladies , decke your princely bower● : or trees , or beasts , or any creeping thinges , which nature in abundance dayly brings : or golde , or siluer , copper , leade or brasse , or glorious man , or blessed woman was , or any thing that may be thought vpon , had eyther state ▪ or constitution ; there was one soueraigne god , which we call pan , that cannot be defin'd by mortall man. some call him ioua for his existence , some elo●ym for his excellence , some call him theos for his burning light some call him deus , for his fearefull might . some call him mightie tetragrammaton of letters fower in composition , there is no region vnderneath the skie , but by foure letters write the deitie . for fower is a perfect number square , and aequall sides in euerie part doth beare . and god is that , which sometime good we nam'd . before our english tongue was shorter fram'd : pan in the greeke , the shepheards doe him call , which we doe tearme the whole vniuersall . all in himself , all one , all euerie where , all in the center , all out , all in the spheare , all seeing all , all comprehending all , all blessed , almightie , all aeternall , comprehended in no circumference of no beginning , nor ending essence , not capable of composition , qualitie , accident , diuision , passion , forme , or alteration . all permanent without mutation ▪ principall mouer alwaies in action , without wearinesse or intermission . immortall , and without infirmitie , of euerlasting splendent maiestie . one in essence , not to be deuided , yet into trinitie distinguished ▪ three in one essence , one essence in three ▪ a wonder i confesse too hard for mee . yet diuine poets innumerable , with strong arguments vnresistable , as theorems , and demonstrations , deliuer it , to our contemplations . the father , sonne , and holy ghost these three , are subsistent persons in the deitie : abba , ben , ruach , blessed poets sing , are the true names of pan coelestiall king. this may suffice , to shewe a mysterie , that passeth mortall mans capacitie . now to proceed : blessed immortall pan , was not alone before this world began , yet were no angels as then created , nor angels offices destinated . nor could their attendance doe him pleasure , in whom consisted all blessed treasure , all comprehending pan was then no where . a certaine place must euery angel beare . not circumscriptiue but definitiue . pan fils eache place in manner repletiue . but abbae , ben , ruach in trinitie , making one pan in perfect vnitie , whole pan in eache , and each of these in pan , a mystery that passeth reach of man , these were sufficient of themselues to frame , this glorious engine which we cosmos name . who when he pleas'd to make his glory know'n and haue his power manifestly show'n , he putteth on triumphant maiestie , that all his creatures might him glorifie . and at one instant with his onely word , as a most mightie , and imperiall lord , this wondrous frame , of heauen and earth we s●e ▪ at once were made in substance as they bee . yet was this frame a masse vnpolished , void of all forme , rude and vngarnished , water , earth , ayre , fire , togither blended , as if confusion were the thing intended . but mightie ruach spread his powerfull wings , vpon this masse , of all confused things ; and kept it warme , making it apt to take , such different forme as pleased pan to make . so mightie ioue commaunded separation , twixt light and heauie things for generation . and of light bodies made a circumference , in circle wise from th' earth for difference . and made the earth both fast and permanent , the center of th' vniuersall continent . and all these light bodies did he then dispose , into ten heauens , the rest to enclose , the imperiall heauen first and principall , most large and beautifull glorious , eternall , where pan himselfe , doth vsually rest , where angels dwel , and sacred soules are blest : the second the first mouing heauen is , not christaline as many thinke amisse , whereby all other orbs doe chiefly moue , according to the will of pan aboue . the third is call'd the starrie firmament , which to our view is alwayes eminent . packt full of starres as goulden nailes in poast , to giue a luster vnto euery coast : to giue direction to them that saile , from port to port , for their countries auaile . to bring sweete shewers to tellus excellence , as they arise by blessed influence . one shepheard thought this orbe the first that moued , but false it is by many reasons proued , in order then doe follow 〈…〉 , knowne to each figure-stinger vnder heauen , that wize from thence many a● vncou●h-tale , as if great ●an were closed in their male , with fierie trigons and watrie triplici●●● , they dazell the mindes of humane simplicitie , turning the true nature of ast●onomie , into iudiciall egyptian sophistrie , for planets shew by their opposition , trine , quartile , sextile , or coniunction , whereto the weather and bodies doe encline , by natures course not prophecie diuine . nor can they shew by any secret starre , whether thou shalt die in pris●n or in warre , yet doubt we not ; the starres haue operation , working a secret inclination . but what and how many of these starres there b●● , of that infinite number which we see , whether the thousand and two and twentie , which shepheards single out of that plentie ; or all the starres togither in the skie , can shew when , and where , thou and i shall die . or al the vertues of the planets seauen , can proue thee damn'd , or bring thee vnto heauen : sith iudgement of the starres can all things shew , they can vnfold this mysterie i trow . the end of starres , as seely shepheards saine , was to illuminate this darkesome plaine , and to demonstrate to men of reason , spring , sommer , haruest , and winter season . not to foreshew what certaine shall befall , to euerie part of this vniuersall . but to conclud , i say , as i began , a modest wisdome well beseemes a man. yet these are the names of the planets seuen , as neere as simple shepheards 〈◊〉 them 〈◊〉 , saturne , iupiter , and mars , are three , next to the starrie welken in degree , much slower than the rest in motion , because of their loftie constitution . phoebus is next which we call sol , the sunne , without whose light the world were cleane vndone without whose heate nothing that liu's could liue , for light and heate , no planet else doth giue . he is the fost'rer of this earthly round , and all the creatures that therein be found , piercing all things belowe with powerfull raies ( harke how the chirping birds do chaunt his praise ) he swiftly runnes ouer th' vniuersall , in twentie foure howres a day naturall and yet he keepes a station diuine , staying one month in euerie zodiake signe . producing creatures of such varietie , as mou's all men t' admire his deitie . no starre within the vvelkin taketh place , but borrowes light of his resplendent grace . the mightie ocean is nourished by him , phaebe her selfe without his light is dim . ioues winged messenger sweete mercurie , is fed by phoebus blessed harmonie . venus the darling to the god of warre , doth neuer rest if phoebus be too farre . the bottom of the sea , the fish , the sand , receiue their comfort from his blessed hand . tellus her selfe , and flora in her pride , die and consume , if phoebus looke aside . the diamond , saphyr , and rubie red , by phoebus scorching heate are ingendred : the golden mettals in the deepest mine , do consecrate their being to his shrine . ceres that queene doth fade and pine away , if mightie phoebus hide his golden ray . yea bacchus and pales , are soone withered , if phoebus in the spring doe hide his head . aeternall night shall all the world oppresse , if phoebus doe with-draw his golden tresse . there was a light before there was a sunne , and day and night before phoebus begunne . yet is the sunne the cause of day and night . shepheards diuine must iudge the reason right , they say a glimering light did whirling wend , from east to west , vnto none other end , but to supplie for a time phoebus place , till he was made to runne his princely race . but then this whirling light that heau'n graced , contracted was , and in great phoebus placed , who euer since was cause of night and day , as learned shepheards sounden in their lay . next is the orbe , and spheare of cytharaeae , lame vulcans wife , vnconstant dal●la , cupids mother , diana's mortall foe , cause of most warres which gallants vndergoe . when bloodie fight the god of warre hath grieued , the ioyes of venus hath him oft relieued : therefore hath venus vulcans bed forsaken , and dreadfull mars his lodging vndertaken , but why doth beauties queene loue man so well ? whose words are wounds , whose frowns do death foretell shee triumpheth in his coniunction , she 's grieued at his opposition : when he is merrie , then shee laughes or smiles , and with conceits the longest nights beguiles . can there ●e any perfect sympathie , t'wixt bloodie warres , and chamber-melodie ? else pan forbid : but let vs vnderstand , the matter well that we do take in hand . t'wixt warres and peace can be no sympathie , but man and woman are in peace pardie . great pan ordain'd as shepheards do relate , contrarie elements without debate , should altogither in one bodie dwell , louing each other , and agreeing well : so though mars be bloodie in his center , yet is he pacified if venus enter . againe faire venus with smyling pleasance know's how t' asswage his angrie countenance , so that there is a perfect harmonie , twixt white and blacke directly contrarie , which being mixed do agree for euer , whom neither art , or nature , can disseuer . and this is the reason , as shepheards skan , why a faire ladie loues a martiall man. next comes to our consideration , mercurie fraught with sophistication . nimble , ingenious , busie as the bees , wittie , as an ape , to follow what he sees . in each thing some skill , in full arte no bodie● thus whirleth about this mercurial nodie . prate like a perrot and readie of tongue , at dice ▪ cards , and gaming all the day long . of wit sharpe and subtile , of quicke apprehention , fit to exployte any rare mad inuention . vvhy these be mercurial , if thou wouldest weet ! it 's because mercurius hath winged feet , all designments to put in execution , as planets superior worke reuolution . faithfully keeping his circular spheere , passing the zodiak signes in one whole yeere . now must we speake of earths blessed mother , the lowest planet swifter than other . lowest of all , and nearest to our view , resplendent phaebe , chaste , powerfull and true . glorious nurse of all this lower frame , infusing moysture to the burning flame , of parching phoebus , whose fierie beames , she doth allay , and coole with moistning streames . the moone , dyana , phaebe , cynthia , shepheards call hir in terra florida one of hir names i doe ascribe to thee , in whom her princely vertues seated bee . dee'r princesse laureat of helli●on , deigne to accept it from endymion . since thou participat'st with her in qualitie , her name thy mightinesse shall dignifie . i call her phaebe now for difference , betweene thy selfe and her magnificence . all things vpon , and all within the round , vnto her soueraigntie are deepely bound , her greatnesse is the nine and thirtieth part , of all the earth as shepheards finde by art. in eight iust houres , and seuen and twentie dayes , she runs through the twelue zodiack signes alwayes , she swiftly passeth through the zodiacke , great phoebus in his course to ouertake . in twelue houres and nine and twentie dayes , she ouertak's the sonne , ptolom●e sayes . and this is iustly called heauens wonder , that these two planets distant farre a sonder , once euery month , meete in conjunction . to celebrate matrimoniall function . o joyfull time when these two ●ouers meet ! when with sweet congies one doth th' other greet . but when they meete long time they cannot stay , phoebus must part , swift time calles him away . phaebe returnes to vndertaken 〈◊〉 , no hower granted in idlenesse to ma●ke . phoebus parting giues her light sufficient , t'lluminate th' inferior continent . which like a faithfull wife she doth dispose , proportionable to the neede of those , that high or lowe haue their habitation capable of her constellation ; she waggoneth to neptunes pallace than , that wonneth in the mightie ocean : she views the creekes , ports , hauens ▪ and towers , and giu's them floods and ebbs at certaine houres . which euermore she truly doth obserue , not one momentall minute doth she swerue , which skilfull mariners aswell 〈◊〉 tell , as little babies can their crosse 〈◊〉 spell . thence she doth se●rch the cauerns of the deepe , where strange and hydeous monsters vse to keepe . hydrippus , balana , and hydra fell , gendred by cerberus porter of hell , hin'dring by vertue their venemous brood , drenching their spawne in the brinish flood . that sayling passengers at their leysure , mought safely touch their porte with pleasure . she viewes the bottom of the ocean , where neuer walked mortall liuing man. there beene shell-fishes innumerable , armed with scaly-shields impenetrable . there lies muscles with pearles replenished , wherewith the robes of nymphes beene garnished . there growen the scallop , cockle , welke and oyster ▪ the tortoyse , creuise , and creeping lobster , the lympet , sea-snaile , with infinite moe , which in the treasury of thetis goe ; all these shee cherisheth , as if they were the noblest creatures in the highest sphere . she giu's them gifts that most of them should yawne , at each full sea for comforting their spawne . and to the sea she giues dayly motion , to ebbe and flow to voyde corruption . she giu's her fertill generation , and perfect meanes of vegitation . so that thetis hath more prouision , of fish and foule in great diuision : then all th'inhabitable earth can show , or skill of mortall man can know . but all that of the sea is said , or done , is to demonstrate the glorie of the moone , for the seas place and constitution , requireth a speciall discourse alone . and is reserued to his proper place , so i 'le proceede to speake of phaebes grace , and show how she within her spherick globe , cherisheth great tellus and flora's robe ; cotchelling all things in their 〈…〉 , till they haue got strength and maturitie . there is no man , or woman , 〈◊〉 , or trade , nor any thing that mightie 〈◊〉 hath made , nor tree , nor plant , nor hearbe , nor grasse , nor flower , but is maintained by her mightie power . she shewes the plowman when to sowe the ground , to crop , to fell , to haue his timber sound ▪ she wizeth surgeons when to ope a veine ; to ease the sicke , and stop it fast againe . she showes physitions times necessarie , to purge by pils , drinke or e●ectuarie . to cure rheums , fluxes , and bodies laxatiue , to giue a medicine preparatiue , to giue a vomit , clister , or garga●ise : marking the signe wherein faire phaebe lyes . these sacred vertues , qualities diuine , do make her wonderfull in shepheards eine , and straine the world to celebrate her name , with louely hymnes , and euerlasting fame . thus were the heauens orderly disposed , by glorious pan as you haue heard disclosed . yet is endymions taske but now begonne , when one would think his webbe were wholly sponne vnfold he must an other mysterie , and anatomize diuine philosophie . how the vast space t'wixt heauen and earth was fil'd , with elementall spheares as ioua wil'd , that emptinesse might haue no habitation , amongst the workes of gods creation . o you caelestiall euer-liuing fires ▪ that done inflame our hearts with high desires ; our spokes beene blunt , rude , ha●●●ish , vncooth , vnable in mysteries to know the sooth . vnkempt , vnpolished , ignorant lewde , vneth with one drop of nectar bedewde . high are the mysteries we take 〈◊〉 hand , to discuss● of fire , aier , sea , and land . with euery thing therein contained , and by the wisdome of pan ordeyned ▪ on bended knee therefore with humble prostration , endymion maketh his supplication , to illuminate th' eyes of his blinded minde , the secrets of this lower world to finde , to discouer them to men vnlettered , whose knowledge with ignorance is fettered . and hee will sacrifice vnto your shrine , the fat of lambes and sweetest eglantine : with garlands of roses and gilliflowers , hee 'l decke and garnishe all your sacred bowers , and with his choycest notes and roundelayes , cause hil's and dales to celebrate your praise , and all the bordring shepheards shall admyre , the strange effects of your coelestiall fyre . the force whereof doth make me to entreat , of that which doth adioyne to phoebus seate ; which is thought to bee the firy element , aboue the rest for lightnes excellent , most rare and thinne , most hot , yet doth not shine , of no colour , yet of qualitie diuine . rounde in fygure , yet most swiftly moues , not of it selfe as aristotle proues : but by the mightie agitation , of planets superior in operation . next to the moone in constitution , speedie , and swifte in reuolution . giuing heate to euery thing compounde , that hath his being in the lower round . not conspicuous to any mortall eye because of his thinnes , and raritie , yet burneth and consumeth vtterly , what so resisteth his flaming furie . hee worketh straunge meteors in the night , which shepheards hau'n often in their sight . by vapors drawne from the heate of the sunne , from out the earthe to a●rs high region . which vapours ( once by this fyre o● flamed ) expresse strange formes which meteor● are named ▪ such as be comets and the bla●●ing sta●s ▪ by which some shepheards prog●●sticate wars . but certaine they signifie stirili●i● , by reason of the earth's great ●iceity , for want of shewers and sweet moystening rayne , the cause of springing , and growing of grayne , for comets alwayes in summer appeere , when ceres calleth aquarius for ●eere . the shortest time , that blasing starres remayne , is seuen dayes as phylosophers ●ayne ; the longest time is dayes foure-score , ( too long , by so long for pierc● pl●m-mans store , ) and then they disolue into ayr● or fire , as the substance of the vapors require . starres of false helena , and starres flying , knowne to marriners in their long sayling , are within the comets comprehended , and from th' elemental fire descended . so castor , and pollux , are to saylers knowne , by these their ruine , or safetie is showen . this comet sometime lighteth on the mast , thence flyeth to the sayl's and ●acklings in hast ; skipping heere and there without certaine byding , the matter 's vnctuous , and must needs be glyding : and if it appeare before the storme beginne , it foretels the perrils that the ship is in. then they call it the starre of helena , hell's furie , deaths messenger , fierce megara ; they waile and wring their wofull hands for greife , they looke for death expecting no reliefe . but if such comets fall when stormes are ended , they say that castor and pollux them defended . they ioy and reuell vowing sacrifize ▪ for life is esteemed the richest prize , this comet constraineth the greatest wight . to magnifie pans maiestie and might . who forewarn's them of dangers imminent , to make the saylers wise and prouident , all meanes within board , carefully t' aduise , for dreadfull stormes shall presently arise . if stormes be ended when they see it fall , it is a messenger vnto them all , his glorious name , on knees to magnifie , that hath preserued them so gratiouslie . such firie vapors often-times are seene , in church-yards , and places where dead bodyes beene buryed , or executed in summer-time , in time of pestilence , or for some cryme , which idiot's say'n bin dead-mens ghosts or sprigh●s , walking those places in the irke-some nights . when as no mortall man can be able , to prooue or defend such ridiculous fable . for shepheards sayne by naturall reason , that from bodyes buried in sommer season , an vnctuos vapour , hot and dry doth rise , which phoebus seazeth according to his guise , and doth inflame it in a little space , making it tumble vp , and downe the place . such fiery vapours , sometime do abide , vpon the bodyes of men that lightly ride , or on their horses-bodyes as they nimbly pace , daftly remoouing seat , from place , to place . for when men post lightly they getten heate , vvhich being turned to an oyly-sweate . sends forth dry vapours which the sunne doth 〈◊〉 , vvhereof he doth a skipping fire make . for colours which oft in the welkin seeme , vvhich been firie meteors as men doe deeme : they be not very colours in the skie : our eye-sight fayl's vs looking so high ; these haue not the sunnes inflamation , nor any firy generation , but mightie vapours drawne from the sunne aloft , which to vs representen colours oft ; a circling garland compasseth the moone ▪ presaging windes and tempests ●●sing soon● ▪ blackish in colour , of thicke composition , shewing the weather by foule disposition . this is no inflamed fiery meteo● , but a cloudy , moysty , darke , thic●● vapor . one bright shining circle greatest of all , vvhich learned spephards gala●●a call , a beaten high-way to the gods palace ▪ glorious , beautifull , full of solace . shyning most cleare in a frostie night : and in the starrie firmament is p●ght . yet is not a vapour , nor meteor we know , nor drawne from the sunne which is farre below . but shineth most bright by resple●dant grace , by the beautie of starres that furnish the place . besides , starres dispersed , one hundred and eight , starres of note , of high regard , and weight : with glorious beames their shining display , and hence it 's called the milky-white waye , and if you will weet what starre● they hight , that maken the welkin in that place so bright : lysten you shepheards i le set them in order , as they done garnish , that circulare border . cassiopeia hath thirteene starres of note , vvherewith she frettizeth her purple cote ▪ the siluered swan that dying sweetly sings , adorn's with twelue starres her beautifull wings . the soaring eagle bearing ioues ganymed , vvith foure orientall starres garnished . the hatefull scorpion doth neuer fayle , of fiue bright torches in her poysoned tayle . sagitarius the archer bringeth three , and the centaur twise as many as hee , twentie three starres , the noble ship of greece , bring 's in , as lamp's to spie the golden fleece . the twinn's eighteene ; the wag●●er seauen , perseus seauenteen , to lighten this heauen . all these starres maken one hundred and eight , bright and conspicuous without deceite . sporades also dispersed starres been , confusedly mixing their glimmering sheem these beene the starres that maken so bright , the welkins broad way which seemeth so white . yet not in any sort colour verament , for no colours hath the starrie firmament . nor is the rayne-bowe a firie meteor , though there appeare in it colours store , but is a mystie exhallation , by great phoebus without inflamation , after a shower appearing in the ayre , shewing the weather thence foorth to be fayre . and euer appeareth halfe circlewise , oppos●te to phoebus alwayes doth rise ; hauing three colours seeming in our eye , red , yellowe , greene ▪ in the low region aerie . red highest , as neerest th' elementall fyre , a white waterish yeallow , next place doth require ▪ the lowest like emeraulde , greene as the grasse , reflecting such colours to vs ( like a glasse , taking the forme as it is obiected , presently sending the same forme reflected , backe to the author , and doth not containe , any such forme till you showe it againe ) sometimes a rayne-bow sheweth in the night , after a shower of colour watrish white , not red , nor greene ; to the moone opposite . thus glorious pan discouereth his mighte . but diuine shepheards soothly sayen , in their high layes with wordes plaine : that though it be , one thing by generation , yt's another thing in contemplation . representing to vs all sickerly , a sealed eternall testimonie , that this center of the vniuersall round , as once it was should not againe be drownde . nor cloudy water● hi● 〈…〉 belowe , should dare presume the earth to ouer-flowe . but should them holde in their habitation , that man and beast should ha●● a quiet station . thus blessed glorious euerlasting pan , safely prouided for the life of man. some other things the philosopers haue named , that firie beene , and are not yet inflamed . the burning thunderbolt , the lightning flash . that trees , beasts , and buildings in peeces dash . wreaking by fell spite on the world this injurie : confounding all things in their spightfull fury , that mortall wights , takne them for fiends of hell , that in a moment simple creatures quell . of so swift and forceable penetration , of so sudden motion , and operation , yea , of so wonderfull a qualitie , by reason of their hotte agilitie ▪ that things incredible by them been done , as sowring the wine , and sauing the tonne ; breaking the sword not hurting the sheath , the stemme of an oke in peeces they wreath . and vpon the world bring desolation , seeming to spoyle the frame of creation . the fiery whirle-windes which we prester call , of fearefull wonders exceeden all. vvhich beene hote dry vapours whirled together , from th' earth to heauen , no man knowes whither . in forme of a circled piller they wend , and through our region of th● ayre ascend . with violent motion making a praye , of each loose parcell that stands in their waye . gyring and whirling it vp to the skie , ( some laundresses seene their ●ynnen so ●lye ) brute beasts at the comming thereof doe crye , as fearing their immynent ieopardy . these taken ships out of the ocean , and caryen them beyonde the skill of man. letting them fall from the ayrie region , to their vtter ruine and subuersion . whole flouds of waters from the brynish-store , of thetis they sucke vp for euermore ▪ carrying them to the ayers middle region , the coldnes whereof stoppeth them anon. driuing them downe headlong to the center , not suffering them that region to enter . so all at once they fall downe suddainly , as a great mountaine by extremitie . drowning whole ships vnder-sayle in their rage , for nothing but death may their furie asswage . the profit we get by this consideration , is to haue gods workes in admiration , and to bethinke vs , with what facilitie , pan can destroy , all humane hostilitie . and so to humble vs vnder his hand , that free from dangers wee may safely stand . stedfastly hoping to stand vnreprooueable , as mightie mountaines vnremooueable . now hence must we proceed incontinent , to discant of the ayery element , being simple , and subtile , thinne , rare , and quicke , pierced by grose substance , heauie , and thicke : capable of all formes and figures jniected , vvhererby her body , is often jnfected ; scituate next to the fire in degree , by reason of his transparant leuitee . receiuing meteors elementarie , according as ascending vapours varie . affording breath to euery earthly thing , that openeth mouth , or flyes with feathered wing ▪ yea the fishes in the ocean were dead , if colde thicke-yce the ocean ouer-spread . which ioyeth in ayres respiration , to keepe the waters from corruption . for fishes in the deepe beene murdered , if ayers refreshing gales been hindered . hotte and moyst , by essentiall qualitie , yet hath a coole-refreshing propertie . by reason of the waters vicinitie , sending forth vapours colde continuallie . vvhich by the ayers agitation , are made a temperate respiration ; ayded by the cooling of the breathing winde , vvhereby this element is oft refin'de , and man , and beast , and euery thing that liu's , is nourished by the temperature it giu's . and wormes abandoned from budding trees , and extreme heate , allayed by degrees . thus was this splendent ayrie element , placed by pan with perfect complement , distinguished into regions three , as bookish shepheards euidently see ; the highest next the firie element , the middle second 's it incontinent : the lowest is that space wherein we dwell , vvhereof great philosophers wonders tell . the first is hotte : the middle extreme colde ; the third is temperate for reasons tolde . the lowest orbe ▪ the fowles ●oon glorifie , and with sweet notes great 〈◊〉 doe magnifie . the eagle , griffin , falcon , marlion , the nightingale , and turtle pidgeon , the thrush , the lynnet , and mounting larke , besides the fowles that flyen in the darke , the bittour pyping in a syrin● reede , vvayling that virgins losse in mourning weede . vvith fowles of price and worth innumerable , vvhere-with great states gar●ishen their table . these take delight to sporte them in their ayre , cheefely if phoebus make the region fayre , the middle region's coldest in his place , for phoebus there yet neuer shewed his face . vvhich is the cause of slee●e ▪ of hayle , of snowe , all which by vertue of this region growe . the highest region of the ayre is hot ; where all the fiery meteors are begot . being placed next the fiery element , vvhich doth inflame with heate that regiment the meteors to the ayre destinated , are simply windes , and earth-quakes nominated included in a vapor others there be , which yet are meteors in their degree . as stormes , & whirl-windes , and the mightie thunder , rumbling as if heauen would cleaue a sunder . windes are vapors included in a caue , whence by phoebus force they issue haue ; and drawne by heate to the mid region , ( which is all colde by constitution ) there they would enter , but being expelled , to be dispersed they are compelled . to euerie part of this our lower ayer , whereby they purge it , and make it soe fayer . all merchants and saylers are highly bound , to the time when first this meteor was found . two and thirtie windes maryners finde out , by which they saylen the round worlde about . to east and west , indies fayre virginia , guyana , chyna , p●ru , and gynnea ; and whatsoeuer the southerne pole descryes , vvhat hidde treasure in america lyes , the winds discouer to great brittania , the noble empire of old albania ; another commoditie shepheards finde , by the excellent nature of the winde , when a watry-cloude from the sea is taken , by the winde it is , all-in-peeces shaken ; and so disseuered into drops of rayne , to comfort the withered , and parched plaine : the scorched-grasse , on the loftie mountaine , reuiu's it selfe and getteth life againe . for if this watry clowde should whollie fall , the weight would destroy and ouer-whelme all . these are not winds of monstrous generation , but naturall windes of gentle inclination . the earth-quake is a simple meteor , ayrie and vncompounded as before ; an ayrie vapor , closed in some de● , or concaue of the earth , remote from men , serching for an issue , and finding none , beateth vp and downe , seeking to be gone , but all in vayne , then being fast enclosed , it shak's the earthe in searching to be losed . this is the cause of great tellus trembling ( a man in a shaking feuer resembling ) what future euents it doth prognosticate , i will not presage , th' effect is intricate . but if a smale vapor be of that power , to shake the whole frame of the earth in one houre , how may proud man full of infirmitie , susteine the furie of the deitie ? of the whirle-windes we haue spoken before , neyther will we as now adde any more . but that they be not meteors conta●ned , in the fire , or ayre , but to both restrained . a storme is of a windie propertie , with force dispersing vapors watery , with great droppes of rayne so beating the place , as if it would beate the skin off a mans face . such fearefull stormes , are hurtfull to the tree's , they pinch the cattell and destroy the bees , beate down the hearbes , and grasse ▪ & blades of graine , wherewith the shepheards must their flockes sustaine . the fearefull thunder must not be forgot , of ayerie , and watry vapors begot ▪ drawne by force to the highest region , ( where it may haue no perfect mansion ) rowleth in the ayer with fearefull sound , till water gets issue to moyst the ground . then downe it falleth with drops violent , therefore be sure it cannot bee permanent . now comes the watrie element in hand , enuroning round the habitable-land , a bodie moyst fluent , circular , and thinne , penetrable and colde containing therein , innumerable fishes of great varietie , differing in magnitude and qualitie . continually moouing in forme circular , about the brim of this earth particular , the substance of this element ouerspred , and the bodie of this earth enuironed , so that the face thereof could not be seene , but hidden lay as if it had not beene , till almightie pan this watrie element , gathered togither from the continent ; into one vaste-roome , station and place ; leauing faire tellus ▪ with vnuailed face , drie and vnmantled , without viriditie , hard and solide without humiditie . then gan the mountaines of armenia , burning tartarus , aetna in sycillia , sacred olympus , parnassus crowned by the muses , hermon renowned , tabor , horeb , euer blessed syon , sometime iehouah's habitation . all rocks and hilles though they were farre distant , appeared eminently at one instant . the dales and plaines , and barren wildernesse , appeared drie , all voyd of comelinesse . for flora yet was hidden in her bower , grinding her colours fit for euerie flower , greene , vitrioll , violet , vermilion , to garnish vp the queenes pauilion . the siluered ceruse , and cuchenella , the azured blew and purpurella , with these colours must be enamiled , the flowers which tellus haue apparelled ; naked therefore and void of ornament , pan discouereth this earthly element . and these huge waters he diuided ▪ that some in clowds aboue th' earth should go , that with distilling drops of moysth●ng raine , might comfort tellus parched face againe . the rest might keepe their perfect ●●ation , t' ingender fish , and further nauiga●ion : he made it of continuall motion , to keepe the fishes from corruption , he made it salt aboue for speciall reason , that it might the slymie fishes season . in twentie fower howers it ebbs and flow's twise , impossible therefore to be ouerflowen with ice . the cause of this swift agitation , is mightie phaebes alteration , for as she wanes , or doth in light encrease , so doth the sea her floods augment , 〈◊〉 cease . the cause of her saltnesse is by accident , of phoebus piercing beames so vehement . bringing from the seas foundation , drie vapours which by inflamation : are burn'd to salt by the heate of the sunne , and hence the saltnesse of the sea begunne ▪ for waters themselues haue no sau●●r at all , but as it comes by cause accidentall . hence are ingendred moyst meteors , almightie iouah's strong ambassadors , the mist , the deaw , the frost , the hollow clowd , that doth the elementall vapors shrowd . the raine , the snow , the fearefull haile , the sleete , wherewith in februarie or march we meete . the sleete can neuer in the summer fall , for then the middle region's coldst of all , the mist is a vapour which all men knowe and doth of watrie exhalations growe , if it ascendeth before it doth raine , of much raine it is a token certaine , but if it doth rise when shower is e●ded , fowle weather 's gone , and th' aire amended , it is the matter also of the falling dewe , which doth the face of great flora renewe . and if this vapour be foggie and thicke , the raine will ensue : then speed away quicke , if not raine , then snow , or haile without doubt : shall be the issue , therefore looke about , but if this myst appeare subtile , or thinne , then shall the sweete deawes , or sharpe frosts begin . but in summer , deaw : in winter the frost , do follow the myst in euerie coast . the cause of the deaw as shepherds do finde , is luke-warme breathing of the southern winde . the cause that hindereth the deaws generation , is the northren winds cold inflation , the aptest times for the deaw to abound , spring , haruest , faire-day , when no winds do sound , this meteor worketh mightie effects ; and is high prized for many respects , when hearbs and grasse are parched and combust , and phoebus burning flames colours them like dust , then comes the deaw , and doth them recreate : making them fresh , virent and fortunate , the bowels of the beasts it maketh soluble , and all the grasse more sweete and voluble , a wonder yet he●e-hence , is collected , which some wise shepheards hau'n obiected . how manna a deaw which is hot and drie , withering the hearbs and making them die , and now is taken for purgation : should haue a contrarie operation ; and nourish th'israelites in the desert , the solution is for men expert , this is wonderfull to a mortall eye , yet is no matter in th' almightie , the frost to vs men most profitable , though it seemeth nothing comfortable , is a meteor watrie amongst the rest , and for mans auaile is not reckned lest . of a thinne watrie vapour is ingendred , which to the wintrie aire soone is tendred . and by the same , in crustie pearles concreate , falles on the grasse , and pincheth vitall heate , it crusheth and abateth floras pride , stripping her naked , as a naked bride : spoyling her flowers , discolouring her greene . imprisoning her as if she were no queene ; all these be discommodities i trowe , obserue the commodities which doe growe by this meteors vertue , and qualitie , which grow'n by his forces abundantly . all hurtfull wormes in the earth it doth kill , and all noxious humors in the bodie spill : these are the benefits which pan doth giue to a colde frost , that mortall man might liue . the name of a clowde is so commonly knowne , that labour is lost if more should be showne : for it is a vapour moyst , grosse , eleuate , by phoebus force to the region scituate in the middst of the aire : where being compact , by the colde circle till it be ransact by phebus heate : so moystned againe , is squeezed into a shower of raine , as a sponge in water deeply sunken , vntill it hath the whole moysture drunken : if with force of hand you squeeze it suddainly , water from sundrie parts thereof will fly : raine is an issue from a clowde watrie ; by drops discending from a region ayrie : ( the middle region of that element ) to moysten this habitable continent . where man and beast receyuen nourishment , and flora makes her mantle orient ▪ when a moyst vapour thicke eleuated , and by the colde region mace●●●ed , descendeth downe vpon the earth belowe , it is then called a meteor of snowe . the drops that done fall , resemble a feather , not as rain's-round-drops contracted together , the feathered-flakes dispersed are bound , to couer the lower circulare round . shepheards at this time fodderen their ●●ocke , with the prouision of the sommer ●tocke . boyes setten lime-twigs , and diggen pit-falles watching hungrie birds behind trees and walles : which comming thither , for food , vnawares , are tangled in lyme , or taken in snares ; shepheards weare freezes , and ladies vse furres , to keep them from rewmes , ca●arres , & cold murres ; snow water , hus-wiues at euerie turning , saue in a glasse gainst scalding or burning . so farre is the snow from doing of harme , that rootes of trees , corne and grasse , it keepes wa●●e ▪ as with a mantle the earth it enfoldes , preseruing the same from violent coldes . it fattons the fallow as shepheards rehearse , mellowing the ridges , for coulters to pearse . in the highest mountaine and frozen hill , snow gendreth cristall and shyning berrill . thus is snow not the meanest ornament , for vs that in the earth are resident ▪ the haile is reckoned as a mightie cursse , making all worldly creatures much the worsse . and in sommer season is ingendred , when grasse and corne is chiefly tendred . the reason why it is hard compacted , is because it hath his cold contracted . for when it came to the middle region , he found it colder in disposition then it was wont to be ; because the heate of phoebus beames , doth now more strongly beate ▪ which when it cannot beare , it gathereth round , it selfe , least phoebus should his force confound . and so dissolue it into raine , or sleete , to do some good ▪ for which haile is not meete . therefore round , colde , and hard , it doth discend , of purpose princely flora to offend . " for there can be no perfect con●enience , " twixt noble nature and male●olence . vpon her fruits it makes intrusion , beating in peeces with confusion , the buds of trees , the hearbs , the corne , the flowers , which tellus kept for floras para●ours . there is no watrie meteor in the ayre , but is profitable and debonaier , except this crabbed and furious haile , that fiercely our nourishment doth assaile , for sleete is not so forcible or strong , to doe dame flora and her babies wrong . discending in march , or in februarie , when phoebus shews his burning luminarie , but here some may a question propound , requiring a philosopher profound , why is the ayres middle region , coldest in the burning sommer season ? and in the winter time more temperate , raine ( and not haile ) fitter to generate ? answere . two contraries doe alwayes flie , the one from the other naturally , so when it is extreame hottest weather , the cold collecteth his forces together , and keepes himselfe close in his owne defence , least heate should surprize or expell him thence . then is he colder then he was before , hauing abundance of coldnesse in store . but if that heate be from him deuided , his force is dissolued : our poynt decided , now is the discourse of the water ended . and the shepheard to the earth discended : the centre of the whole vniuersall , whose circumference is emperiall , whose bodie is round wholy considered . though of other forme in peece● seuered . colde , and dry by naturall propertie , seated permanent , on her axeltree , aequallie standing , no way declyning , solid , and heauier , not bright , or shyning , full of creatures of diuine excellence , gracing high pans might and magnificence . the mother of all grosse , and heauie things that grow , creepe , or goe , or fly'n with wings ; ( fynnie footed fowles excepted , and fishes , vvhich ●eruen for thetis banquetting dishes ) although their might arise some difference , vvhether sea , or land hath the preheminence . for fethered fowles first generation , which in the seas haue propagation . for that sea-fowles , as shepheards vnderstand , layen , and hatchen , their eggs on the land , and also neuer to saylers appeare , but it is certaine some yland is neere ; yt seemes , i might conclude in generall , tellus is mother of fowles vniuersall . a mother adorned with vertues excellent , in action , passion , and habit , different , from all other elements supernall , the center of creation-naturall ; hauing seuen rare , speciall properties , whereof each-one a mother glorifies : fruitefull , good , neuer-weary , patient , most constant , faithfull , liberally-bent . fruitfull , alwayes parturient , and teeming ▪ vvhat heauenly forces , beget to our seeming . shee dayly produceth , and bringeth to light . shee 's alwayes with childe , in winters despight . good of nature , and kinde by creation , to all her babyes , by generation . cherishing them all in their infancie , till they may shift for themselues hansomlie . neuer wearie of worke , still dooing well , cheerefully viewing , each place of her cell . swathing , and bathing , well the tender limmes , of all her yonglings , and with butter t●●mm●s , the chafed places of their fylmy-skinne , curing their bodies without and within . patiently suffring sclaunderous words , vvhich wounden the mind more deeper then swords . she suffereth worldings , to spit in her face , to disgorge , to trample , spurne , and disgrace , to wound with ploughing , where they liken best , to search her bowels , her belly , her brest ; to steale her iewels , and deepe hidden treasure , both for necessitie , and for pleasure . constant , not wauering , alwaies the same , immooueable , keeping her glorious frame . faithfully sauing , what to her you tender , vntill you require her the same thing to render . if wheate you deliuer , wheat shall you receiue ; shee meanes not with darnell , your barne to deceiue . if gold you deliuer , then golde shall you finde , for tellus beareth , a most faithfull minde . but if you will speake of her liberall plentie , for one corne of graine you shall receiue twentie . vvhen all thy friends thy body haue forsaken ; then marke the earth what she hath vndertaken . a body dead , stinking corrupt , impure , vvhose stench and gastly-view none can endure , opening her wombe , she takes it in againe . and keep 's it safe from p●utos fierie traine . rendring't againe in shining puritie : from putrifaction to immortalitie . obserue thou well her qualities diuine : and by immitation make them all thine . for further must my wearied pipe assay , by part 's , her hidden treasures to display . shewing the glorie of her blessed face , her breast , her wombe , and euery secret place . arcadian orphe● make my musicke able , to annatomize mysteries vnspeakable . hearken great cynthi● how euterpe sings of tellus mantle , which sweet flora brings , of colour greene with flowers entercheckt : by curious skill of princely architect . with hearbs and plants , and grasse for euery beast , tapistred with foules , and beasts comely dreast . now hath queene tellus put her mantle on , flora tryumphing in her paragon ▪ she deckes her queene with roses white and red , muske and sweet roses in damasco bred . fragrant gilliflowers and carnation , enamiled with pure vermilion , the purple violet , and columbine , the silu'red flower of sweete eglantine , the dasie , cow-cup , sweet smelling-walflower , the flower de luce : the raine-bowes paramour , the whitest lillie , and the daffadill , the paggle , and the blessed pimpernill : the mary golde , and partie coloured pinke : the paunsey , and the hearts-ease , as shepheards think with others infinite in variation , differing in colour , forme , and creation , with sauour , and odoriferous smell : refreshing the braine , as ladies can tell , the gilliflower striketh admiration , to shepheards marking her creation . marking the substance whereof it is framed , the different forme whereby it is named , the precious colour wherewith it 's varnished and the sweet sauour where with it 's garnished . besides the flowers which in the mantle been , diuersitie of hearbs , and plants , are seene . vvherewith our ladies , curen maladies : sauing our bodies , from extremities . these doon fayre ladies , in their gardens plant , as in a store-house , to supply their want . the sage , the basill , and the lauender , the bitter worme-wood , rue , and germander , the louely veruin , balsam , sauory , the smaladge , liuer-wort , and centorie , the eye-bright , and the powerfull cel●dony , the camomill , head-purging beto●y : bloodwort , muggwort , hartestrong , and patience , parcelye , penny-reall , for ingredience , leaues of violets , strawberries , succory , endiue , time , buglosse , spannish pellitory , margerom-gentle , spikenard , southern-wood , burnet , burrage for claret wine good . sauen and spurge , for strong purgation , hurtfull to womens generation ▪ clary , dragans , blessed angelica , holy thistle , and indian tobacca . featherfew , knot-grasse , and mayden hear● , the brest and longs , from phlegme cleare . speremit , playntaine , and faire e●●mony , spinage , costmary , for a timpany ▪ sparage , beares-foote , and oculus-christi : whose black-seedes , purgen eyes , dimme and mistie : eight or ten , of these seedes put in thine eye , vvill runne , vp to the , eye lids immediately : not grieuing the eye or hindring the ●ight , and there will they worke till they haue made bright , and purged the eye , from all corruption : then full of white slime , will drop out alone . besides these hearb's , beene trees innumerable , some bearing fruite , of taste de●ectable , and some for stately building● ▪ profitable , whereof men maken shippes na●igable . it were a matter hard , and intrica●e , orderly of each , to particulate , but these were all made , for mans sustentation , or else of purpose , for his recreation , and on the face of mightie tellu● stand , admirable workes of pans powerfull hand . the loftie caedar , and sable cypresse , threatening the welkin , with his mounting tresse . sweet smelling firre , and saxifrace , vvhich men venerous , done highly grace . besides their smell yeeld turpentine , profitable pitch , and richest rozine , the builders oake , and plough-mens ashen tree : princes , and souldiers , regard in their degree . the weeping elme , the be●ch , the byrch , the playn● ▪ haue vertues rare , and were not made in vaine . for fruitfull trees , that beene commodious , are so well known , that it were tedious to recken them in order seuerally , for it is thought fond in philosopy , to prooue a thing by demonstration , that none denies , or needs probation . so many fruites of blessed qualitie doth pan prouide for mans necessitie . that would the minde of mortall men amaze , no pamphlet , but huge volumes must them hlaze ; vve know , we haue , we vse , we taste , we eate : the vertue , tree , the leafe , the fruite , the meate : now must endymion dresse himselfe to sing , of beasts , of fowles , of euery creeping-thing ▪ of bees , of waspes , of hornets ▪ and of flyes , vvhich pan made not : but of corruption rise . wilde , feirce , raging beasts garnishen her robe : and with varietie diaper her globe ; the roaring lyon , and dreadfull tyger , the strange hyena and fearefull panther , armed rhinoceros , the vgly beare , the precious vnicorne , whose horne is deare . the ermine , leoparde , martin , and sable , vvhose princely skins beene rich and marchantable rich luzerns , white and blake , foxe , mineueer , elke , and bugle , budge , and the swift reine deer , gemps ; shamoys , roe-bucke ; and the stately hart ; the vvolfe , the squirill iumping by art. from tree to tree , with that dexteritie , as makes men wonder her celeritie . the siluered white , blacke and gra● 〈◊〉 : good for the house and sparing of mo●●ey . the skinnes of these beasts beene profitable , highly prized and to marchants ●●able . the vrchin & the quilled porpen●ine ; are good for medicine as the grea●e of swine . th' emparked nimble deere red and fallowe , making hornes to sound , and hunters ●allowe . light footed hare a game for mighty kings , at whose pursute , the faery 〈◊〉 sings : redoubling twise , or thrise , the merry soundes , of hallowing knight , shril-horne , 〈◊〉 chaūting hoūdes . the craftie badger , the watry ott●● whome howndes pursue , till they hauen got her these beastes been of highest regard and price to pleasure princes and to murder vice . wilde apes , and monkies with the marmezite wherein our noble ladies done delight . the rammish filthie stinking bab●oun , that lewde mountie-banks leaden vp and downe , to make of fond people , a great co●●●ou●se , ( a notable bayte for perkin-pickp●rse . ) these been all wilde , and yet of great esteeme , though some of these later , as tamed seem● . the pole-catte , and wilde-catte , th● weezle , & stoate , are wilde , yet discribed in great te●lus coate . the muske-catte for ciuet , and the dormouse , damn'd rats , and vilde-mise , the plague of a house . flora's sworne-foe , the mould-warpe ▪ or wante , subuerting the corne , the grasse and the plant : spoyling the medow's and the pas●ure ground , with infinite hillocks , ray●●d vp round , out of the earth , cast vp with her nose , neither is she blinde , as many suppose . these beene floras foes , scarce worth the naming , on whome no wise man , bestowes the taming . besides sauadge beastes there been domesticall , seruing for mans vse , as friendes naturall . the friendly elephant , powerfull , and strong ▪ armed with tushes , of yuorie long , sharpe , solide , and of mightie quantitie , wherewith he macerates his enemie . with these , the haughtie porus of india . fronted alexander of macedonia . these breaken rankes of the great battalia ▪ these feare not the cannons of romania , these carrie mightie castles of lightest wood vpon their backes , to make their parties good : wherein some twelue or thirteene armed men , may vse their armes ▪ and one too good for ten : one may rule him , with a twisted thread , so wise is he , and hath his lesson read : i say one man , this mightie beast , may guide , being the king of all the babes of pride . the fierce and warlike horse , which chiron bred , and princely hector often nourished : whose fierie eyes done threaten blood and death , whose furious nosethrils smoken flaming breath , whose crest is proude , loftie , thinne , halfe circled , whose mane with siluer lockes , his necke doth spred , whose eares beene short , and pricked neere do stand , as if some mightie battaile , were in hand : little , and short , and thinne is his visage , his nosethrils wide , his teeth in equipage , whose foaming mouth bends to his stately brest , scorning the foe-mans lance in armed rest : champing the bit , and trampling with his feete , crushing the fierie stones amid the streete . broad breast , straite backe , large and spacious , couragious , nymble , soone check , and gracious , broad-buttocks , long-taile , cleane-legs , pastorns-shor● , like great bucephalus in greekish fort. round-bellied , not grosse , nor gaunt , footlocks hairi● ▪ proude in his trot , not cutting , faint or wearie . barbed in steele with rich caparison , fit for the god of warre to mount vpon . o how he glorieth in the bloodie fight : at trumpetters dreadfull sound to shew his might . looke how he bites and strikes on ●●erie side , to shew the glorie of th' hipp●●an pride . but when great caesar's mounted on his backe , he breakes the squadrons like 〈◊〉 thunder-cracke : disordereth rankes , launces knapping in sonder , witnesse sidneyan-knight alba●i●● wonder . high ioue bestowed him for an ornament , to make a mortall ma● more excellent . he knowes , he lou's , he markes his masters voice , a stranger cannot make him to reioyce : but you shall heare him laugh after his kinde , if he but chaunce his masters person winde . the stately camell , swift dromedarie that merchants goods done speedily carrie : the spanish iennet glorious in his pace , th'irish hobbie of a stately grace . the scottish nagge of ancient galloway , that nimbly knowes to runne and pace his way . englands paulfrey our english la●ies please , to go their iournyes , and returne a●●ase ▪ the turkish horse of pegasus discended , charlemaine hath mightily commended : the mule , the asse , the lawyers doe maintaine , their clients cause softly to entertaine : for coursing nagges are not for m●n of state , to mount and mannage causes intricate . the oxe , the cowe , the sheepe , the goat , the cat , that murders in the night the mouse and rat. the fawning dog full of saga●i●i● ▪ excelling in sense and capacitie . the hardie mastife , and nimble greyhound , the ornament of floras blessed round , whose vse we know , the hare doth ●eare his might , the squatting hare doth ●remble at his ●ight . the noble chaunting hound with pleasing throat , with bace and treble , m●ane , and 〈◊〉 n●at . warbling his voice , making the horne to sound , orderly tunes t' immortilize the hound : quicke ●enting spannell , sit for princelie game , to pearch the pheasant , and rare birds of name . to set the heath-cocke , partrich and the quaile , the snype , the vvoodcocke , and the dainty raile . to serue the spar-hawke , faulcon and laneret , the gosse-hawke , ger-faulcon and young eglet ▪ the marlyon , hobby , hawkes of swiftest wing , vvhich many pleasures vnto ladies bring . deserueth praise of the best fluent pen , that euer wrote the benefits of men . the spannell for the water and the land , that all their maisters rules doon vnderstand , to couch , to retriue , and to range the field , of purpose , game to spring , and sporte to yeilde : and of their masters seeke none other gaines , but comfortable words for wearie paines . how may 〈◊〉 pen these spanniels commend whose qualities are such as haue no end ? if thou wilt seeke a constant faithfull friend in life and death , thy bodie to defend walking and running by thy horses side , scorning all dangers that may thee betide being a faithfull and true companion in ioy , and wofull desolation whome neither change , or sad calamitie , nor raging famine , or aduersitie , nor naked state , or pyning pouertie : can make to shunne , or leaue thy company : then take thy dogge : or finde thou such another , let him be thy nearest kins-man or brother or conuerse with thee all daies of thy life ( except thy dearest mother , or thy wife ) and take for thy paines , if i be contrould , the fattest lambe conteyned in my fould . the tumbler a dogge of rare quallitie , to furnish the kitchin abundantly , vvith connyes in a warren suddainly , surprising with arte so cunningly the silly connyes before they be aware , that the beholders thinke it wondrous rare ▪ this dogge deserueth commendation as a wonder of pans creation . the little spannell in the ladies lappe , is blest with extraordinarie happe , feeding and lodging in that princely place , that whilom did renowmed hector grace . young louing lords doe wish , it were their doome a little while to take their spannels ●oome . now must endimion make the world acquainted , with serpents , and wormes which flora painted vpon the face of tellus mansion where nature shewes her deepe inuention . the fearefull crocadil , and scorpion , the flying dragon from the dungeon of nessus springing : the poyzoned viper ▪ the snake , the slowe-worme , and the adder , the monstrous cerberus , and hydra venemous , the cocatrice , of sight so perrilous . the creeping dragon and the swelling toade , the neught , the swift , lurking in the roade ▪ the aspe couering herselfe in high-way dust , whome carefull passengers will hardly trust . these serpents been of great defor●●tie yet excell all other in subtilty . of great force , and incredible furie , of great fore-sight to preuentiniurie , capitall enemies to mortall man , and he to them by all the meanes he can . except the lizzard a serpent admirable , of colour greene , to man amiable . before him running on a little space , delighting herselfe to beholde his f●●e . vvell watching the place , where a man doth sleepe , guarding his bodie doth him safely keepe . from other serpents which would him deuoure , as he carelesse sleepeth in floras bower . the salamander liuing in the fire , the greatest phylosopher may admire . for seely wormes and other creeping things which of corrupt putryfaction springs . by these doth phisi● shew her deitie , in framing them with such varietie . in number infinite , and in qualitie surpassing the serpents excellency : the oyle of earth-wormes mightily preuailes , against the gowte , that humane ioynts assailes . the shelled dodman , and white , and blacke snaile , ioynt-eating fellon , cureth without fayle . the glowe-worme shining in a frosty night , is an admirable thing in shepheards sight . twentie of these wormes put in a small glasse , stopped so close that no issue doe passe ; hang'd in a bow-net and suncke to the ground , of a poole , or lake , broad , and profound : will take such plentie of excellent fish , as well may furnish an emperors dish . but of all creatures , which nature did forme of this kinde is th' admirable silke-worme , whose daintie webbe doth cloath potentates , kinges , queenes , princes and magistrates : all princely ladies celebrate her fame , shining in glorie of the silke-wormes frame . this might abate , the glorie of humane pride , since a poore silke-worme hath it magnified . why boastest thou thy shining satten sute ? is 't not a part of the caterpillers mute ? her forme , her life , her foode , her worke , her end , by doctor muffet is eloquently pen'd . the spyder next in contemplation , excellent in her operation . ' mong'st creeping thinges , is numbred in her kinde ▪ though she be thought to beare a hatefull minde . to vitall heate , and healthfull 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 , because colde poyson , she doth generate . yet if you marke her composition , and view her vertuous disposition , to sucke from earth the fell deadly poyson , that so corrupteth natures blessed ●oyzon : and with her feete weaueth a daintie net , to shew that ladies webbes beene counterfet : if with her smallest threds they beene compared , so rare , so thinne , so excellently shared ▪ marke how in her , dame nature shew's her art , tryumphing in her worke in euery part. and tell me then , if all the world beside , bee not meere-bunglers vnto natures pride ▪ mount little pismire , from thy hollow caue , thy turne com's next , thine honor shalt thou haue , sith mightie pan within his sacred layes , did make thee rowze , the sluggard from his wayes . how doost thou labour in the summer season , when butter-flyes done range voide of reason . through grassie meades shewing their painted coate , scorning the vvinters blasts as lightest moate . but when fell boreas shew's his ghostly face , they pine , they sterue , they die , gone is their grace , their winges beene worne , no meate to liue vpon , repentance comes too late , time's past , t is gone . thou , thou art appointed a schoolemaster , to retchlesse , carelesse , ryotous-waster . in summer time , thou lay'st thy limmes to worke , noe idle person , in thy caue doth lurke , thou packest vp thy strawes for winter fewell , esteeming warm'th , and meate , a princely iewell . thou fillest thy barnes , and 〈◊〉 with thy corne , when beggers dye for colde , for food , forlorne . nature tryumpheth in thy bodies frame , thy small compacted limmes , witnesse the same . who vieweth but the pismires little head and sees the organs therein comprised . her little mouth to apprehend her meate , her tongue to taste , her throte hollow and neate , to swallow downe the iuyce of what she takes : her hot stomacke which good digestion makes . her lower parts egesting excrements , her nimble legs with other complements : one ioint to another soundly compacted , orderly couched , no way distracted : her wit to discerne when sommer begins , presaging foule weather or euer she lins , or leaues her worke for herselfe and her traine : with labour seeking her house to maintaine . her orderly care to burie her dead , some carrying the feete , some other the head . to a place remote from her habitation , t' avoid the stench of mortall contagion . who vieweth these things , must greatly admire , the noble vertues of the little pismire , what shall i sing more ? the least creeping thing , brings admiration to a mightie king. the skipping flea , and the poore beggers louse , may make a wonder in a princes house : viewing their mouthes , their bodies and legges , in eating their meat , and laying their egges . floras rich mantle was fretiz'd with fowles , which shepheards haue discribed in their rowles : and now enioyning poore endymion , as plaine song for his pipe to warble on : birds of pray for our meane capacitie , deuouring birds of great rapacitie . then smaller birds that are of lower size ; that gentle ladies rate of higher prize , must be the tenor of the shepheards song , though wearied voyse cannot endure long : high soaring eagle empiring and bolde ; the shining face of phoebus to beholde . in the ensigne of victorious emperours , impressed ; flying as great conquerours , of all furious 〈…〉 ▪ woe to yong 〈…〉 way . the phaenix bred in great arabia , ( a countrie knowne to might● 〈◊〉 of golden colour and ●are qua●ities , who liuing alwayes cha●● , ●he burning d●es . two of these bird● the world cannot 〈…〉 , from bird to worme , from worme to 〈…〉 ▪ vsing no act of generation , as egges vsed for procreation ▪ but fire onely for priuation , whence must proceede the 〈…〉 ▪ and then behold an alteration , which deserueth admiration : the ashes yeelden forth a creeping worme which time doth cause to take the 〈…〉 . hereby 〈◊〉 learned shepheards high●y scan , the resurrection of a mortall man , to be as possible out of the ground , as , of a worme a phaenix to be found . the griffin halfe a bird , and halfe a be●s● , strong arm'd with mightie beak , 〈◊〉 , & creast , making an armed man his euening 〈◊〉 , the mounting 〈…〉 . the monstrous vulture , pro●●●heus to mentor , ( of fire naturall the first inuent●● ) mercilesse , not sparing in his 〈◊〉 , to offer harmelesse creatures iniurie ▪ the ostrich of deuou●ing qualitie . oxe-footed , broad beak'd , 〈◊〉 of 〈◊〉 title , and of incredible ceteriti● ▪ and yet of grosse and 〈…〉 ▪ not able to mount , but holp●● by 〈…〉 ▪ great admiration to the hunters bring● ▪ disgesting steele , and breathing 〈…〉 ▪ yet she adornes our gallants with 〈…〉 . the spoyling goss-haw●●● not so goo● for sport , as fit to feed an armie in ● fo●● ▪ the faulcon , and ierfaulcon for pleasure , are accounted for a princes treasure : terscell , tarcell-gentle , and laneret , the lanner , bastard muller , malleret , the princely sagar , and the sagaret , which bastard-hawkes , faulconers can hardly get , the thrice renowmed noble marlion , which ladies vse for recreation , the long-wing'd hobbie for the mounting larke , fit for young eyes the towring game to marke . the irish sparhawke to follow slender game , deserues with hawkes to register her name : in winter time the musket at a bush , will serue shepheards to maze a simple thrush : the kistrell if he be well managed , for swiftnesse will not be disparaged : the coward kite fittest to ceaze the mouse , to gurmandize young chickens from thy house . she serues to take the garbage from the field , least putrifaction might infection yeeld . the buzzard most hurtfull to thy warren , with spoyle of rabbets making it barren , deserueth not so much to be hated , if he were to gaming animated . the ring-taile eke will truely kill her game , if cunning hand and wit her nature tame . the rauen ( some say ) if she be cicurated , deserues in some sort to be nominated : but take thou heed of all the birds that flyne , the eagle and rauen will strike out thine eyne : preuent it therefore , least it come to passe , and arme thy face with spectacles of glasse . the siluer stringed sweet sounding virginall , without the rauens quils is rusticall . to write the roman hand , and secretarie , the rauens pen is found most necessarie . thus for supposed inconuenience , her feathers yeeld young ladies recompence : and some commoditie doth seem 〈◊〉 grow , by the noysome deuouring 〈…〉 . to clense the streets neare to 〈…〉 , of stinking carions corruptio● the rooke , the chough , th● 〈…〉 for borne , which feede not of the carion 〈◊〉 of corne . the partie-coloured chattering 〈◊〉 , gorgeth herselfe vpon impuritie ▪ learned drayton hath told madge-ho●●ets tale , in couert verse of sweetest madrigal● ▪ she whoops at all the world in fro●●●●ight ▪ blazing the sinnes wherein it takes delight . the bat and she doth take their recreation , if phoebus be in declination the owle , banquets with chickens at ●er feast , the bat delights herselfe with bacon b●●t . if you will see as cleare by night as day annoynt your eyes with blood of bats they say . but daunce not thou after albertus 〈◊〉 , till thou canst better vnderstand this ●iddle : for of this poynt shepheards warne th●● before , eyes so annoynted shall neuer see mor● the kings-fisher laboureth in her kinde , with her breast opposite against the 〈◊〉 , to seaze the fishes spawne , and little frie , that heedlesse in a riuer swimmen by her painted feathers maken flies counterfet , tied vpon hookes the leaping trout●● get : the coloured woodspite runs along the trees , killing for foode the creeping worme slu●●ees : the filthie cormorant , and the sea-gull , whose crawes with eating will be neu●● full ; in floras mantle haue some place afforded , therefore endymion hath them recorded , but leaue we these , and let our musick ●●ount to sing of princely fowles in our account . paire sweetest laeda's swan both wild and tame , which mightie monarchs keep'n for their game . the towring hearnshaw , and the wake●●ll 〈◊〉 ▪ shaming ca●cas●s , fearing to be ●ane , by dreadfull eagle watching for her pray , trussing the cranes a● they flyen that way . they keepen therefore silence in their flight , till they haue scap'd that mountaine in the night . as two lynes of a tryangle meeting together , at the end , so flyen they in colde weather , in two rankes spredding themselues a sonder , they ●oyne at one sharpe end , great is the wonder . they haue one leader , whome they duly marke , following one another in the darke . this leader lighteth farre off from the rest , as one with solitarinesse opprest . hee keepes his standing as a centinell , that all his souldiers might in safetie dwell . but if an aduersary come that way , he makes a noyse : the troup is in array . he mountes , they mount , they take thē to their wing●s to seeke some place that lesser perrill brings . the goose , the ducke , the widgeon and teale , like order keepe as in a common weale . the daintie curlew , dottrell and pewet , the redshanke , bustard , bittor , and godwet , the snipe , the woodcocke , plouer , gray and greene , garnish the table of the greatest queene . the heath-cocke , partrich , rayle , quaile & phesant , are princes dishes , and pastimes pleasant . sweet sounding larke art not the meanest wish , that oft is made to furnish princes dish . furthermore in blessed tellus coate , are framed birds , of sweet and pleasing noate . long liuing ouzle , little chaunting thrush , singing on tops of trees , and highest bush ; delighting passengers with melodie , varying their tunes so curiously . that shepheards wonder how so diuers noates , should couched be within such little throates . but 't is an admirable 〈…〉 to heare the delectable 〈◊〉 of sweetest noates , with 〈…〉 ▪ with loftie streynes , musi●● 〈…〉 , of little philomela , 〈…〉 ▪ phoebes phoenix , organ●●● 〈◊〉 ▪ let no musition with her 〈…〉 ▪ no voice so sweete , so exquisite and 〈◊〉 . dame linnet , and birdes of ca●●ria , with musicke please arcadian 〈◊〉 . robin-red-brest , the little dainty 〈◊〉 , with sweetest noates content the 〈◊〉 of men . some other birds flora brought in 〈◊〉 , which not in voice , yet 〈…〉 pride . the prating parret , parakito small , which please our cinthian ladies best of all . as these beene taught , so vtter they 〈◊〉 voice they make much sport , and ladies ●oo●e reioyce , orientall beene their feathers de●estable , of colour excellent , and variable . but other vertues in them know i none , but to eate a soppe and burnish a bone . the golde-finch , bulfinch , marlet and swallow of colours diuers , in vertues shallow . the red-stone in a swallowes 〈◊〉 is good , to stop the fluxe and efusion of blood . the oyle of swallowes , phisition● haue tolde , help 's swelling of ioyntes , proceeding of colde . thou shalt not once handle our english iay , the falling-sicknes infects her a●way . peacocks beene birds of rare qualitie , of shining feathers , pride , and maiestie , foes to the adder by creation : contriuing alwaies his distruction ▪ sabaean queene for estimation , presented these to mightie salomon ▪ the turkie-cocke , a crauen by 〈◊〉 , is excellent meate , and of large st●●ure . the simple harmelesse groaning turtle-doue , twixt man and wife paints neuer-dying loue : the doue commended in diuinitie , grac'd by the third person , in trinitie , her bodies heate for sustentation , her qualities for imitation . the dolefull mourning stock-doue may thee moue , to view thy state and praise thy god aboue . the storke may teach children with reuerence , to yeeld their parents due obedience . when crooked age their parents doth possesse , and stiffened lims waxe faint with wearinesse ▪ when pouertie their substance doth assaile : and vitall blood their arteries doth faile . when blinded eyes done sinke in hollowed head ▪ when trembling hands that should the mouth haue fed ; steddily can hold no sustenance , and grinding teeth ( the stomacks maintenance ) their offices no longer can fulfill : and way wardnesse attacheth aged will : when legs doe faile , that should the rest support ; and cold , and age , and griefe afoords no comfort : then marke the young , the strong and lustie storke , that day and night vncessantly doth worke , her aged dying parents to maintaine , refusing pleasure , and enduring paine . to bring in food his parents to sustaine , thinking the parents life the children● ga●●e . and if he doe perceiue that food be scant , and that his parents perishen for want ; so that constrained he must leaue the place : then wofully he viewes his fathers face , shewing his griefe to see his parents lacke , and all at once he takes them on his backe . and adding force vnto his fearfull wings , swiftly flees to the pallaces of kings . and laying aged parents safely downe , for foode he rangeth all about the towne . which got , he brings 〈◊〉 with 〈◊〉 speede , whereof his parents and himselfe do ●eede . but here endymion began to 〈◊〉 , as if himselfe were drown 〈◊〉 sorro●es deepe . i know not what did touch the seely man ▪ but yet at last he thus againe began . o blessed pan grant vs that shepheards beene , aged , vnwildie , with choller ouersee 〈◊〉 to find young storks to carrie vs 〈…〉 ▪ to feede our mouthes to beare our 〈◊〉 rage : alas i feare it will be otherwise now children done their parents 〈…〉 despise : and if they done to a little money 〈◊〉 , their parents may in no 〈…〉 , to call them sonnes , the bl●●●-mon●●'d filthy asse , thinks himselfe sham'd if that should come to passe . for hercules must needs be this man ●ather , when he might iustly challenge iris ●ather . a fustie golden bragga●ochio , a lumbardarie scauld bora●●●o . the disgrace of an honourable how●● ▪ as to a ladie is a bodie lowse . but let this rest● a b●ond of infamie , ( there pride abhor'd 〈…〉 ) with frumps derides them 〈…〉 , and secretly pursues them with 〈◊〉 . endymion must take another subiectl● of high regard and princely by respec● , a wonder for the world to gaze vpon , which still is out of forme and fashion . a seely fowle , a pellicane by name , shall shew how much this world in out of frame . the pellicane will spend his chiefest blood , to doe his friends or yonglings an● good ; but we will spend our warme and 〈◊〉 blood , to hang our friends or children in our mood : we bragge , we prate of christiani●●● , our hands are full of blood and cru●ltie : our tongues can talke of iesus christ his death , and cursse , and sweare , with one , and the same breath . we fast , we pray , we sigh , we groane , we preach , we write , we reade , we heare , catechise , and teach , we bend our knees , aloft we lift our eyes , as if our hearts were rauish'd to the skies . we rage at others vice , reproue corruption , speake against vsurie as abhomination : we speake gainst the pomp of prelates in their gree , and yet who liues in action worsse then wee ? there is no sinne that worthily is blamed , but we commit , and are not ashamed . if true pietie consisted in wordes , when working actions fro● the same discordes : then are we perfect in religion , our words been plentifull , our deedes beene gon . except we take corrupt and stinking weeds , for blessed sacred and religious deeds . we had rather cut our poore neighbours throat , then releeue his want with one seely groat . and if he fall into extremitie , by shipwracke or other casualtie : shall we releeue his wofull penurie , or helpe to keepe his wife and familie of our owne purse ? nay let him sterue and die , and wife and children begge . o christianitie ▪ thy sacred lore teacheth quite contrarie , from which who so doth obstinately varie , shall be acknowledged for none of thine , nor be partaker of that glorious shine , of blisse , of honour , and of maiestie , and liue with th'euerlasting deitie . another bird i haue yet in my rowle , which may be spoken of without controwle , a bird for courage , and for qualitie , for husbandrie , thrift , and vtilitie : inferior to none that nature hath framed , and is the proude and wakefull house-cocke named . armed with spurr's to daunt assayling ●oe● , crown'd as a king , tryumphing as he goes . obserue the tender loue , borne to his wife , for whose saueguard , he spareth not his life . if corne or bread he finde , if but a cro●me , he chucks , and calls his wife vntill shee come : before he layeth downe that peece of bread , not feeding himselfe , if she be vnfed . each man knowes his nature by experience , to holde you long were inconuenience . the titmouse and the multiplying vvren , that deuours spiders , and liues amongst men , for order of our sonnet as it lies , requireth that we speake ●f diuers flyes : and specially of flies by creation , for many flies rise of corruption . the bees from pan haue their originall , at creation of things naturall . flesh-flyes , and vvasps , and grassehoppers , crickets , hornets , and cowsherders , dorr's , and such like , as flying 〈◊〉 , haue their originall as mise and rats . by phoebus heate , and putrifaction , they taken forme and generation . as mightie cursses , and great plagues are sent , vpon this wicked world for punishment . great is thy wisdome euerlasting pan , in all thy workes seruing the vse of man : all thy creatures strike admiration , to shepheards in their contemplation . but when we neerely marke the ●ittle bee , our hearts must needes be rauished in thee . that such a little flie should farre surpasse , the wisest workeman , euer framed was , and all the artist's in the world beside , are argued of insolence and pride , if they presume by superficiall skill , to knowe the cause of this thy secret will. how is her bodie framed in euery parte , admirably contriu'd beyond all arte ? her little head her eyes , her mouth , her tongue , her throate , her brest , her little heart , her longue . ( as some doe thinke , to houlden breath and heate ) their little stomacke , to disgest their meate : what lower intrayles dame nature inuents , to emptie , or auoide their excrements , their alwaies-armed-sting for their defence , their little ioynts , and legs of finest sence , their wit to sucke the iuyce from fragrant flower , their skill to keepe , and carrie it to their bower : their arte to flye a mile into a playne , and euerie bee to finde his home againe . but when we come to see their citadell , as by a serieant maior squared well : how iustly are philosophers amazed , when they haue proportionably gazed , vpon a little concaue or a hiue , in which they doe their pollicie contriue ? circle-muring strong their pettie-fort ▪ with pallazado , flanker , loop and porte , rampiers of waxe , and thicke baracados , to withstand the theeuish rats-brauados . but enter once within their hiue , or wall , and see their order vniuersall : marking how they doe place their colonyes , to dwell according to their qualities : first for the king his tent imperiall , next been placed states , peers principall . then euerie other state in his degree , according to his seruice hath his fee : for him and his , a house peculiar : priuate for euerie thing particular : for meate , for rest & cradles for their young : so neately drest as passeth shepheards toung . framed sixe square geometricall , each side to the other , proportionall , and euerie one his lodging seuerall , framed by nature artificiall . not seiled with vnprofitable knacks , but euerie lodging of the purest waxe , these lodgings are appointed in rega●d , that euerie one should labour , watch and ward . thus setled in their cell against the sunne , each falleth to his worke till day be done . some maken honny-pots , some ho●●y clense , which closely they hide , and hourden ●n their de●s . of all the flowers growing in the field , which fragrant smell vnto the sense doe yielde : they gatheren this composition , the sicke mans leeche , and best phisitio● . they nourish vp their younglings in their trade , till time and practise hath them skilfull made . when summer hath prouision for their health , they swarme them foorth into the common-wealth . to get some place for their habitation , and labour in their generation . if any one among them chaunce to die , hee is remooued thence immediatly . for they can abide no dead carion , for feare of pestilent infection . by iust desert therefore they are recorded , that haue to man such benefits afforded . riuers and springs , and bathes , and pooles there beene that beautifie the mantle of this queene . that flowen from the mightie ocean running againe thither where they began . loosing their saltnesse in the hollow vaine : of tellus intrayles where they doe remaine . their swiftnesse spoyles the force of phoebus heates , which on the buttom of the riuer ●eates ▪ the pike , the roach the cheu●● and the dace , the breame , the barble , with his ●earded face , the pearch , the gudgeon , and the siluer eele , which millers taken in thei● 〈◊〉 weel● : dwell in the riuer as principall fish . and giuen by pan to garnish thy dish , the salmon , trout , flounder and creuise , doe dwell in riuers where the menow is . the princely carpe , and medicinable tench , in bottom of a poole themselues doe trench . the poole of necessitie hath a spring , which feedeth it , and doth fresh water bring , least phoebus burning beames doon make it drie , the mudde to stinke and all the fish to die . vvho dare the noble burbling spring despise , vvhich from the belly of great tellus rise ? where birds doon drink for sustentation , where nimphes and graces , take their recreation . swiftly descending from parnassus mount , to sporte themselues by coole castalion-fount . there beene bathes also of high soueraignetie med●cinable for mans infirmitie . colde bath's springing vp from an allum-mine , curing hot gowts , and maladies of eyne . hot bath's alwaies worken quite contrarie , as spring from a hot mine sulphurie . and thus is tellus mantle finished : and with beauties rich glorie garnished . there resteth that endimion begin , to shew what treasures tellus hath within . thrice honoured cinthia deigne to heare this song , blame it not , as teadious or to long : for thou shalt heare therein discouered , thinges that before in darkenes houered . the mothers wombe throughly anatomized , with glorious meteors therein comprized . so that if i should haue a trophae made , when shepheards life were turned retrograde : of all my skill except theologie : set vp his pillar of philosophy , and let thy poet be eternized , for phylosophy epitomized . and let arcadian cynthia neuer die , but liue in records of antiquitie . and euer tryumph in endymions layes , with flourishing and euerlasting bayes ▪ for listen how by indagation , in tellus belly by creation are perfect mettals , stones , and things betweene that neyther perfect stones , nor mettals been gould , siluer , brasse , yron , steele , heau●●-lead , tinne , are metals seauen , contained within in tellus belly whereunto some adde : copper which is fine brasse if truth be had . all these by phoebus made effectuallie , as hee 's remote , or in propinguitie , the neerer phoebus commeth to the lyne , so is the metall eyther course or fine . as phoebus fierie steedes circlen the spheare , declyning the line , or approchen neare : so are his beames of force , or weake estate minerall mettals to operate , as is the substance of the earth in qualitie . so is the mettall fram'd in pouertie . plenty of gould is in america , peru , moluccus , and phillipina , little gould , or siluer in virginia , france , ireland , or brittania . yet copper , tinne , iron , brasse , or le●de ▪ are in those countries plentifully bred . america so neare the burning line , breedeth abundantly the golden mine ▪ these other countries subiect to the colde , can yeelde lesse plenty of siluer and golde . for gould and siluer is the care of man , for these men maken warres , and 〈◊〉 and ●an : forsweare themselues , and sell their dearest life . for these the husband and kils his guil●lesse wife . friend sels his friend as iudas did his lord : simplicitie , truth , vertue is abhorr'd . kings make war with their neighbour kings for gold● religion is wounded , conscience is bought & sold● . abbayes , churches , altars ruinated , whilom to pietie consecrated . bishoprickes spoyled , their lands deuided , studie decayed , schollers deryded . schollers constrained to buy their places deere , the parsonage farmed , it lyes the patrone neere . the patrone claimes the tithe to finde his diet : or else the parson must not liue in quiet . but out of doubt , my lord 's a puritan , a vertuous and a moste religious man. making a scruple of his conscience , as doth a begger to take a sixe pence , the mistresse weares the parsonage on her backe , the peacher , his wife , and family doe lacke . but tell me , is not this a golden age , when rascalls ride in golden equipage with princely lords and men of highest blood , as tarleton clad in caesars goulden hood ? when guilded spurres , adorne hodge-cli●●perton , to friske the hay with glabbring-iillion ? fetching a caper full as high from ground , as fortie angells is from twentie pound ▪ spoyling more cates and viands at one meale , then fiue great mastiffes in a common weale . prouided it be of an others coste , for his great grand father neuer eate roste. and tell me ? y st ' not a goulden season , when golden fooles are pr●●sed for reason ? as eloquent as learned cicero , as sententious as aged cato : pithye , sage , and graue , with a long white beard , like mine olde horned goate , praeceeding the heard ▪ what stratagems of warre , are wrought by golde ? what secret misteries doth it not vnfolde ? what townes and cities hath it not betrayd ? what princes councels , hath it not bewray'd ? what strange aduentures doe men 〈…〉 , and all for golde , commoditie to make ▪ a man regardeth nor age , nor qualitie sexe , witte , learning , vertue nor honest●e . friendship , faith , soule , credit , sinceritie ▪ so he get golde and worldly dignitie . damnable vsurers suburds of hell , iewes by profession , baw'ds of bride-well , deuouring english gentle-men aliue , that once approchen your pestilent 〈◊〉 nets of belzebub t' ensnare noble frye ▪ pretending conscience their wants to supplye . protesting that for perfect amitie ( hoping there may be some affinitie by marriage , betweene your sodaine daughter , and this wanting wanton youth heareafter ) if hee 'l knowledge a satute of his land ▪ for men are mortall : and a single band ▪ is not for you that are a citizen . when hee 's content : what doe you for him the● ▪ you will furnish him immediatly : eyther with money , or commoditie , but wot ye what ? ( pouchmouth ciuilitie ) now begins your packe of scurrillitie ▪ you dampne your selues and sweare that money's 〈◊〉 but ritch commodities he shall not want , that certaine money presently will ●eeld : if he be skilfull to marshall the field ▪ silks , and veluets at intollerable price ▪ embroydered hangars , pepper and rice ▪ browne paper , lute-strings , buckle● for a saddle , perwigs , tiffany , paramours to wadd●e . great bars of yron , and spanish tuck● : ( thus like a horse●leech thy vanitie suc●es ) these takes the gentleman , at such a rate , as brings repentance speedy ▪ but to late . for halfe in halfe , is losse reasonable ▪ the broker sweares they are not seasonable . o inchaunting golde , o alluring witch ▪ doth not a minde contented make men rich ▪ desire of thee , hath damn'd the vsurer , his wife , and children , and fil the broker . desire of thee makes many marchants wiues , forsake their husbands beds , their soules , their liues . vnder pretence of blessed religion , inflamed with caelestiall vision : to haunt the beds of yonger golden states , buying short pleasures at the highest rates . desire of thee constraines the pandresse seeke , each angle of the towne , each house and creeke , to bend , perswade , allure , a simple maid , for gold to haue her honestie betraid . this pandresse she , alas , she 's past the best , and knows the fittest meanes t' ensnare the rest ▪ desire of thee draw's the bankrupt marchant , to become a blind buzzard praedicant . to blaze the bible farre aboue the reach , to be a puritane , catechise , and preach : to single out a church remote for ease , where he may best his auditorie please . where neuer commeth wise nor learned man , their fond absurdities to heare or scan . but sweete kate and cisse , bab , and iulian , faire parnell , and my blessed sister anne . pen at a push , diuine ●●inophila , prudence , priscilla , with polonyma . these know to vse the sacred oracles , as lack-an-apes a paire of spectacles . with diuinitie aswell edified as a red bricke by water 's albified . this fellow first to get the worlds applause , cries out against the policie and law's . and saith the chuch is full of superstition , and her officers without commission ▪ thrust thereinto by romish antichrist ▪ defended by popish artagonist . archbishops , bishops , deanes , prebendaries , parsons , vicars , curates , commissaries , common-set-prayer , and citations , suspensions , and excommunications : lord bishops , barons of parliament , made iustices of ciuill gouernment . these are not of christs institution , but by corrupt times reuolution . infecting the church by popes intrusion , poysoning her with wofull confusion . he saith vnpreaching ministers been dumbe dogs , fitter for plough and seruing of hogs , then to taken christs blessed 〈◊〉 in hand , reading the things they doe not vnderstand . if this be true thou pecuniarie asse , art not thou come to a wofull passe ? that into christs church hast thrust thy selfe , to coffer vp this yellow worldly pelfe ? and in a pulpit doost but prate and clatter , without diuinitie , methode , or matter ? thy foolish spokes all learned men do scorne , as spur-gall'd-words , triuiall , and threed-bare worne . thy sences need eleborus , they are too too blunt , such parradoxes of thy selfe to ●unt . the hebrue , greeke , and latin , vnto thee , as the renowm'd and ancient fathers bee , thou speakest as perfect ciceronian , as a monkey iabbereth italian . if i demaund how thou attain'dst thy skill , thou simply answerest : it was ioues will ▪ it came to thee by inspiration : and by a secret reuelation . thus thou obtain'dst thy consecration , by an extraordinarie vocation . contrarie to the sacred regiment , setled by iesus christ , and parmanent . but for the registers of antiquitie , and interpreters of diuinitie , the holy fathers blessed monuments , which christ hath vsed as his instruments , to make diuine theorems perspicuous . and obscure sentences illustrious : thou do●st reiect them as ridiculous , and interpretations perillous . thou onely read'st the inuectiues of t.c. which by profound writers answered bee . why without blushing dar'st thou discommend , the orders of the church , or thus contend about high poynts beyond thine element ? thy time in learning might be better spent . but well i know what brought thee to this vaine , not conscionable zeale , but hope of gaine . and this thou shalt acknowledge euident , vpon record as certaine precedent . thou that before with railing bitter words , denied'st christian bishops to be lords : and squared cap , and surplesse didst forsweare , shunning the ministers that did it weare , saying t' was a relique of antichrist , brought into the church by the diuels high priest. the crosse in baptisme , and ring in mariage , is a foolish toy , and meere surplussage , the booke of common-prayer is tittle tattle , much like to a babies playing rattle . but now thou hast by thine owne subscription , retracted thy former assertion . affirming the pollicie of our land , with gods eternall veritie to stand . vsing the ceremonies as they beene , established as all thy people weene . and what thou formerly hast contemned , as things by christianitie condemned . by thy hand writing thou hast approoued , ( as plaine truth hath farre thy betters mooued ) thou wear'st the surplesse , and the cornerd cappe , onely but for a bush to stop a gappe . thine audience demaund of thee the cause , why thou subiects thy selfe vnto these lawes ? sith thou hast preached direct contrarie , as white and blacke in colours seeme to varie . thouh sai'st fowle iniquitie of this time , procured thee to perpetrate this crime . out of thy mouth i straight do argue thee , of false dissembling hypocrisie . for if it be direct iniquitie , discording from true christianitie ; why wilt thou thy conscience contaminate , and with thy pen and hand corroberate , things meerely false and diabolicall , forsaking god , and things caelestiall ? answere me now or be thou well directed , least of hypocrisie thou be detected . thou sai'st thy skill is greater now then then ; ( you blessed people answer all amen . ) then shall thy flocke be excellently fed , like the camelion of the ayre bred . thou hast nor arte , nor wit , to feed thy sheepe , no more then wolfe , or foxe thy lambs to keepe . thou know'st no more the scriptures to vnfolde , then doth aphron th'alchimist to make golde . but flesh is fraile , and thou art loath to say , that which we shepheards ●ounden in our lay . that thou wilt stay thy selfe vpon this ground ▪ as fast as will the hare before the hound . returne therefore vnto thy trade againe , for in the church thou labourest in vaine . think'st thou our bishops will thee deigne to preach , rude , vnlearned , a mercinany ▪ dog-leach ? no ▪ no : saint nicholl is too wise for that , thou 'st neuer in an english pulpet chat . till thou hast better skill to manage well , the mysteries diuine of sacred spell . yet herein art thou worthily commended , that hast the churches policie defended . and forsworne geneuian presbyterie , being a phantasticall anarchie . but if thou wilt be an euerlasting so , to this new vpstart disciplinado : studiously with pen marke each word and line , of that learned suruey of discipline , that which thou doost doe of intelligence , not for lucres sake , but for conscience . vpon this condition i le let thee goe , and speake of certaine golden wonders moe . for out of doubt it worketh strange effects , when euerie man the golden asse respects . a lustie gallant seekes his wife for golde , though the withered crone be foure-score yeare olde , blind , crooked , lame , deformed , full of gout : her gold , her gold , shall paint the buzzard out , as yong , as beautiful● , as pollix●n● , wise , courteous , witte learned , as my cynthia . gentle as a doue , for why she cannot bite , fortie yeares agone she was toothlesse quite . yea a yong puppet , ill fauoured idiot , a slabbering , grenning , laughing foole ( god wot ) gold can transforme to faire and gracious , wittie , and sober , in talke sentencious , able as wisely to vtter hir minde , as seneca's wife could see being starke blinde . yea , in a countrey where no golde doth growe , by arteficiall skill wee 'll make golde , i trowe . that shall abide the fierie test as well , as stubble can abide the fire of hell . this skill is called the noble alchimie , which bringeth all her friends to beggerie : for with great expence and longation , must come this mettals alteration ; perillous is the way by curtation , hauing no certaine operation , by the white and greene , and red lion , by fixing sulphurs liquefaction ; to haue a perfect calcination , right tincture , and maleation , to make it ductible and fusible , close lured in an earthen crusible , bewaring of too hot combustion , till fortie dayes and nights be come ▪ and gone : secretly working by thy selfe alone : thou shalt obtaine the philosophers stone . a fine red powder , which being proiected , ( by great arte and skill , least thou ●e detected ) vpon a peece of brasse as bigge as a house , shall make a peece of golde as bigge as a louse . goodly mannors and possessions are solde , to make simple brasse artificial golde . but as a veluet ape remaines an ape , though he be attired in golden shape : so shall a peece of brasse be perfect brasse , though it be somewhat purer then it was . well , this that is spoken proueth euident , that this mettall of golde is exce●lent . for which all states and sexes macerate , themselues and theirs with labours intricate . though golde it selfe , as by creation , is not the cause of such corruption ▪ but mans vile infatiable desire , to lade themselues with this thicke earthly mire , brasse for vessels , and fodder fast our steele , to make canons , whose force our foes doe feele . iron and steele are mettals of dignitie , of great esteeme , vertue , and qualitie , the one with th' other may so be tempered , that by no arte they may be entered , they make mightie instruments of warre , bellona , and pallace with these armed are . with these the captaines of britannia , beard the proude monsters of romania . the force of these hath conquered india , these fright the muses and faire cynthia . and all young ladies that delight in peace , whereby their ioy , their loue , their sports encrease , praying great mars , no more to manage armes , that they might claspe him in their iuory armes . the vse of these for which they were intended ; was that our confines might be defended , from foe mans force , and fierce inuasion that blessed peace might build her station , that there might bee no fell corrasion , death , nor bloodie depopulation . but out alasse ! sacred intent of pan , is quite peruerted by the minde of man , by a malitious disposition , that turne these mettals to pardition . they kill , destroy , and murder one another , the father kils the sonne , the childe the mother : man killeth man , whome he ought to defend : kniues were ordained to a better end . woe worth the man , that first the sword inuented , neuer sufficiently to be lamented . for since the time these weapons first began , in small regard was had the life of man. each swaggering ruffin now that walk's the streetes ▪ proud as lucifer , stabbeth whome he meetes . trampling the guts of men vnder his feete , tryumphing in his brothers winding sheete . o blessed region where no iron growes , where no man steele , nor golde , nor siluer knowes , where guns and swords , beene reputed wonder where roring cannon is holden thonder . where neuer wonned any martiall man , where men doon neuer cu●sse , nor sweare , nor ban , for golde : but ledden a contented life , voide of pride , mallice ▪ contention , strife , giuing a lumpe of golde for a small bell , a needle or a pinne , contents them well . thou salomon renowned prince of peace , how did thy kingdome flourish and increase ? when siluer was compared vnto dust , voide of contention , malice and distrust ? golde was as plenty as stones in the streete , neighbour vsed neighbour solemnlie to greete . saying ( shalumleca ) peace be vnto thee , then was ierusalem in high degree . but after he was dead , then warres began , peace was exiled , waxed sick and ●an , ciuill sedition , and dichostasie : clangor of trumpets , noyse and fearefull crie trampling of warlike steedes , banners displaide , beating of drums : armor rustie assayed . mightie men at armes , raunged in array . townes full of clamor , women ran away . lamenting of mothers , wiues wringing hands , blood-breathing mars , at each corner stands . two kings in one land , each clayming right , souldiours ignorant on which side to fight . the whole land full of desolation , expecting nothing but diuastation ▪ a lamentable wofull spectacle , when closed was the blessed tabernacle , the lawes worship and sacrifice d●d cease , exterminated quite with sacred peace . the champing horse vp to the foot●locks stood , in flowing streames of dying sould●ers blood . no reuerence to the aged man at all , the wife doth dye to see her husband fall . the children weepe to see their fathers death ; the aged matron yeeldeth vp her breath ; young virgins without regard deflowred , studies decayed , students deuoured . merchants spoyled , and their goods deuided , iustice dispised , iudges derided , the whole kingdome brought to confusion , thy house , thy good 's , thy land 's by intrusion , of a godlesse impudent companion , taken by force from thy possession . thy wofull wife rauish'd before thy face , and presently thou murther'd in the place . tell me now if thou hast any conscience , yf this in making steele were pans pretence ? the armed plough-share in making furrowes long : our horses yron shodd , to footen strong . boord's strong nail'd , to couch together close : keyes , and artificiall locks , to shut and lose : with other infinite commodities : which by this mettals principally rise . of these two mettals shewn , vse principall , for deadly warres beene thinges accidentall . the leaden mines , are now in chiefe request , for which we riuen sacred tellus brest . and turne them to bad vses contrary , vnto their first created destiny . we vse it now to make bullets round , to gorge our pistols christians to wound . caliuers , muskets , and such trumpery , executors of humane crueltie . are stuf'd with bullets of the purest leade , to kill a harmlesse man vnfurnished . wee vs'd them first holy church to couer , at the charge of many a christian louer . to couer close , the pallaces of kings : least raine might enter which corruption brings . glasiers can tell of vses manifold , that neede not in our storie bee enrould . this proo●'s there is a strange mutation , of all things from their first creation . excepting tinn formed for vtensils , which sculleries of noble ladies fils . this mettall receiueth corruption , by pewterers sophistication . chargers , basens , platters , pots of tinne , mixed with leade craftily foysted inne . making them heauie , and of colour blew , but tinn's light , and white , if substance be trew . if otherwise it is adulterated ▪ and by cosonage sophisticated . thus is rich tellus glorious within , in deeper search if thou wilt wisdome winne : stones doon occurre next to be sur●ey'd , as nature hath them orderly conue●'d . gems , marble , whetstones , flmt's & building bones , are ribb's of this ladie , or our mothers bones ▪ hearken the musicke of mine oaten reed , as endymion doth orderly proceed . gems are principally memorable as iewels of price inestimable in barryne rocks , and mountaines engendred , and by great pan to ladies tendred ▪ to garnish all their princely ornaments , tyres for their heads , vailes , and abbillements ▪ their caules , their haire , their neck● , their brests , their hands whose price none but the owners vnderstands . of watry substance beene they composed , and by the burning heate of phoeb●● disposed . into diuers colours hard orientall , shining throughout , not superficial● . the thicker they beene the more of regard , so they beene impenetrable and ha●d , this watry●substance by colde is congealed and then by phoebus long time a●ealed . yea hardned so by the heate of the sunne by continuall reuerberation . so hard compact by phoebus burning charme , that the flaming fire can doe them no harme . these beene called precious for their qualities , not for their maginitude or quantities . these casten such a luster to the 〈◊〉 , as might a mazen shepheards tha● been wise . resembling often with their splendent light ▪ twinckling and shining starres i● frosty night . of precious stones some shining a●d cleere , some been obscure , and therefore not so deere . some partly cleare , and in some part obscure , yet verie precious , and will long endure . the diamond , carbuncle perspicuous , blew saphyre , emerald , iacynth lustrious , obscure , and darke , is the iewell onix , cleare and obscure , iasper , and sardonix . all beasts and plants of force must needs giue place , to many stones precious for vertuous grace . the truth hereof is euidently showne , by the load-stone vniuersally knowne . the princely diamond of high respect , pierceth an armor with his hard effect : nine dayes togither resisteth the fire , who doth not then his qualities admire ? it expelleth feare , as shepheards haue tride , if it be to a ladies left wrist tide : at midnight carbuncles giue such a shine , as if phoebus blazed his power diuine : it makes a man merrie that lookes thereon , gainst melancholy preuailes this stone . most precious of all is the greene emrald , which of vs shepheards a chaste stone is call'd . it is the softest , and foe to venerie , when thou and thy wife go to bed , lay 't by : if thou haue drunke venom , or poysoned thing , drinke this in wine , it will remedie bring . gainst falling sicknesse it is a remedi● , which phisitians call epilepsie . the fearefull dreames that risen vp in vs , the emeralde doth vtterly discusse . the blew saphyr maketh found the eyes , that beene opprest with mystie maladies , choler-adust , it cureth perfectly , drunke in wine , and powdred cunningly . it doth preuaile against the scorpions sting , the powder also remedie doth bring , against a carbuncle , or pestilent sore , strawde vpon it and drunke as before . the iacinth preserueth from the lightning , those that weare it garnish'd 〈◊〉 ▪ from the pestilence it keep 's men sound , that ayer infected may them no● confound . a precious helpe for them that cannot sleepe , get this stone and doe it safely keepe . the marble stones excell in dignitie , all other stones that beene ordinarie . representing a shining looking-glasse , shewing the faces of them that doon passe . excellent for building of gorgeous roomes , theators of state , and emperors toombes . some white , some black , some green , with spots distinct , such as great cynthia hath in her precinct . porphirie for ritches is commended , wherein phisis hath her skill extended . alablaster shall not in silence sleepe , wherein our ladies doon their oyntments keepe . whet-stones been next as endimio● findes , deuouring metalls : heereof been three kindes , the touch-stone , and whet-stone of darnasco , and the indian whet-stone , the razors foe . gould-smiths vse the first to try their mettals by , as golde and siluer from false alchymie . the second common vs'd to this intent , to whet our kniues , or other instrument . the third is yellow which the barbers haue , to whet their razors if they meane to sha●e . the nature of the flint all men do● admire , how that speciall stone is fit to strike fire , schollars ▪ souldiers , and maryners are bound , to blesse the time when first this stone was found , if all the fire in the whole world ●ere gone : tellus can helpe thee with one silly stone , for common stones of great infinitie , framed by caelestiall diuinitie . different in colour , forme and fashion , for nature , vse , and operation . hardned by the burning beames of the sunne , being dust and sand , ere they were begunne . i le single some as stones of rarest name , which iustly doe deserue records of fame , the load stone first comes to my memorie , a stone of admirable vtilitie . drawing by secret diuine influence , iron and steele surpassing humane sence . two ends it hath , if they be rightly squar'd , doone wondrous thinges which cannot be declar'd . nor can we all the secret vertues tell , which in this little ragged stone doon dwell . for one among the rest is admirable , the reason whereof is ins●rutable . one end drawes yron to it all the day ; the other end doth make it runne away . one end drawes yron to the southern pole , the other , to the center of the northern-hole : so strange and implacable enmitie , such hidden raging malignitie in working nature of this stone is found , as doth the wit of all the wo●ld confound . all mariners of force must be dismayed , if they should want the load-stones blessed ayde , by this they saile , else knowe not where they were , such sou'reigntie in ship doth magnes beare . lapis herculeus it is called those , that say herculeus did it first disclose , smiris a noble stone in operation much vsed for the teeth's purgation . the pumice stone was not formed in vaine , to clense your parchment and to make it plaine . tartar found in the bottom of wine-leyes , for pimpled spotted face , is of high price . a stone there is of colour blacke as sables , which marchaunts oft , vse for wrighting-tables . this also deserueth some memorie , because it serueth mans commoditie . the stone which shepheards doon acthites call , is of great vertue , though the stone 〈◊〉 small , for this i wish young ladies vnderstand , if they hold this stone closely in their hand , or apply it , to the place parturient they shall be deliuered incontinent . this soundeth endimions in his layes , make vse thereof and after giue him praise . redde and white corall as hard as a stone , tellus refuseth because it is none , but a sea hearbe combust by the hea●e of the sunne , wherewith some women faine wonders been done . drunken in powder , it vertue impart's , to the greene-sicknes ▪ and languishing heart's , neither is ieat within the stony lawe as sit for naught , but to take vp a straw , the third part of all the mineral's that beene , found in earthes-bellye , and dayly seene : haue strange and secret vertues intricate , profitable for mortall mans estate . and first phisitions done highly ex●●t , the pearled , and th' ammonian sa●● . salt-peter , minerall of high regard ▪ digg'd by commission , in each hou●e and warde , where by the deuill inuented gun-powder , that hell might tryumph and death ●e prowder ▪ which with sulphury composition , procurs fatall death and perdition . sulphur the damme of wilde fire and brimstone . by a filthie diuelish commixion , which hath brought to finall subuersion , many a strong and worthie champion . many a learned scholler of renow●● : the princely souldier , and the rural● clowne : no citie , castle , fort , or stately tower , is able to withstand his raging power : this hath dame tellus in her regiment , close coffred against the day of iudgement : if mindes reuenging would vouchsafe it rest , in darkesome closset of his mothers brest . alume is also a famous minerall , cold , abstersiue , peircing , medicinall . for cankers in the mouth , vlcers and blaynes , hot and dry scab's , and itching of the vaines . of viscous matter , is glasse composed , which in her brest , tellus hath enclosed . whereof men vessels ▪ excellent contriue , looking-glasses , and glasses perspectiue ▪ composed by arte geometricall , whereby beene wrought thinges supernaturall . men with halfe bodies , men going in th' ayre . men all deformed men as angels fayre . besides other thinges of great admiration , wrought by this glasses fabrication . drinking glasses , and plaine window glasse , placed by arte , that light and heate may passe . though it be strange , we know 't may come to passe , to set ●ire on a towne , or a ship by a glasse . how are old men bound to pans maiestie : whose sight is dimme , with their antiquitie ? that they might in age reade his oracles , he helps their sight with glassie spectacles . you learned searchers of ritch natures skill , that oyles and waters souereigne distill , what glassie limbecks , and receptacles , and closed fast luted tabernacles , frame you of this one brittle treasurie , safelie to keepe distilled misterie ? nimble quicksiluer what shall i say of thee ? minerall excellent in thy degree . mother of metals , transformer of all ▪ the seauen metalls vniuersall . how shall i celebrate thine excellence , or glorifie thy great magnificence , golde ioyneth not to siluer but by thee , thou piercest all mettalles that formed be . no mettall hindereth thine agili●●● tou flyest the sight of mans iniquitie ▪ admirable thinges might well be wrought , if man by arte , could fixe thee as they ought , and beate thee foorth into a siluer plate , whome neyther tuch , nor teste cou●d macerate . no siluer then , to thee were comparable , made with small cost , excellent and durable , this i thinke were a farre greater misterie , worthily fit to bee called alchymie ▪ then thus to make our wealth , and witte to range , good copper , into seeming golde to change . which thing is as possible to be doone ▪ as for a weezle to eate vp the sunne . but mercury whome we quicke siluer call , may be fixed as siluer naturall : perfect good siluer , permanent and 〈◊〉 , and shall all proofes of tuche , and 〈◊〉 endure . no difference twixt other siluer and this : but that is steedefast , and this running is , yet as it is it cureth maladies , ache in the ioynt's , and french infirmitie● . and men once cur'd , with neuer dying praise , with sacrifice and sacred rounded layes doe blaze with trumpe , of euerlasting fame , the glorious order of this circled frame . and now endymion hath anatomized , the vniuersall world , and all therein comprised , one onely thing remain's as yet vntouch'd , which is moste admirable , yet closely couch'd , t is this : to what end all these thing●● were fram'd ? which in this particular we haue nam'd . the answere is the vse thereof is great ▪ eyther for contemplation or meate . principallie for blessed mans behoofe , these things were framed as a certaine proofe , that he would loue him euerlastingly , for whome he framed vniuersalitie . for when worlds engine was thus finished , and all the parts perfectly polished : yet this whole fr●me serued pan to no purpose , nor did he benefite by one of those , whom he had made , vpon , and in this round , heauen , or earth , or what therein is found . for next to heauen were the angels made , and shortly after some fell retrograde . and became diuels by alteration , of all their qualities in creation . and haue their place within the spacious ayre , kept in chaines of euerlasting despaire . yet not of angell , diuell : or ought created , and pan neede in pleasure scituated , yet would he make this glorious world , and why ? for that he ment to frame a monarchie : or large empire full of soueraigntie , then formed he a prince of royall dignitie of a wonderfull grace and maiestie , to sway this imperiall monarchie , he framed first his bodies lineaments , with all his admirable complements . as a yong man of thirtie yeares of age , beautifull , gratious , of comely visage . yet dead he lay , as carkasse on a greene , no life or motion in him felt or seene . like sweete adonis sleeping on the mount , whom peerlesse venus had in high account . then breath'd he into him the breath of life , where presently began a gentle strife . when euery limme began it selfe to moue , and stretch it selfe his vitall force to proue , the closed eyes their curtaines did display , the rowling eye had motion euerie way . the nosthrils gan to feele the fragrant smell , of sweetest sented flowers which there did dwell , the eare began to heare melodious notes ▪ of daintie birds , from out their warbling throates . the rubie , liquid , warming vitall bl●●d , pass'd euerie veine , as riuer● streaming flood . from liuers fountaine t' impart nour●●hment , vnto the heart that hath the gouernment ▪ and so through conduits secretly con●riu'd , is blood to euery humane part deriu'd . this life to euerie part gaue perfect ●ense , to feele according to their differenc● ▪ within his head by hidden instruments , were placed natures blessed ornaments . the forehead kept obiected phantasie , the hinder part reteyneth memorie . intelligence hath her place principa●l , in the crowne of the head highest of all , fit to receiue obiects from phantasie , and to commit them vnto memorie . within a branchie filme there lyeth the braine , close rampir'd vp with barracados twaine : both maters , and the flint-hardie scull ▪ here reignes the soule , in maner wonderfull . from thence she doth diffuse her operation , to euerie member in his scituation . this breathed soul●s an immortall substance , simple , spirituall and of puissance . though breathed , yet no part of pan● essence , but a created glorious existence . fitting the bodie for procreation , it selfe not fit for generation . a simple essence cannot be deuided , as philosophers haue well decided . thus being animated his tongue did moue , and spake some words which tended vnto loue . then neuer present pan tooke him by th' hand , and set him on his feete , making him stand . and made him view his glorious maiestie , as farre as might his perspicacitie . and made him view the glorie of the place , with all things fram'd , and set before his face . producing to him all creatures framed , so to be termed , as he would haue them named . he made eden , gan , iehovah habitation , fit for a prince of his creation , replenished with fruites of euery kinde , to ●it the belly and to please the minde . in the midst of the round world scituate , the rest with great eas● to contemplate . there he inuested him , as in a throne , giuing him season and possession , and imperiall domination . of all this lowest roundes creation . gracing his gouernment with certaine law's , which clarkys comprehenden in their saw's . and being high pointes of theologie , surpasse endymions philosophie . marke ( cinthia ) where philosophie doth linne , there alwaies doth theologie beginne . he cal'd him adam : isch : an earthly man , worldes wonder , monarche , terrestriall pan. so glorious shining , princely excellent , vertuous , holy , wise , and continent : sober , modest , strong , graue , and temperate , amiable , magnanimous , and moderate . of comely jesture , and sweetest carriage , fit to possesse ioue's queene in marriage . yet desolate alone , and comfortlesse , ritch yet poore , pinch'd with solitarines , commaunding all thinges that were created , yet could not his minde bee recreated because he was constrain'd to liue alone , without inioying a companion , which pan perceiuing , cast him in a sleepe , commaunding morpheus , this prince to keepe . as one receiuing opium , or dwall , depriu'd of vitall sence , doth deadly fall : so falleth downe this mightie earthly prince ▪ neuer felt flora such a creature since , except he were more then a mortal● man , receiuing pearle of tullus , part of 〈◊〉 . falling she tooke him in her blessed armes , and lul'd him fast a sleepe with sacr●d charmes . soe dead a sleepe with incantations ▪ she dressed his bodie with carnations : crimsen gilliflowers , pinkes and pauns●es , muske-roses , and other pleasing p●ansies . thinking herselfe , a queene moste fortunate , if she might liue to chuse him for he● mate . but mightie pan prouided otherwise , out of his sencelesse side he made to rise , a young princely gratious louing creature , far surpassing any former feature . of such a shape diuine , and majestie , as amazeth my best philosophie . her face was like my fairest cinthya ▪ and peraduenture like musophila ▪ her grace , behauiour ; and modestie , surmounteth any mans capacitie . nor by endimion can be blazed , but it will make the whole world amazed . heauen and earth cannot the like afford , as must be wife to this imperiall lord. for she must be of bodie excellent , that must lie by a king magnificent , and it behooueth her to be precise , to talke with him that 's absolutely wise . pan therefore taking consultation , said she should serue for generation . her skinne was white as was the i●orie , thinne and smooth as the finest tiffany , where through a man might perfectly beholde , the azured veynes , her inward parts to folde . a reddie intermixt vermilion , diffused was pleasant to looke vpon . her golden hayre dispersed to her thighes , close shrowd's , lucina's sacred misteries . her modest eyes like sparkling diamond● , pure and chaste ( vnlike to rosamonds , ) piercing like cupids fixed fierie darts , sterne , fierce , and bloody , marble : martiall-hearts , loues mountaines , apples of hisperida , such were her brests witnesse my cinthia , from whence by corall conduits flowing are , streames of the sweetest caelestiall nectare , her crimson smyling lipps did make a showe , that mirth and pleasure in her mouth did growe . her teeth euen set by natures curious hand , as rowes of orientall pearles did stand . these keepe her tongue , and instruments of voice , of purpose made to cause her lord reioyce . tender her hands , her fingars long and small , fit to delight her lord and sport withall . thus fram'd she was in iust proportion , which made the world amaz'd to looke vpon . but for the ornaments of her princely minde , for excellency were not farre behinde . the noble soule of adam first created , if they be view'd and iustly estimated . some shepheards hau'n seely folkes abused , which donne denie her soule to be infused into her bodie , as blessed adams was , but rather that creation came to passe , by propagation out of adams soule . we finde no warrant for this in our rowle . for simple essence can no way generate , his like : and yet conserue his former state . thus was the glorious queene accomplished , and with caelestiall beautie furnished . pan blessed her , and call'd her adamah , a female earth , and after nekebah . by reason of her great concauitie , to take and holde begotten progeny , this being doon , he viewd the sleeping man , at his commaund morpheus swiftly ran . in the darkesome caues of e●ebus ▪ with all his mistie charmes somnife●●us . and left the sleeping prince in flora● lappe , not knowing what was done for his good happe , at last his lustrious eyes , he gan adua●nce , rouzing himselfe , and shaking of hi●●raunce , and standing vp vpon his princely feete , pan caused his vertuous lady him to greete . whose suddaine view , strook him to such amaze , as marueling a while did naught but gaze , he wondered at her beautifull proportion , her gratious lookes and constitution . and looking well vpon himselfe ( quoth he ) so well this peerelesse frame , resembleth me , as if she were my propper flesh and bone , in bodie and soule ▪ wee seeme to be but one . in all the earth her match can not be found , in whome humanitie doth so abound . then euer liuing , euerlasting pan ▪ acquaintd him how euerie thing began , and said absolute shall be thy pleasure , take heere to wife this surpassing treasure , the prince obey'd , the lady was content , mightie pan marryed them incontinent . and blessed them : saying they should increase , and fill the world till heauen and earth did cease . this pleas'd the prince , in token of consent , he gaue her halfe this worldly regiment . parting betweene them , earthes circumference , and cal●d her iskah for prehem●●ence , then was the marriage solemnized , and in our sacred rowles eterni●ed . where blessed angels sounded harmonie , and chirping birds chaunted their melodie , the king and queene , with ioyfull hearts did sing , and hils and dales , rebounding eccho's bring . tellus and flora , kep't it holy-day ▪ attired in their moste gorgeous array . and all the orbs and spheres gaue looking on , when princely adam tooke his paragon . how long they liu'd in their felicitie , is not contain●d in natures mysterie . what was their arte , their life , their fall , their end , by sacred layes and oracles beene pend . with that , endymion cast his eyes aside , and saw a gentle knight come pricking on , swift was his pace , and knightlie did he ride , bending his race towards endymion . as stately knight he was to looke vpon , complet his armes in rich caparison , his horse like pegasus , and he belerophon . likely he was to mannage martiall armes , well could he couch in rest his dreadfull speare , he rode as one that scorn'd thessalian charmes , nor did he any strange aduentures feare : the armes and shield which i did see him beare , were coloured blew , thicke set with siluer starrs : his shield an azur'd porpentine , with golden barrs . his wauing bases manaced the skies , like as his armour to welkin semblant , couch'd in his saddle close to enterprize , stratagems and aduentures puissant . if any in the earth were commorant , and single combat quicke to vndertake , gainst hellish monsters or lernaean snake . his steely helme , a corronet of bayes , empaled round : the penon of his launce , the ignorance of all the world displayes , for when he gan , his warlike speare ta'duaunce , some golden letters writ i read by chaunce . the motto was ( if i remember right ) learning triumph● in enu●es great d●spigh● . the simple shepheard cried out 〈◊〉 ; flie noble cynthia we are betrai'd , so sore amazed was the countrey swaine , that he forgot what he had done or 〈◊〉 . renowmed cynthia was no whit dismaid , but comforted th' amazed senselesse man , willing him hold his course as he began . and all the ladies from their seates arose , to view the comming of this warlike knight : in circle-wise they faire cynthia clos● ▪ to shrowde diana from acteons sight , the shepheard would haue ta'ne himselfe to flight , but that he was asham'de to runne away , leauing the ladies to the warriers pray . he layd a side his pipe , and tooke his hooke , as if he would an armed knight withstand , the seely soule put on a manly looke , yet better was his running then his hand . he wisht himselfe farre off in other land , for fitter were his hands to vse a pen , then mannage armes with any ma●shall men . but making vertue of necessitie , he made a show as if he ment to fight , vpon his feet , he started suddenly , to shield these ladies from that manly knight . no question there had beene a noble sight , to see him wield a woodden rustie ●ooke , that fitter were to mannage sacred ●ooke . o how the shepheard would haue 〈◊〉 his stumps , and laid about him with his smo●tie boke , his woodden crooke had giuen such deadly thumps , as would haue stricken downe a falling oxe . so would the knight haue feard the shepherds knocks , as if a bulrush hit him on the crest , or if a gnat had stung his armed b●est . but all was well , no terror was intended , the knight nor car'd , nor knew endymion . he rein'd his steed , and lightly downe discended , and with a courtly disposition , lift vp his beuer , whereby euery one , knew him to be , the mightie astrophill , whose prayse is paynted with an angels quill . prince of all poets in acadia , magnanimous of euerlasting fame , of chiefe regard , with famous cynthia , appollo parted with him halfe his name , and gaue him skill darke ignorance to tame , appollo twined with his learned hand , the lawrell crowne , which on his head doth stand . but when my cynthia knew 't was astrophill , she ranne to claspe him in her daintie armes , but out alas , it passed mortall skill ; inchaunted was the knight with sacred charmes . his bodie dead of yore , the more our harmes . o noble drayton well didst thou rehearse , our damages in dryrie sable verse . thrice cynthia tri'd to folde him in her armes , but all in vaine , she nothing comprehended : her vitall blood that all the bodie warmes . forsooke her veynes , and to her heart ascended . for loe , she fainting fall's as life were ended : making most wofull lamentation , yet astrophill still kept his station . the worthy nimphes that circled cynthia , amazed at her fall made such a crie , as wak'd the satyrs of syluania . and feeding lambs did greatly terrifie : the shepheard in a mortall trance doth lie , the tender ladies had the better hart ▪ setting all cowardice and feare apart . nymbly they tooke , and rubbed cynthia ▪ till she reuiu'd , who lifting vp her ●yes , behelde the elsin of arcadia , and cri'de deare : brother do not ●e●porise : nor do thou ladie cynthia despise , why speak'st thou not to her that loues thee best , what dismall humor hath thy minde possest● with that as from a deepe concau●ti● , a siluered voice , and words of grea● import , proceeded from the knight with maiestie , distinct , pithie , plaine , but wond●o●● short , yet such as vnto vs gaue great comfort . a man , a ghost , a knight , a potentate , humane , diuine , forcible , laureate . dies , liues , fights not , yet mortally doth wound , death , life , time , fortune , wisedome , learning , wit , nature , arte , forme , languages pro●ound , glorious earthlie-pompe , fame ex●●lling it : no earthly thing eternally shall si● ▪ vertue , pietie , and pure sanctitie , shall weare the crowne of immortalitie . these words the trembling shephe●rd did reuiue , they were so full of raritie and choyse , resembling skill of astrophill aliue ▪ the sound he thought was not vnlike his voice . endymion did mightily reioice , and said aloud , or thou ar● astrophill , or thou hast learn'd this sonnet from his skill . shepheard ( quoth he ) i am and am not hee , i am not perfect astrophill , but 〈◊〉 , the shade which now appeareth ●●to thee , is substance spirituall fram●d by arte ; what mortall was , is slaine by dea●ly dart of thanatos , corrupt consum'd to ●●st ; such is the end of all this worldly 〈◊〉 . but what art thou that sitst among these baye● ? vnfold to me for i must needes be gone , i was reader ( quoth he ) in former daies , vnto great astrophill ▪ but now am one , stripped , and naked , destitute alone . naught but my greekish pipe , and staffe haue i , to keepe my lambs and me in miserie . art thou ( quoth he ) my tutor tergaster , he answered yea : such was my happie chaunce , i grieue ( quoth astrophill ) at thy disaster : but fates denie me learning to aduaunce . yet cinthia shall afford thee maintenance . my dearest sister keepe my tutor well , for in his element he doth excell . and for thy selfe , i bring thee happie newes , thou shalt inioy a long and happie peace : which former bloodie wars , and death ensues , for ciuill heate in albion-soyle shall cease , and noble blood shall perfectly encrease , church-men heareafter shall agree in one , bannishing sects , and superstition . pride shall be turned to humilitie , each man shall keepe himselfe in his degree , discurtesie shall be ciuilitie , wanton maydes shall modest matrons bee , noe man shall seeke the fruite of others tree . noe rapine , swearing ▪ or abusion , noe murder , ribauldrie , confusion . each man shall seeke , to doe his neighbour right , greene grasse shall florish in westminster hall : you shall discerne a beggar from a knight , extortion and briberie shall haue a fall . golde exchanged for thinges caelestiall . vertue , truth , honestie , religion , shall tryumph in the brittish regyon . caesar shall see his foes subuersion , no man shall lift a sword against h●s crowne , his issue shall not feare dispersion . christo mastix shall be tumbled do●ne , peace , faith , loue ▪ ioy , honor in euery towne . trumpets shall sound , and bels sha●l ring for ioy , virgins and boyes , shall sing vine ●● roy. reuerend olde age , shall bring thee to thy herse , and glorie shall adorne thy progenie : eternall fame shall blaze in golden verse , thine honorable life and destinie . renowned poet 's of highest ingenie , shall decke thy tombe with euerlasting fame , and with goulden pens celebrate thy name . and when thy bodie shall consume to dust , resting it selfe in deepe obscuritie ▪ with dreadfull trumpe shall rise againe the iust , thy bodie shall surpasse in dignitie , the welkin which thou seest in maiestie , meane while thy spirit a substance diuine , in tryumph rid's in equipage with mine . about the orb 's and spheares caelestiall , dignified with euer shining light , viewing the majestie imperiall , clad in a vesture of the purest white . which amnos made before the world was dight , where thou with me , and i with thee shall sing , eternall prayses to the immortall king . these blessed nimphs , enuironing thee round , thrice noble , by their propagation : neeces to astrophill , of honor ●ound , of modest , vertuous inclination , happie shall be their generat●●n . and blessed they till ioue haue w●ought his will , and caus'd them mount , the 〈…〉 ast●ophill . and now my cinthia time sommons me henee , my newes been done i can no longer stay . he mounted pegasus and hy'de from thence , piercing the welkin , vanished away . leauing the ladies in wofull dismay , lifting their heads , and gazing on the skies , obseruing the course , as astrophill flies . galaxia tooke him in her splendent armes , sweetely she couch'd him in her canapie , she seal'd the passage , with her counter charmes , to guard her sleeping knight from ieopardie . without regard of impaciency , cinthia would needes ascend olympus hill , to liue or dye , with blessed astrophill . nature perswaded her to stay a while ▪ her time prefixed was not yet assign'd : the fatall sisters , would not cut her file ▪ her robes vnmade , her coronet vntwin'd . nor was the quintesence of nature fin'd , neither was yet great astrophill awake , that might her entertainment vndertake . cinthia replyed not , as one resolued , her will to put in execution : oftentimes her sacred soule reuolued , which way to make a dissolution , of this her bodies constitution and justly knowing t wa's not in her power , determined to stay her fatall houre . and yet to spend in contemplation , the better part of her remaining daies : which vow she keepes in veneration , witnesse her learned poems , and her layes , so often crowned , with arcadian bayes . thus long sitting silent in that place , aurora gan to showe her blushing face ▪ then all the ladies hasted to depart ▪ and cinthia turn'd her to e●dimion● ▪ with wordes of grace proceeding fr●m her heart , she thank'd him for his former ca●tion . this mount ( quoth she ) take for thy mansion . here shalt thou dwell , and feede thy little flocke , i with my ladies , will encrease thy ●●ocke . the stately garland of her blessed 〈◊〉 , for beautie matchlesse , incomparable ▪ with greatest fauours grac'd this co●ntrie swaine , ( particulers will be admirable ) of esteeme they were vnualuable . and out of doubt they had been durable , if worldly enuie had been curable . he liu'd a while in reputation , expounding oracles of theologie his flocke was had in estimation , as guided well by his phylosophy . profoundly could he chaunt that misterie . in languages of higest poetrie , vnfolding riddles of antiquitie . i left the shepheard in this happy st●●e , feeding his lambs in mirth and iolli●ie : but it fell out , when i return'd of late , his mirth was moane his solace mis●●ie , ( loe heare worlds-glasse of mutabilitie ) he wrung his hands , and made a ru●ull moane , his drops of teares might pierce a marble stone . i wondred how his blessed com●edie , could haue so suddaine alteration . i ask'd the cause of this his tragaedi● , hee answered : enuies sophisticat●●● . i thought to write , the whole narrati●● , but ●ith tragaedies haue a bloody e●d , during his life , he will not haue 〈…〉 ▪ ● . b. finis . to the right worshipfull sir iohn smith of olde-hunger knight , a worthie fauourer of learning . your ancient loue to him that wrote this booke , hath made ourania speake an english verse , the greekish ladies of castalion brooke , entombed are , close couch'd in sable-herse . the mourning cypresse and darke popler-tree , a●e testimonies of their lowe degree . endymion lay's aside his hebrew reed , and bids ourania harpe philosophie , whereof his english lambs and flocke may feed , till phoebus rayes dispell obscuritie . he will'd her yet such pleasing musicke sing , as might con●ort with aristotles wing . such as delights arcadian cynthia , and comforts schollers at their idle times , viewing the secrets of ourania , as she will chaunt them in her homely rymes . wonders aboue , and all within this round , must be the subiect of her daintie sound . shee sings of sunne and moone , and wandring starres , of vncouth elementall meteors : comets , heraulds of death and dreadfull warres , fire , ayre , winds , vapours , ocean , showers , and whatsoeuer you can thinke vpon , ourania sings : so bids endymion . read learne , and heare , trie , ponder , write , digest , words , matter , song , truth , arte , wit ▪ misterie : commend ourania : take her to your guest ▪ shee 'l teach the yonger lambs philosophie , such mysteries as neuer english pen , afforded yet vnto the view of men ▪ n. b. to my worshipfull ●ren●h 〈◊〉 stone esquire , counsellor at the law , and secondarie of the counter in vvoodstreet london . no liquid oyle proceedes fro● a pumice-stone , nor alchimist produce an oyle from thence : t is hard indeed if thou wert such a one , as lou'd a scholler onely for his pence . but since th'enclosing of endymion , he found some oyle from secondarie stone . counsell they say is no commaundement , that 's false if counsell be but equitie : whereto a man must be obedient , if he aspire vnto faelicitie . no wrong had seazed olde endymion , if he had taken counsell of a stone . things past , and things to come be different , for they are gone , and these are in expect . thinke not on former dayes maleuo●ent , the fates to come worke contrarie effect . and cause thee blesse the day , the place , the houre , that thou receyued'st endymions p●ramour . ourania sings obscure philosophie , like bats , and owles in silent dark● some night , in olderne times she chanted melodie , of high●er straine : and when she comes to light , shee'l● sing thee such a blessed madrigall , as th●● shal● thinke the lay ca●●●●iall . ● . b , finis . notes, typically marginal, from the original text notes for div a -e vera. calandra , hastingua . ashebie de la zouch . agape , wrotha . musophila , herberta . phileta . clara. candida . ieho●a . elo●●m . theos 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 . deus quasi 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 ti●or . the deitie written by . letters . we call'd that good , which now we call god. abba , father . ben , sonne . ruach , spirit angels not made before heauen . the reason . place . circumscrip definitiue . repletiue . cosmos : the world . ten heauens . coelum empyreum . primum mob●le . coelum st●ll●ticum 〈◊〉 hyades . arist. de 〈◊〉 . caster of figures . . starres knowne . the end why the stars were made . three other heauens or orbs. saturne ♄ . iupiter . ♃ mars . ♂ sol. ☉ day and night before the sun was made , genes , . venus . ☿ mercurius . ☿ lun● . ☽ apostrophe ad her●●nam qu● 〈◊〉 ma●iam pemb. the moone the . part of the earth . lympet , a round shell , which womē lay vpon the nepples of their sore breasts . the element of fire . fiery meteors . what a meteor is . comets . they signifie want of corn . the shortest and longest time that comets endure . starres of helena . castor and pollux . when that comet is called helena , & when , castor and pollux . the profit we reape by this comet . fyerie vapors in church-yards and about places of ●xecu●ion . colours about or aboue the moone . a circle about the moone . galaxia a shining white path , in the midddest of heauen in a frosty-night . the starres of note that maketh calaxia cleere . cassiopeia , . cygnus . ● . a●uila . . ca●da scorpion●● ● . sagitarius . . centaurus . . nauis argol● . . gemini . ● . a●riga . . perseus . ● . sporades stella dispersa sine or dine . 〈◊〉 the rayne-bow . raynebow in the night . thunder-bolt and lightning . whirle windes drie prester . spoutes of water in the sea. the vse of this point of phylosophy . the ayre . three regions of the ayre . the middle region cold● . the highest hot . the ayrie meteors simple . included meteors . windes . windes . . another cōmoditie by the winds . viz. to make raine . earthquake . the profit we get by this meteor . a stormy-winde . thunder . watrie el●ment . what are the waters aboue the earth . the cause of ebbing and flowing . saltnesse of the sea. watrie meteors eight . the mist. deaw . the cause . the hinderance . fittest time for deaw . the effects of deaw . manna a wōderfull deaw . the frost . it killeth wormes and hurtfull humours . this cloude compared to a spunge . raine . snowe . lime-twigs . snow-water . the vtilitie of snow . snow gendreth cristall . haile . the reason of haile in summer and not in winter . sleete . sleet alwayes in februarie or march , and neuer in december . a question . answer . earthly element . the earth , mother of all creatures therein . she hath . properties , of a good mother or wife . 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 . the couering of the earth called tellus-mantle . flowers . a flower , a wonder . hearbes . the admirable vertues of the herbe called oculus christi . trees . lyon , tygre , hyena , panther , rhinoceres , beare , vnicorne , ermine leopard , martin , sable , lu●erns fox . white and blacke .. mineueer , elke , bugle , budge , bucke , gemps , shamoys , harte , wolfe , squirrell , con●●y . vrchin , porpe●tine . deer . hare . badger , ott●● ▪ apes , monkies , marmezite . babioun . polcat , wild-cat , weezle , stoate . musk-cat . dormouse . 〈◊〉 , mice . mold-warpe . not blind . tame beasts . elephant . horse . camell . dromedary , spanish iēnet , ireish hobby , galloway ▪ nagge , engl : nagge , turkish horse mule. asse , oxe , cow , sheepe , goate catte , dogge , mastif : greyhound . hownde . spannell . water-spannell . tumbler . the ladies spannell . serpents . lyzard . salamandar . wormes . earth-worms . dodman . snailes . glow-worme to catch fish . silke-wormes doct. muffets booke of the silke-worme . spider . pismire . prou. . butterfly . the pismires head . the pismires burie their dead . the flea , the louse . fowles . eagle . the phaenix . the vs● . griffin . vulture . ostrich . goss-haw●● . faulcon , ierfaulcon ▪ tersell . lan●ret . lanner , muller , a bastard hawke . marlion . hobby . sparhawke . musket . kistrell . kite . buzzard . ringtaile . rauen. dangerous for the eyes . crow . rooke , chough , daw. mag-pie . michael draitons owle . bat. to see as well by night as by day . kings-fisher . woodspite . cormorant swan . hearne . crane . goose , duck , widgeon , teale . curlew , dotterell , pewet , bustard , godwet , plouer , heath-cocke , partrich , pheasant , rayle , quaile larke . ouzle . thrush . nightingale . lynnet , canary birds . redbrecht . wren . parret . parakito . gould-finch . bul-finch . mar●let , swallow . a red stone in the craw of a swallow prob oyle of swallowes . english iayes . haue the falling sicknes . peacocks . turkey cock turtledoue . doue . stockdoue . storke . iris the basest beggar that liued in his time . pellicane . house-cocke ▪ the coc●● loues his wife ▪ titmouse . flyes . bees . the bees body described . euery lodging 〈…〉 ▪ honry ▪ riuers . fishes of the riuer . carpe . tench . pool . springs . bathes . colde bathes . who● . the iewels & treasure within the earth . all thinges within the earth are eyther metalls , stones , or mixt. . metalls . the cause of different metals . no plentye of golde in virginia , & why ▪ gold the obiect of the world . women forsake their husbands beds , for gold , and their excuses . pandresse . bankrupt becomes a preacher for gold . to be a puritane . marke his subtiltie . mutabilitie , marke here he subscribeth . m●ke his hypocrisie . an other ▪ excuse . a booke called the su●u●y of discipline . an olde wife chosen and made yong by golde . a foule and foolish daughter made faire and wise by golde . alchimie . brasse . iron and steele . peace commended . discommodities of warre . leade . tinne . corrupted by mixture of leade . stones with their deuisiōs . precious stones . how they come to resist the fire , & yet being endred water . gemmae . perspicuae . op●ca● . m●x●a● . perspi●●● ▪ op●●a , ● mys●● ▪ many stones of more vertue , thē beasts and plants . load-stone . diamond his vertues . carbuncle , or rubie . vertues . emerald . vertues . blew saphyr . vertues . iacinth ▪ vert●e● . marble . porphyrie . alablastar . three kindes of whetstones touch-stone . damasco whet-stones of an a●hecolour . indian whet-stones yellow . flynt-stone . men much bound to god for this stone especially , students , souldiers , mariners . stones ordinary load-stone . vertues . mariners . hercules the first inuentor of the load-stone . smiris for teeth . pumc● for parchment . ta●tarum for spots in the face . lap●● sectil●s . acthites . vertues for womē trauelling with child corall no stone but an herbe . ieat . mixt mineralls . sal géma . ammoniacum . salt peter . sulphur . alume . glasse . looking-glasses . perspectiue glasses . drinking glasses . glasse for windowes . burning-glasses . spectacles . limbecks viols . quickesiluer . quicke siluer may be 〈◊〉 . the vse of this philosophi● . when the angels were made . the fall of angels , and their place . man made , and why ? a perfect man. ephe. . a liuing soule . life the effects of the soule . the liuer fountaine of blood . the heart principall . the head receptacle of senses intellectuall . fantasie in the forehead : memorie in the hinder part of the head . vnderstāding in the crowne of the head . dura mater , p●a mater . the soule immortall , simple . no part of gods essence . created , that is , breathed . not ex trad●●●● that is , one soule to beget another . he saw god as he might behold him . he named all things his mansion . paradice in the middest of the earth . man king of the earth . diuinitie begins , where philosophie doth end . womā made ▪ the womans soule was not made of 〈◊〉 soule , but infused by god. obserue . adam , adamah . nekebah per●orat● , boared as with a wimble , of the word n●kab signifying to beare a thing hollow . iskah a mannesse as we say a dutchesse . drayton vpon the death of s.p.s. galaxia the white path in the firmament . the soules immortall crowne consisting of seauen glorious graces i. vertue. . wisedome. . loue. . constancie. . patience. . humilitie. . infinitenes. : devided into seaven dayes workes, and dedicated to the kings most excellent maiestie. breton, nicholas, ?- ? approx. kb of xml-encoded text transcribed from -bit group-iv tiff page images. text creation partnership, ann arbor, mi ; oxford (uk) : - (eebo-tcp phase ). a stc estc s ocm this keyboarded and encoded edition of the work described above is co-owned by the institutions providing financial support to the early english books online text creation partnership. this phase i text is available for reuse, according to the terms of creative commons . universal . the text can be copied, modified, distributed and performed, even for commercial purposes, all without asking permission. early english books online. (eebo-tcp ; phase , no. a ) transcribed from: (early english books online ; image set ) images scanned from microfilm: (early english books, - ; : ) the soules immortall crowne consisting of seauen glorious graces i. vertue. . wisedome. . loue. . constancie. . patience. . humilitie. . infinitenes. : devided into seaven dayes workes, and dedicated to the kings most excellent maiestie. breton, nicholas, ?- ? 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and xml conversion the soules immortall crowne consisting of seauen glorious graces . . vertue . . wisedome . . loue. . constancie . . patience . . humilitie . . infinitenes . devided into seaven dayes workes . and dedicated to the kings most excellent maiestie . at london printed by h. lownes , and are to be sold by i. c. and f. b. . to the high and mightie prince , iames by the grace of god , king of great brittaine , france and ireland , defendour of the faith , &c. to whom shall i dedicate the praise of vertue , but to him whō vertue praiseth , which in your maiestie being made good , to the eies of those vnderstanding spirits , that can iudge of the heauenly notes of heroicall natures ( i hope ) hauing truth for my warrant , to escape the scandall of fawning eloquence : vouchsafe therefore my gratious soueraigne , in this plaine poem , to peruse the labour of my hearts loue , which with the seruice of true loyaltie , i humbly lay at the feet of your royall maiestie , beseeching the vertue of all grace , & grace of all vertue , so to blesse you with his infinite blessings , that as vertue vnder heauē putteth her praise vnder your patronage , so the patrone of all vertue will so royallize your praise in the heauens , that to your gratious crowne on earth , you may receiue a crowne of eternall glory . your maiesties most humble and loyall in all seruice , ber n. gent. to the reader . you that haue a heart to lift your eies aboue your head , and haue not buried your soule in the sinke of sinne , take a little time to reade ouer this little tract , where if vertue may inuite you , wisedome may woe you , loue may draw you , constancie may content you , patience may perswade you , or humility may entreate you , you shall not passe without your paiment , and make a profit of your expence : the villaine cannot taste it , the foole vnderstand it , the hatefull not loue it , nor the inconstant commend it , the impatient endure it , nor the proud regard it : but i hope the best will alow it , and to thē i only leaue it , who can best iudge of it , will iudiciously peruse it , and accordingly esteeme it ; there is no state taxed in it , no person abused by it , none that reade it , but may haue good of it , and for the good of all men i haue done it . the youthfull may learne , and the aged consider what is most necessarie for the soules comfort , the rich may finde treasure aboue their wealth , and the poore , reliefe in their miserie : in sume , to auoid tediousnes , i hope you shall see vertue truly honoured , wisedome truly praised , loue truly described , constancie truly commended , patience truly proued , and god in all , truly glorified : to the tuition of whose grace , in hearty praier for your happines , that you may seeke it only in his goodnes : i leaue you for this time , and for euer till i better know you . your friend as i finde cause , ber . n. gent. the argument . vertue is wisedomes light , wisedome her loue , and constancie her only lifes delight : which patience in humility doth proue , humility the eye of vertues sight : i hat sees the graces branches of the tree , which figures god , in whom their glories be . a poem vpon the praise of vertue . the first dayes worke . oh my deere muse , that neuer could'st endure the wicked courses of a wretched minde : nor , euer learn'st by cunning to procure the hatefull comforts of a hellish kinde : but , euer hast the loue of vertue neere thee , speak in her praise , that all the world may heare thee . goe , tell the greatest monarch ( where thou goest ) she is a queene to fit his maiestie : and , tell the wisest counsellour thou knowest , by her , his wit hath greatest dignitie : and , tell the fairest , in her fairest grace , foule is her faire , except she blush her face . tell the diuine , she giues a glorious light , vnto the truth of the eternall word : tell valour , she makes but a bloody fight ; except she guide the hand , that holds the sword : tell all the artes , their studies are but idle , except she hold the sences in a bridle . tell honour that her title 's but a tittle , except she build the steps of her estate ▪ tell riches , all her greatnes is but little , except she hold her reckonings at a rate : tell loue , alas , his treasure 's but a toy , except she be the substance of the ioy. goe , tell the world more then the world can tell , all is as nought , where she 's not all in all : tell excellence , she neuer doth excell , but , when her grace doth to her glory fall : tell truth her selfe , that in her trumpe of fame , her highest note is only in her name . oh , were she seene within the sacred sence of her high fauour alwaies with the highest ; where angels grace , and graces excellence , keepe her deere loue vnto themselues the nighest ; then would the world all humbly fall before her , and , next to god , in harts and soules adore her . oh , could a king but note her queene-like nature , what maiestie is in an humble minde ; how , on the earth she makes a heauenly creature , in being louing , patient , true , and kinde : and , in her sweetnes , sweetly so perceiue her , no king on earth would for his kingdome leaue her . and , could a queene behold her glorious grace , how her true loue doth truly louely make her : and what a sunne she sets vpon her face , that makes the godly for a godnesse take her : she would so truly and so deerely loue her , that , no conceite should from her court remoue her . and did the grauest wisest counsellour , but sound the depth of her diuine conceite , where perfect truth is reasons paramour : when wisedomes care doth cut off all deceite : while sacred iudgement in true iustice sits , her will should be the rule of all their wits . and , could the neatest courtier once behold how comly she is with a little cost : how farre she is from euery pleating fold , where , fond expences are in folly lost : they all would leaue their antike loues desire , and , take their patternes from her plaine attire . and , did the fairest nimph , or noblest maide behold her beauty in her glorious brightnes , pure in it selfe , vnspotted , not beraide : nor , idely caried with a looke of lightnes ; they would so farre her excellence preferre , as , all would leaue themselues to follow her . and , did the most experienc't officer , but note her cariage , in her seruice care : where conscience is the true examiner of all the thoughts , where honours courses are : while gracious spirits dwell in earthly natures : the court would be a place of heauenly creatures . did the diuine see her diuinitie ; and , what a spouse vnto the soule she is , who , with the world hath no affinitie : but , in the heauens hath her eternall blisse . he would his life , vnto her loue referre ; and , leaue the world , for only loue of her . and , did the lawyer looke into her lawes : where truth and loue doe trie the case of life ; and wicked craft can neuer make a clause , to feed ambition with the fruite of strife : but , euery plea , in pitties conscience proue : all law should onely liue , but in her loue . and , did the souldiour , in the points of warre , see how she sets the honour of the fight : how from offences , she doth keepe a farre , yet , in the quarrell , doth maintaine the right : and , saues the lyues , hat doe to mercy yeeld ; she should be high commaunder of the field . she is not lock't vp in the misers chest , nor , lapt vp in the lines of lewd conceite : her life is more in liberty faire blest , then , on the wills of wicked wit to waite : no , no , it is too much against her nature : to haue to doe with any wicked creature . when she alone doth in her closet sit , heauens open her the windowes of their light : and wisedomes spirit doth inspire her wit , while holy grace , doth guide her spirit right : saints teares , her inke ; her pennes of angels wings , while , to the glory of her god she sings . her paper is a pure , vnspotted hart , where thoughts are words , writ in the lines of loue : where patience points at sorrowes inward smart , while ruthfull passions doe repentance proue : and , truth records , that graces eyes may reade , how soules are heal'd while sinfull harts doe bleede . there , all the angels , in their turnes attend ; to doe their seruice , in their purest sence ; while , wit and reason , doe their natures bend ; vnto the life of loues obedience : and gathering so all gracious thoughts together ; she weares the garland , that can neuer wither . there , doth she put the poets to their pensions , whose wits are worne with too much worldly study , and cannot reach the height of heauens inuentions : but , plod in pooles where plashes are too muddy , and takes a muse for gracious pleasures play , to set her musique in a heauenly key . there , doth she sing , how sweet a thing it is , to see the heauens all blessed thoughts embrace : how beauty sees the highest of her blisse , but in the feature of an angels face : while , time and truth doe in their triall proue , there is no life but in the eternall loue. the fading pleasures of affections play , the partiall working of imperfect will : the feeble state of fickle fancies stay , the carelesse compasse of vnkindly skill : the cursed humour of inconstancie , these hatefull humours she doth all defie . no , where she loues , it tends but with her life , and whē she speakes , her iudgements shewes her wit : and , when she writes , her concords know no strife , what choise conceite shall chiefe in honour sit : but speake , and write , and looke , and like , and loue , all haue their blessings in the heauens aboue . she giues the king a high supremacie , and , to his queene a gracious maiestie : and , to his court she giues a decencie , and to his state she giues an vnitie : and , to the rich a superfluity , and , to the poore a bounteous charity . she giues the scholler , vnderstanding sence , and , to the souldiour , resolution : and , to the iudge an vpright conscience , and the repentant , absolution : the trades-man , care , to keepe his family , the labourer , patience , and humility . she leades a king into his cabinet , and , shewes him there the burthen of his crowne , before his eyes she doth his kingdome set , and to his god his duty doth set downe : she shewes him there the fall of idle pride , and , how his person doth in safety bide . she shewes him there the honour of her loue , the ground of grace in the eternall good : she shewes the blessing of the soules behoue , vpon the breeding of a royall brood : and , that religion is the rule of grace , that keepes the kingdome in a happy case . she shewes him there , the benefit of peace , the hurt of warre , the hate of tyrannie : the ioy of loue , the happinesse encrease : where wisedomes cares are honours companie : and , sound aduise in sacred veritie , maintaines a monarch in his maiestie . she shewes him there , how flattery folly feedes , while reason sees the ruine of selfe-will ; she shewes the difference , twixt the herbs & weedes , wicked illusion , and discretions skill ; she shewes him all , that she thinks fit to show him , to strength his state , that nothing ouerthrow him . she shewes him there the sweet contentiue life is not still caried in varieties ; nor faithfull care doth feare the fatall knife , that , is not subiect to impieties : but he alone , is all , and onely blest , who , all in mercy , hath his spirits rest. she makes him see , that he could neuer see , but , through her sight , the brightnes of all seeing ; she makes him be , that he could neuer be , but , in the blessing of her blessed being : thus , all in summe , she makes him see , and be : that without her , he could nor be , nor see . she gaines him all his greatnes in her grace , his countries loue , the honour of his court : she keepes him safely in his kingly place , and , to the world she doth his fame report ; and , when frō earth death must his crowne disseuer , she makes him raigne a king in heauen for euer . she takes a queene vnto her selfe a-side , and , shewes her all the glory of her grace : how , she alone doth make the blessed bride , and , how she keepes her in her highest place : she makes the king in glorious robes attire her , and , all the court , loue , honour , and admire her . then doth she bring her humbly on her knees , and , sets before her the faire booke of blisse , bids her there finde that she can neuer leese , the care of life , where euery comfort is : when lifting vp her heart with humble eie , she sees a beautie brighter then the skie . there she beholds in mercies maiestie , her sauiour sitting in a glorious throne : where , in the essence of eternitie , he rules all powers in himselfe , alone : when , seeing her thus humbly fall before him , he blesseth her that doth so much adore him . then , doth she see the angels exercise , who , with the saints and virgins fit and sing : while humble spirits make their sacrifice , vnto the glory of their gracious king : while , all the hoast of all the heauen reioyces , to heare the musique of the heauenly voyces . then , doth she set the consort of the quier , where euery note doth keepe his time and tune : the ditty only speaking of desire , where , loue doth only vnto mercy clime : where euery close doth in such comfort meete , that all the heauens are rauisht with the sweete . she takes the virgine to her morning taske , and sets her downe a forme of faithfull praier : but , couers not her beauty with a maske , when she hath made her truly heauenly faire : but , brings her forth with such a blessed grace , as , makes him happy that may see her face . she shewes her in a glasse of beauties truth , how , art doth nature too much iniurie ; that feebled aye in forced tricks of youth , in true conceite is reasons mockerie ; the idle thoughts that spoile the inward eies , where loue should liue , but in dishonour dies , she shewes her there the maiden-blush complection , betwixt the cherrie red , and snowie white : and , reades her then the precepts of perfection , within the circle of dianas fight ▪ she shewes her all the titles of desart , and , that true honour liues but in the hart . she neuer taught the eye to leere nor lowre , tongue , idle talke ; nor minde , vngratious thought ▪ she neuer set a countenance sharpe and sowre , nor , fetch 't a sigh vpon a thing of nought : but , shewes her indgement of so iust a measure , as , proues her wisedome worth a world of treasure . she shewes her then , how fancie like a flea , can skip about a skittish humour'd hart : and , how that sorrow like the ocean sea , can drowne the spirit in a deadly smart : while , melancholy doth oppresse the minde , where better humours haue no place to finde . then , doth she take the counsailour alone , and , shewes him all the secrets of his hart , bids him behold the mournfull widowes moane , the orphanes teares , the grieued sutors smart : loue , feare , and serue , first god , and then his king , and , doe no worke that may his conscience wring . she tells him then , the heau'nly consistorie doth only sit vpon the spirits good : where , in the fight of sacred wisedomes eie , cannot a clawse amisse be vnderstood : while , truth it selfe , that pleads the poore mans case , from mercies iustice hath impartiall grace . then ▪ doth she take aside the courtier , and , shewes him all the fruites of idlenes ; that , fancie is but follies treasurer , while wit is thrall vnto vnthriftines : while pride presuming on deceiuing hope , griefe doth the gate , but to repentance ope . she tells him there she neuer taught the eye to feede the spirit with an idle gaze : she neuer taught the tongue to walke awrie , nor , brought the minde into a wilfull maze : she neuer taught the fashion , nor the cost , where , wisedome sees time , and expence but lost . she neuer teacheth to play fast and loose , nor , iuggle with a false conceiued ioy : nor , let the foxe be taken by a goose , nor , euer sold a treasure for a toy : she neuer taught him to misspend his time , nor higher state then his desert to clime . she neuer taught him how to crouch , nor creepe , nor scorne , nor scoffe , nor hang the head a-side : nor sigh , nor sob , nor wipe the eye , and weepe , nor hatefull thoughts in louing lookes to hide ▪ no , no , she is or a more heauenly nature , then , with such by-wit to abuse a creature . then , doth she call for euery officer , and bids him strictly looke into his oath , that , conscience may be true deliuerer of an vnspotted , simple faith , and troth : that seruice loue by duties care discharged , in honours eye make due reward enlarged . then , doth she take account of his accounts , how , all the summes doe with the parcels gree : and , how much cunning conscience surmounts , and , what in fine , the finall summe will be : and , tells him that a counting day will come , when he shall make account for all and some . thus , when she hath the courtiers all reade ouer , she calls the lawyer to a conscience case , and , tells him , truth is learnings only louer , who , neuer puts the poore man out of place : but , holds the hand of iustice weight so euen , as if the ballance had the beame in heauen . she neuer takes a bribe to make a motion , nor , soothes a client in a false conceite ; she neuer seekes an vndeseru'd promotion , nor sells her beauty vnto the poore by weight ; no , she is true , and iust , and wise , and kinde , and , as she thinks , will euer speake her minde . then doth she take the souldiour in his tent , and shewes him there the hideous fight of blood : that , mercy euer with true valour went , to spoile the wicked , but to spare the good : that , conquest neuer is in true perfection , but , when a man can maister his affection . she teacheth not a wicked stratagem , nor , how for coine to buy and sell a towne : nor to vsurpe a princely diadem , nor raise the vile , nor put the vertuous downe : no , when she once begins to leuie armes , the good haue grace , the only wicked harmes . she neuer prai'd vpon the poore mans purse , nor tyraniz'd vpon the prisoner : she neuer reap't the mournfull widowes curse , nor of an infant was a murtherer : she neuer was by sea nor land a thiefe , but had compassion on the poore mans griefe . thus hauing shew'd the souldiour what she knowes , becomes the cariage of a noble minde : she calls the merchant , and to him she showes , that , conscience care is of a heauenly kinde : while no corruption can the soule infect , that to the spirit hath a due respect . she shewes him there , there is no ware , nor weight , but the all-seeing-eye in secret sees , and , that no cunning can excuse deceite , which gaining drosse ; doth better siluer leese : she tells him plaine it is all gotten gaine , for fading pleasure gets eternall paine . she tells him , that the aduenture on the sea , is not all blest to enrich the couetous : nor to maintaine the epicure his ease . the proud , the bad , nor the vitious : but , to prouide for neede , and to relieue the needy hart , whom griping want doth grieue . in some she shewes him that the spirits wealth , is free from all vnconscionable ill ▪ and , howsoeuer , wit doth worke by stealth , there is no wisedome but the gratious will : where carefull loue , where comfort neuer wasteth , laies vp the treasure that for euer lasteth . then , doth she call on euery trade and art , and , still cries out , haue care of conscience , bids euery eye , looke well into the hart , and , not be caried with a wicked sence : for , in the day of the eternall doome , plainenes in heauen will haue a princely roome . what , though sometime her habite be but poore , her lodging hard , her diet spare and thinne : she stand disgraced at the rich mans doore , and fast without , while other feast within : yet , is she better with her crosse contented , then , sport with sinnes , to haue her soule tormented . and , though sometime she sit and hold her peace , while , idle heads doe vse their tongues at large : and , grieue to see true learnings worth decrease , when that a dunce doth take a doctors charge ; yet , may the world in all her courses know , 't is not her will , god knowes it shall be so . and , though sometime she be in fetters tied , while wicked spirits walke at liberty , and , be enforc'd her fairest thoughts to hide , while hatefull thoughts are had in dignitie : yet hath she patience to endure her crosses , while heau'nly gaine doth counteruaile her losses . oh , could the world discerne her worthines , in all true honour , in all honours truth : how she doth only giue a happines vnto the grauest age , and greenest youth : euen from the king , vnto the poorest creature , she would be honour'd in a heau'nly nature . but , let the world esteeme her as it will , she shall be worth more then the world is worth : and , when the world shall blush to see her ill , then shall she bring her heauenly beauty forth : and make them all confesse vnto their faces , her glory puts them all vnto disgraces . she neuer speakes but truth , nor doth but well , her thoughts all pure , and grounded on perfection : she doth among the holy muses dwell , and guides the graces , all by her direction : she is the bodies grace , the spirits queene , in whom all graces haue their glory seene . oh , that i could describe her in her height , as god and her good grace might giue me leaue : how all the saints , and all the angels waite , but on her will , and from the same receiue the highest substance of their heau'nly blisse , in whom alone all heau'nly blessing is . then should the world be all asham'd to see , how basely they her glorious grace regarded : and grieue in soules to thinke that euer she should for her seruice be so ill rewarded : that few or none , wise , fond , nor rich , nor poore , but ready are to thrust her out of doore . then should the courts of princes flock vnto her , and lords and ladies sue to her for grace : and happy soules that best can seruice doe her , and seeke their life but in her louely face : and then her grace , such should a glory beare , that there should be no world but where she were . but since her worth is to the world vnknowne , and only heauen doth her deere loue embrace : her worth is more then can in words be showne , while grace it selfe can only shew her grace : let me but leaue her in all admiration , to virgins , saints , and angels adoration . and let me say but what in soule i finde , she is the essence of all excellence : the eie , the heart , the body , and the minde , where holy rules haue all their residence : of all good motions the first only mouer , the proofe of loue , and of loues proofe the louer . the strength of truth , th' assurance of all trust , the concordance of all contentiue cares : the iudgement of the wisedome of the iust , the sacred shop of the celestiall warre : the lemme for which no price can be too great , th' eternall manna for the spirits meate . the eie of light , where loue hath all his life , the tong of truth , where wisedom hath her words : the heart of peace , where patience knowes no strife , the hand of bounty that all grace affords : the face of beauty where all brightnes shineth , the soule of wonder that all worth defineth . the soile wherein all sweetnes euer groweth , the fountaine whence all wisedome euer springeth ; the winde that neuer but all blessing bloweth , the aire that all comfort euer bringeth : the fire that euer life with loue enflameth , the figure that all true perfection frameth ▪ the study of the soules intelligence , the art of wisedomes high inuention : the rule of reasons best experience , the worke of mercies glorious mention : the ground of honour , and discretions grace , place's perfection , and perfections place . all this , and more then i can speake or write , in vertue liues , and to her loue belongs : and , though the world doe barre her of her right , yet heauen will one day right her of her wrong ▪ and make the world to know her gratious nature , and , how she only makes the glorious creature . and , since that day will one day come vnwares , when she will call a court of all her teanures , and , see the fruite of all her seruants wares , and , take an order for all misdemeanures : let all the world be fearefull to offend her , and thinke them happy that can best attend her . let euery creature seeke and sue to serue her , and euery king , and lord , and lady loue her : and euery heart endeuour to deserue her , and euery minde for some good motion moue her : and euery tongue in true perfection praise her , and euery soule to endlesse glory raise her . and let me aske a pardon of heau'ns grace , for my poore spirits mounting vp so high : who , for my sinnes doth bid me hide my face , and not to heau'n to dare to lift mine eie : and say no more , but end as i begun , she is a queene of queenes , and i haue done . and since that vertue neuer can be seene , but by the eie of wisedomes sacred sence : where she beholds her as the blessed queene , that weares the crowne of reasons excellence : let me beseech the heauens my soule to raise , to speake of wisedome in her worthy praise . and , though i know , and cannot but confesse my thoughts vnable to aspire so high , and euery way , but all vnworthinesse in me , to write of such a misterie : yet let my heart a little tell my minde , what wonder worth , in wisedomes works i finde . gloria in excelsis deo. vpon the praise of wisedome . the second daies worke . from the vaine humours of vnseason'd wit , whose heedlesse wil breeds nothing els but woe : among the seates where sacred spirits sit , the holy pleasures of the heauens to know : my humble muse learne what perfection saies , in glorious wisedomes neuer ending praise . she is the spirit of the highest power , the essence of all purenes excellence : the compasse of the euerlasting hower , the vertue of all purenes quintessence : the knowledge that all knowledge only giueth , and only life , in which , life only liueth . she sits in counsaile with the trinitie , and is th' almighties secret secretarie : she keepes the graces in an vnitie , and doth the charge of all their seruice carie : before creation she did make election , and for the action she did giue direction . she calls the angels each one by their names , and sets the saints and martirs in their places : their himnes and songs vnto their lord she frames , and to their musique giues especiall graces : the seraphins she makes to clap their wings , while all the heauens their haleluiah sings . amid the skie she set the sunne and moone , and made diuision twixt the day and night : she made the morning and the after noone , and set each planet in his place aright : she prickt the starres vpon the firmament , and gaue a life to euery element . she made the times the seasons of the yeare , the change of natures , and the notes of choise : she made perfection euery way appeare , and in her labours made her loue reioyce : so by desert the highest did her call high officer , and worke mistris of all . she made the earth in compasse like a ball , betwixt the water and the skie depending : yet hangs so fast , that it can neuer fall , vntill all earthly things must haue an ending : and hauing fram'd it as she thought it meete , made it a footstoole for her masters feete . she made the seas , the brooks , the fountaine springs : the trees , the fruites , the herbs , and euery flower : the fish , the beast , and euery bird that sings : the yeere , the month , the week , the day , the hower : the outward shape , and euery inward sence , and euery starre a sundry influence . she framed man the last of euery creature , but yet the best , and to her loue the neerest : she gaue his heart a kinde of heau'nly nature , and held his life vnto her loue the deerest : she made him all things by their names to call , and vnder god , lord gouernour of all . she taught him only how to know the good , but neuer taught him how to know the euill : she fed his spirit with a wholesome food , till pride did bring him poyson from the deuill : she made him then his folly to confesse , and then his faith in mercy finde redresse . she gaue his soule a minde aboue his hart , his hart , a feeling of his spirits nature : his nature , reason ▪ and his reason , art ; his art , a knowledge of each earthly creature : his knowledge , honour ; and his honour , grace , his grace a fauour , in a glorious place . she read him all the rules of learnings loue , the naturall , the morall , and diuine : she shew'd the blessing of the soules behoue , that doth not wholy to the earth decline : she shewes the way vnto eternall blisse , and , for the world , how base a thing it is . yet , when she made the world for her best grace , she sets a course , and rule for euery thing : for nature , reason , action , time , and place , how best proportion might perfection bring ; and , how in all might all things so agree , that in their concords , might no discord be . in scale , and feather , haire , and skinne , and hue , in substance , sence , in colour , shape , and feature : how they were first begot , and how they grew , and how each one should differ in their nature : yet , differing so , they might together liue , that none might other hurt , or hinderance giue . but vnto man , she only gaue a minde , to looke into the life of euery nature : and giue them names , and vse them in their kinde , and take commandement of each kind of creature : and by her will to walke among them so , that euery one should him their seruice owe. she made each haire , each artir , and each vaine , the flesh the bones , the finnowes , and the skinne : the heart , the lytes , the liuer , and the braine , the outward beauty , and the strength within : and to his soule did giue that heau'nly nature , that made in all the admirable creature . she gaue him wings to mount aboue the winde , and inward eies to see aboue the sunne : and by her rules did make his reason finde , how sun , and moone , & starres their courses runne : how sea-men by the pole their courses guide , and by the moone the turne of euery tide . she makes him finde the heauens operations , vpon the bodies of the earth below : she makes him by his spirits contemplations vpon the earth , things aboue earth to know : and to his knowledge doth that vertue giue , as learnes him only to his god to liue . she makes a difference in the mindes of men , she crownes the princes , and entituleth honor ; she writes their stories with a perfect pen , and doth aduaunce them that doe tend vpon her : she makes them blest that doe in patience proue her , and liue for euer that doe truly loue her . she doth instruct the king in all his care , where mercies iustice beares a blessed sword : she shewes the peeres when they in counsaile are , what fauour heau'ns the faithfull hearts afoord : she shewes the people the due loyaltie , that subiects owe vnto their soueraigntie . she makes the courtier not misspend his time , she bids the souldiour spare the innocent ; and the diuine beware the conscience crime , and makes the lawyer a good studient : she makes the merchant honest with his wealth , and , labour keepe the labouring man in health . she teacheth euery science , and each art , and shewes the truth of euery argument : and makes distinctions vpon euery part , and is of all the only ornament : she shewes the studient in diuinitie , heauen with the world hath no affinitie . she feedes no fancie with an idle fashion , yet fashions all things in a comly frame : she neuer knew repentance wofull passion , nor euer fear'd the blot of wicked blame : but euen and true what euer she intended , wrought all so well , that none could be amended . she neuer whirles about an idle wit , nor taketh pleasure in a wanton eie : nor in the seate of pride did euer sit , nor from the poore did turne her hand awrie : nor maintain'd wealth with wretched miserie , nor sought for honour by indignitie . no , no , that man that would his mistris make her , that woman that doth choose her for her louer : that man , or woman that doth only take her for their best loue , and in their hearts doe loue her : in rauisht sweetnes of her beauties blisses , will dwell vpon her lips in louely kisses . she neuer yet did harme to any liuing , nor is there any good but that she doeth : to euery soule she is her comfort giuing ; and with her sweetnes so affection woeth , that they who could in loues perfection proue her , would hate themselues , and if they did not loue her . she laies the lines of life in vertues loue , imploies the minde in holy meditations : the hart , in study of the soules behoue , the spirit , in loues contemplations the tongue , in speaking truth on euery part , the soule , in prayer , for a faithfull hart . she neuer was acquainted with corruption , not came within the aire of all infection : her purpose neuer had an interruption , nor euer was she crost in her direction : but sound and sure she caries so her skill , that in all good , there can be found no ill . she is the fairest of all beauties fame , she is the sweetest of all reasons sence : she is the noblest of all honours name , she is the strongest of all loues defence : she is the richest of all earthly treasure , and purest substance of the spirits pleasure . oh , what can there be more ? that she should be ? or , how should she be more then that she is ? that all may see , and more then all may see , the blessed being of all being blisse ; all infinite , in all perfections waies , and infinite , in all perfections praise . and , being then in goodnes all so good , as , being best , a better cannot be : which , in her selfe is only vnderstood , and in her selfe , her selfe can only see : what life of grace ? but would in loue admire her , or gratious loue could liue , and not desire her ? but since that loue is the true life indeede , of which she is , by which she only liueth : from which she hath her only happy spide , to which she oweth all the good she giueth ; let me the purest of my passion proue , to see her glory in the grace of loue . the praise of loue. the third daies worke . o loue that liuest in that only light , which giues all seeing to all gratious eies : but keepest thy sence frō that vngodly sight , that in the darknes of illusion dies : lighten my soule that it may cleerely see , how thou in wisedome , wisedome liues in thee . the angels can in their attonements tell , how kindly thou do'st make them liue together : and where the saints and holy martirs dwell , the holy muses bring their musique thither , and while the hoast of all the heauens reioyce , thou tun'st the heart-strings of the highest voice . loue is the essence of eternitie , that workes the course of wisedomes cariage : where the high counsaile of the deitie , twixt heauen and earth doe make a mariage : while in the life of holines alone , the lord of heauen , and his true church are one . it layes the plot , and drawes the lines of pleasure , within the ground of graces paradise : it works the truth , that is the spirits treasure , and builds the height of honours dignities : it bends the eies of graces royaltie , and knits the hearts of vertues loyaltie . it is no obiect for an earthly eie , nor any muse for any worldly minde : although the world in true effects may trie ; it is a spirit of a powerfull kinde ; and such a power , as all powers doe submit ; to the inuincible power of it . it maketh will doe only what it list , while wisedome guides the axill tree of wit : and neuer feares the hurt of had i wist , that sees a crosse , and is content with it : while patience findes the only faire perfection , of fancies faith , in fauours true affection . it is a substance that admits no figure , for in it selfe it breedes but of exceedings : while in the notes of pleasures truest nature , the fruites of faith are fancies only feedings : while in conceite those high contentments meete , that happy soules are rauisht with the sweete . to comprehend , it passeth comprehension , and to define , 't is vndefinable : and to describe , it doth exceede inuention , and to conceiue , 't is vnconceiuable : yet by the vertue that our sence it giues , our reason findes that in our soules it liues . it is a fire that kindleth in the eie , it is an aire that cooleth furies heate : it is a water that is neuer drie , a paradise , where growes the spirits meate ; thus it partakes of euery element , yet liues aboue the highest firmament . it is a thought begotten by a sight , and 't is a sight that liueth in the thought ; it is a life that breedeth in delight , and a delight that life hath only wrought ; it is a word that by true spirits spoken , doth knit a knot that neuer can be broken . oh , how it doth a blessed nature nourish , and how it doth an humble spirit cherish : and how it makes a faithfull heart to flourish , and suffers not a gratious soule to perish : witnes those hearts whose perfect spirits proue , how loue in wisedome , wisedome liues in loue . fortune can neuer haue a force to foile it , nor feare to fright , nor enuie to anoy it ; nor passion to hurt , impatience to spoile it , nor death to kill , nor deuill to destroy it : but where all pleasures spring , and perish neuer , heere , or in heau'n it hath a life for euer . from the faire brightnes of a beautious eie , it caries honour to an humble hart : and from the heart of truthes humilitie , it gaines the comfort of a kinde desart : and in true kindnes , that content alone , that of two bodies makes the minde but one . it brought downe heau'n to earth , brings earth to heau'n , it walks about the circle of the sunne : it makes the planets keepe their orders eu'n , and nature kindly all her courses runne : it sits vpon the holy seate of grace , and with the highest , hath the highest place . it keepes all order , measure , rule , and right , in nature , reason , wisedome , wit , and sence ▪ in word , and deede , and thought , by day and night , in time and place , in case , and moode , and tense : where all proportions are in such perfection , as shewes the depth of the diuine direction . it makes the husband kinde vnto his wife , the spouse obedient to her faithfull pheere : and in that kindnes that contentiue life , that only doth but in that life appeare : the children gratious , and the parents kinde , and each in other what they wish to finde . brethren and sisters liue in vnitie , and neighbours liue in friendly neighbourhood : and friends continue in true amitie , and strangers vnto strangers to doe good : princes in peace , and subiects liue in grace , and so the earth to proue a heau'nly place . oh , how it fights against infamous thought , and kills the nature of an ill coniecture : how true it hath the life of vertue taught , and builds the height of honours architecture : how little it regards all earthly toyes , and surely leades the soule to endlesse ioyes . how sweetly on the nurses lips it lies , while she is bussing of her little baby : and how it twinckles in the infants eies , in learning of his christes crosse , and his a. b : how cherry-red it dies a snowie white , where maiden-blushes make a blessed sight . loue makes the triumphes of the truest ioyes , and sounds the trumpet of the sweetest sound : loue speakes in hearts , and makes no idle noise , but is in some of euery grace the ground : it is a riddle aboue reasons sence , and of exceedings all the excellence . it makes the thought , the word and deede all one , it bindes the eye , the hand , and heart together : it is in truth the only tree alone , which keeps his greene where not a leafe can wither : it is the bird that only sings in may , and makes the holy spirits holy day . it takes away the tediousnes from time , the paine from patience , in desire delaies : the feare from care , the hearts content to clime , the sloath from labour in his hardest waies : the frailty from the nature of affection , and folly from the passion of perfection . it is a vertue of that sacred sence , in working wonders in the spirits power : as in the height of reasons excellence , vpon the top of truths eternall tower : doth stand with such a grace of heau'nly glory , as may be call'd the state of wisedomes story , and since it is so infinite in worth , as doth exceede his penne of reasons praise : who from the soule of wisedome issues forth , as from the sunne his brightest shining raies : let me heere cease , and all in admiration , leaue it to wisedomes only declaration . and since it doth in nothing more appeare , then in the nature of true constancie : which is a vertue to the soule to deere , as keepes the soule from errors extasie ; let me a little speake of that sweet nature , of constancie that makes the blessed creature . the praise of constancie . the fourth daies worke . o constancie , thou only kingly thought , that keepes the spirit in her purest kinde : and hast against all idle frailty fought , and like a mountaine set lest fast the minde : let me conceiue some part of thy content , where pleasures spirit is most sweetly spent . and though i cannot reach that royall height , wherein thy sacred maiestie doth sit : yet as a seruant let me humbly waite , to see thine honour , and to speake of it : and so to speake , that all the world may see wisedomes loues , honor only liues in thee . the constant eie hath neuer wandring fight , the constant eare hath no vnkindly hearing : the constant tongue doth euer speake aright , the constant heart hath euer happy chearing : the constant minde the fairest thoughts vnfold thee , the constant soule on earth & heauen behold thee . it neuer hath a thought of iealousie , nor stands vpon opinions parador : nor runnes a fury into frenzie , nor feares the wolfe , nor ioyneth with the fox : but like the phoenix in a sunnie fire , findes lifes delight in ashes of desire . it loues no change , and breedes the ioy of choise , it feares no fortune , nor it serues no folly : it keepes the rule where reason doth reioice , and is the substance of contentment wholy : it is a stay that strengtheneth the minde , and knit the sences in a sacred kinde . it is the true foundation of all strength , which while it holds , the frame can neuer fall : it is the line that drawes the longest length , and euer is , that sees the end of all : it keeps the rules of the heau'ns reuolution , and doth confirme all reasons resolution . it is the locke vpon the heart of loue , a chest that keepes the treasure of the minde : within the soule a rocke that cannot moue a band ▪ that doth the thoughts together binde . a light where wisedome vertues honour seeth , and life where only grace with loue agreeth . it keepes the sunne in his continuall brightnes , the ayre in coolenes , and the earth in drynesse : water in moisture , and the winde in lightnesse , the fire in hotnes , and the flame in highnesse : the good in goodnes , and the kinde in kindnes , the minde from madnes , and the eye from blindnes . it was the mouer first of mariage , and made the first continuance of content : it set the course of wisedomes cariage , and neuer further then affection went : it is the state of all perfections stay , and times all euer lasting holy day . it is the crowne of patience kingly care , the seate where mercy sits in maiestie : the law wherein all blessed precepts are , the fame of loue , and league of amitie ; the learning of the wisest wits instruction , and sence of the most sweetest thoughts construction . aboue the heauens it liueth with the highest , and in the heauens it dwelleth with the purest : and to the nature of the best the nighest , and in the sence of all conceites the surest : and in the action of all art the strongest , and in the length of time , and truth the longest . it keepes the center of the earth from mouing , the swelling sea from passing of his bounds : the rules of true perfection from reprouing , the health of wisedome from all follies wounds ; the circle of the world in such a frame , that admiration may commend the same . oh , how it writes the worthinesse of those , that stroue for honour to the stroke of death : and how without comparison it showes , the mouth of wisedome blessed in her breath : and how it makes the fame of them to flourish , that with their bounty vertuous spirits nourish . it made the mirror of all martirdome , and in the faithfull makes a glorious fight : and in the day of the eternall doome , it will be gratious in all glorious sight : where hopes continuance in all kindnes care , brings humble faith to endlesse happy fare . and since it is so infinite a grace , as may deserue as infinite a praise : and is the fulnesse of the fairest place , in all the walke of wit , and reasons waies : where patience proues the best experience , let me a little sing of patience . the praise of patience . the fifth daies worke . sweete patience thou soueraigne of perfection , of gratious thoughts the only gouernesse : who by the rules of thy diuine direction , do'st bring the heart to highest happinesse : my humble soule with thy sweete loue enflame , that i may sing in honour of thy name . the purest thought that euer heart possessed , the clearest obiect of the carefull'st eie : the present medicine for the minde distressed , the only ease in euery miserie : in all the proofe of wits experience , in heart , and minde , and soule , is patience . it puts off feare of fortunes frowardnes , and only rests on resolution : it wrestles with the worlds vntowardnes . and holds the state of reasons constitution : it conquers will , and so doth carie wit , that both are happy only but in it . it breedes no wroth , nor moueth enuies ill , it breakes no concord , nor discention sturres : it learnes the spirit an especiall skill , where reasons care repentance not incurres : and if repentance , folly doe enforce , it is a meane vnto a sweet remorce . it beareth want as if it were no woe , and suffers wrong as if it had no sence : it swallowes sorrow as it were not so , and taketh death for lifes ingredience : it neither feedes of fortune , feare nor fate , but alwaies is all one in euery state . in time it keepes the compasse of the hower , in action , order , measure , point , and place : in thought , the temper of the spirits power , in wit and reason all the rules of grace : in grace the ground of that perfections story , that goeth neere the height of vertues glory . it makes the entrance into euery action , continues the proceedings , makes the end : it kils the nature of vnquiet faction , and of a foe sometime doth make a friend : it doth conceale the hearts calamitie , and makes a vertue of necessitie . by patience we doe our soules possesse , and tread the path to our soules paradice : while the impatient in their soules distresse , headlong fall into their soules miseries ; it is a salue that healeth the soules griefe , sorrowes rankt poison , and the soules reliefe . patience doth try the truth of euery thing , distills the spirits of the purest natures : teacheth the muse her musique notes to sing , and findes the difference of all kindes of creatures : giues bodies health , and makes the spirits diet , and brings the soule vnto eternall quiet . it keepes the husband chaste vntill he marrie , the wife obedient to her band of loue : it makes the mother for her childe to tarie , and seruants waite for their rewards behoue : it makes the sea-man tarie for a winde , and poore men waite till richer men haue dinde . it makes the wounded man endure his dressing , the sicke man see the loosing of his blood : the poore man beare the paine of his oppressing , the good man against euill to doe good : the wise man study for the state of blisse , the holy man finde where all blessing is . it keepes the king from thought of crueltie , the noble peere from prides ambition : the counsailour from all impietie , the courtier from all ill condition : the church-man from the error of selfe-will , the lay-man from the exercise of ill . by patience dauid had a princely fame , and , iob his patience hath a worthy praise : but christ his patience hath the glorious name , that euer liues to neuer ending daies : since then in god and man it is so glorious , let it be held a vertue all victorious . in god it doth a worke of mercy show , in mercy comfort , and in comfort grace : in grace that loue from which that life doth flow , that shewes where patience hath a happy place : oh blessed patience that in man doth proue , gods mercies comfort in his gratious loue . it brings the heart to loues humilitie , humility to truthes simplicitie : and simple truth to cares tranquilitie , and quiet care to faith's felicitie : and happy faith vnto that fairest blisse , in which the fairest of all blessing is . and since that in humility i finde true patience hath her purest residence : and brings the heart , the spirit , and the minde vnto the height of reasons excellence : let me a little shew what vertue saies , in setting downe humilities due praise . the praise of humilitie . the sixth daies worke . oh the sweet sence of loues humilitie , which feares displeasure in a dearest friend : the only note of true nobilitie , whose worthy grace is graced without end : while faithfull loue in humble truth approued , doth euer liue of god and man beloued . her grace is gratious in the sight of god , makes men as saints , and women angels seeme , makes sinne forgotten , mercy vse no rod , and constant faith to grow in great esteeme : and is in some a blessing of the highest , and to the nature of himselfe the nighest . it maketh beauty like the sunne to shine , as if on earth there were a heau'nly light : it maketh wit in wisedome so diuine , as if the eie had celestiall sight : it is a guide vnto that hauen of rest , where blessed soules doe liue for euer blest . in christ it is a grace of worthy glory . in man from god , a gift of speciall grace : while in the state of vertues honours story , wisedome doth finde it in perfections place : and plac't so high in the almighties loue , as nothing more can mercies comfort proue . it makes the eye look downe into the heart , the heart obedient vnto wit and sence : and euery limbe to play a seruants part , vnto the will of wits preheminence : it brings the minde vnto the body so , that one the other cannot ouergoe . it is the death of pride , and patience loue , passions phisitian , reasons counsailour : religions darling , labours turtle doue , learnings instructer , graces register : times best attendant , & truthes best explainer , vertues best louer , and loues truest gainer . it is the princes grace , the subiects duty , the schollers lesson , and the souldiours line : the courtiers credite , and the ladies beauty , the lawyers vertue , and the loue diuine : that makes all sences gratious in his sight , where all true graces haue their glorious light . it makes the heart fit for all good impression , it doth prepare the spirit for perfection : it brings the soule vnto her sinnes confession , it helpes to cleare the body from infection : it is the meane to bring the minde to rest , where heart , soule , body , minde , and all are blest . it made the mother of the sonne of god , gratious in him who made her full of grace : and on her sonne it blessedly abode , in bearing all the filthy worlds deface : and in his seruants for their maisters loue , did faiths affections in their passions proue . it saued abrahami sonne from sacrifice , when isaaks death was quitted by the ramme ; it saued noah and his progenies , where on the earth destructions deluge came ; it saued lot from hurt of sodomes fire , and israel from cruell pharaohs ire . it wrought in dauid gratious penitence , in niniuie a sweet submission : in iob a famous blessed patience , in paule assurance of his sinnes remission : in iohn the habite of a holy loue , in christ the grace that did all glory proue . it euer holds the hand of faithfulnes , and euer keepes the minde of goldlines : and euer brings the heart to quietnes , and euer leades the soule to happines : and is a vertue of that blessednes , that merits praise in highest worthines . oh how it gaines the childe the parents loue , the wife her husband , and the seruants maisters : where humble faith in happy hopes behoue , findes patience care , discomforts healing plaisters : and truest course of cares tranquillity , only to rest but in humility . and since that in the life of humble loue , i see the way vnto the well of blisse : where patience doth in all perfection proue , where the high blessing of all blessings is : let my soule pray that i may humbly sing , the heau'nly praises of my holy king. of the infinite praise to the infinite glory of the infinite goodnes of the infinite god. the seuenth daies worke . o glorious god , and god of only glory , essence and substance of all excellence : the groūd the grace , the state , & al the story , of vertues , wisedoms , graces residence : inspire my soule with those pure thoughts perfection , that shew some sparkle of thy loues affection . and let me not presume a looke too high , least thou abridge the blessing of thy loue : nor yet so low , let me embrace mine eyes . as thy faire praises may vnfitly proue : but so thy goodnes euery where to know , that euery where i may thy glory show . and though my soule polluted all with sinne , vnworthy be of the least thought of grace : yet let thy grace a glorious worke begin , thy holy spirit in my heart to place : that to the date of neuer ending daies , my soule may sing thine euerlasting praise . before there was a light , there was a light , which saw the world , the world could neuer see : from which , the world receiues her brightest sight , and brightnes more then in the world may be : oh heauenly light aboue all earthly seeing , where only vertue hath her only being . from the faire brightnes of this beauteous light , hath wisedomes eye an only power to see : the line of life that leades her spirit right , vnto the place where all perfections be : which in the worke of wonder doe approue , the gratious labour of a glorious loue . there vertue doth in all her brightnes liue , spreading abroad the braunches of her blisse : as doth the sonne his beames of brightnes giue , while in himselfe the only brightnes is : oh blessed light where such a life remaineth , as giues all light , and yet all light containeth . there doth she sit , and sweetly looke about her , beholding in the eye of vertues light : purenes within , perfection all without her , while in a brightnes farre aboue her sight : there liues a power her spirits loue inspiring ▪ to frame a worke for wit and sence admiring . there from a chaos or confusions map , she takes the matter of her curious frame : while in the limits of faire vertues lap , she drawes the course and compasse of the same : where hauing laide the ground-worke of her grace , she made the world vp in a little space . sixe only dayes was for her worke ordained , the seuenth to rest , the labour of her loue : her time she kept , and in her care retained , such forme and measure as did truly proue : her maister taught her euery rule so right , that all was good and pleasing in his sight . her first daies worke was in the heauens on high , when she deuided darknes from the light : wherein all pleasing the all seeing eie , the light she called day , the darknes night ▪ when hauing heauen and earth of nothing framed , the morne and euening she the first day named . the second day vpon the waters , she did fall to worke , and made a firmament : by which , the waters should deuided be , that were in this confused continent : where euery one within their bounds should stay , so , euen and morne she made her second day . then from the earth the waters she deuided , and gath'red all together , call'd them seas : and by her skill so carefully prouided , that in her worke she did her maister please : then made the earth , and called it dry land , thus did the labour of her third daies hand . in which she made the earth to fructifie , in leafe , and fruit , tree , bud and hearbe , and seede : in which she did her maister glorifie , who , seeing all , said all was good in deede ▪ so in her worke thus worthily commended , in morne and euening was her third day ended . then in the heau'ns the shining lights she framed , that should diuide betwixt the day and night : the greater lights , the sunne and moone she named , which should giue rules to times and seasons right ▪ the lesser starres to whom she gaue a light , to twinkle like the candels of the night . and in this worke she kept her course so well , and still the state of grace so vnderstood : as he in whom all graces only dwell , in sight of goodnes saw that all was good : so where no praise her worth diminished , the euen and morne her fourth day finished . then to the waters she her worke applies , and made each mouing and each creeping thing : and in the heauen each feathered fowle that flies , and euery creature that doth carie wing : when all seem'd good in her great maisters eie , who bad them all encrease and multiplie . thus hauing wrought with infinite conceite , the sundry forme and shape of euery creature : with such inuention as exceedes the height , of wit and reasons praises highest nature ▪ while high perfection each proportion framed , the euen and morning was her fift day named . thus when that her weekes worke was almost done ▪ she hath her choisest worke to take in hand : for which before the modell be begun , she must vpon her maisters counsaile stand : how she may shape his loue , his liuely picture , to haue his patience pleased in his creature . when hauing fauour in his high perfection , with humble care a lump of clay she takes : of which , by rules of his diuine direction , vnto his image perfect man she makes : who so in loue did to his liking fall , that vnder heau'n he made him lord of all . thus hauing made vp all her workmanship , within the limits of her fairest loue : where constant truth could neuer take a trip , while carefull patience did perfection proue : when all was good , in goodnes all enstalled , the euen and morning she the sixt day called . and seeking now her sacred thoughts to rest , vpon the grace of the eternall good : she findes the sabaoth by her maister blest , who giues her spirits that especiall food : that after all the labour of her daies , doth make her sing his euerlasting praise . which , as i finde , in her faire musique sounding , although it be a note aboue my reach : yet on the grace of vertue only grounding , as her sweet spirits doth my spirit teach : my humble soule shall straine my heart to sing , the gratious praises of my glorious king. o holy essence of all holines , grace of all glory , glory of all grace : perfections vertue , vertues perfectnes , place of all beauty , beauty of all place : truths only triall , times eternitie , incomprehensible in thy deitie . wisedomes deuiser , father of her loue , constancies proofe , and life of patience : humilities essence , faiths true turtle doue , mercies almighty glorious residence : sweet iesus christ , mine humble soule enflame , to sing the glory of thy holy name . before what was , but that which euer is , the godhead all incomprehensible : sweet iesus christ , the essence of all blisse , but in his manhood only sensible : my sauiours was , and in himselfe alone , containing all things , but contain'd in none . the nature of all vertues in his nature , had all their essence of their only being : when in creation of each kinde of creature , wisedome in him had only all her seeing : whose loue in him that constant patience found , that of her grace and glory was the ground . his spotlesse vertue all his life did proue , in doing good to all , and ill to none : his wisedome did the doctors wonder moue , his loue the touchstone of all truth alone : his constancie euen to his dying hower , did shew his patience , had a heau'nly power . and for the note of his humility , his crosse bare witnes in his life and death : who bare all basenes inciuility , yet neuer breath'd the smallest angry breath : o glorious king that came from heauen on high , vpon this earth for beggers so to die . his vertue in his will , his word doth show his wisedome in election and creation ; his loue , his louers by his death doe know , his constancie , his patience confirmation : his patience his humility did proue , and all in some his glory from aboue . whose vertue such , as his that could not sinne ? whose wisedome such , as worketh vertues will ? whose loue is such , as wisedome liueth in ? whose constancie doth shew such kindnes still ? whose patience such , as did his passion show , or who so high , and euer brought so low . what vertue doth , his wisedome doth expresse , what wisedome doth , his loue doth manifest : what loue doth , doth his constancie confesse , what constancie doth , in his patience blest : what patience doth , humility doth tell , in him alone they all and only dwell . then let the vertuous for all vertue loue him , and let the wise in wisedomes loue admire him ▪ and let the constant in all kindnes proue him , and let the patient patiently desire him : and let the humble humbly fall before him , and all together all in all adore him . oh that the world could see his vertues beauty , or wit of man his wisedomes maiestie : or loue could looke into his constancie , or patience into his humility : then vice , nor folly , frailty , rage , nor pride , should in the mindes of men so much abide . his vertue made the first perfections nature , his wisedome made the forme of all perfection : his loue did giue the life to euery creature , his constancie the care of loues direction : his patience medicine for all miseries , his humblenes the way to paradice . would'st thou be perfect ? in his vertue know it , would'st thou be vertuous ? in his wisedome learne it : would'st thou be wise ? in his loue only shew it , would'st thou be louing ? in his life discerne it : would'st thou he constant ? in his care conceiue it , would'st thou be patient ? in his death perceiue it . would'st thou be humble in his lowlines ? learne to submit thy selfe to higher powers : would'st thou be blessed in his blessednes ? learne to bestow the labour of thine howers : would'st thou be holy , and liue happy euer ? liue in his loue , and thou shalt liue for euer . the infinite good thoughts his vertue giueth , the infinite good works his will perfecteth : the infinite good life in his loue liueth , the infinite loue his constancie effecteth : th'infinite constancie his patience proueth , doe humbly shew what infinitenes loueth . since vertues ( then ) good thoughts are infinite , and infinite is vertue in good thought ; and infinite is wisedome in good wit , and infinite is loue by wisedome wrought ; and infinite is constancie in loue , which infinitely patience doth proue . in infinite humility of hart , vnto the height of all infinitie : in infinite perfection of each part , that makes the infinite diuinitie : the father , sonne and holy ghost all three , in one , one god , all infinite glory bee . and since no heart is able to attaine , vnto his holy and eternall praise : to whom alone doth duly appertaine , the date of glories neuer ending dayes : when angels in their haleluiah dwell , let me but sing a men , and i am well . gloria in excelsis deo. to all learned and vertuous schollers , and gratious studients , honour and happines . gentlemen , i feare , this my mistermed piece of poetry , in your true iudgements , will be subiect to the reproofe of errour ; what is amisse , i humbly leaue to your correction , and what is otherwise , to your fauourable acceptation : and so , loath to be tedious in ceremonies , i rest affectionately to all good learning . a friend auowed . ber . n. gent. i vvould, and would not breton, nicholas, ?- ? approx. kb of xml-encoded text transcribed from -bit group-iv tiff page images. text creation partnership, ann arbor, mi ; oxford (uk) : - (eebo-tcp phase ). a stc estc s this keyboarded and encoded edition of the work described above is co-owned by the institutions providing financial support to the early english books online text creation partnership. this phase i text is available for reuse, according to the terms of creative commons . universal . the text can be copied, modified, distributed and performed, even for commercial purposes, all without asking permission. early english books online. (eebo-tcp ; phase , no. a ) transcribed from: (early english books online ; image set ) images scanned from microfilm: (early english books, - ; : ) i vvould, and would not breton, nicholas, ?- ? [ ] p. printed by tho. c[reede] for tho. bushell, london : . "to the reader" signed: b.n., i.e. nicholas breton. in verse. with a title-page woodcut. printer's name from stc. signatures: a-e⁴ f² . running title reads: i would, and yet i would not. reproduction of the original in the henry e. huntington library and art gallery. created by converting tcp files to tei p using tcp tei.xsl, tei @ oxford. re-processed by university of nebraska-lincoln and northwestern, with changes to facilitate morpho-syntactic tagging. gap elements of known extent have been transformed into placeholder characters or elements to simplify the filling in of gaps by user contributors. eebo-tcp is a partnership between the universities of michigan and oxford and the publisher proquest to create accurately transcribed and encoded texts based on the image sets published by proquest via their early english books online (eebo) database (http://eebo.chadwyck.com). the general aim of eebo-tcp is to encode one copy (usually the first edition) of every monographic 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conversion i wovld , and would not . london , printed by tho. c. for tho. bushell . . to the reader . you that reade , what you would be , i know not ; what you would not be , you know your selfe : but what you should be , god knowes : but for my selfe , i haue founde what is best to be , and so wishe other , except they neither knowe what they should be : nor well what they would , or would not be : scorne i● not , because it is in verse , or rime , for if you will reade it , you maie perhaps finde more pleasure and profit in it , then a worse piece of prose : not to perswade you to any thing , further then your liking ; i leaue the censure of it , to your discretion , and my better labours as they fall out , to your further content . and so , loath to make you beleeue more , then perhaps you shall finde , hoping , that no man will be angry with his owne shadowe , nor saie ( meaning m● ) when hee com●s to a f●●le point : but take the best and leaue the worst , and break none of the pal● ; as kinde hearts doe in the countrey : i rest , as you may see in my discourse , what i would , and would not bee : and without would not , would bee as i should be . your friend and well-willer , b. n. i wovld , and would not . . i would i had , as much as might be had , of wealthy wishes , to the woldes content : that i might liue , all like a lusty ladde , and scorne the world , and care not how it went : but eate , and drinke , and sleepe , and sing , and play , and so in pleasures , passe my time away . . and yet i would not : for too wealthy then , i should be troubled with a world of toyes : kinred , companions , troups of seruing-men ; fashion-deuisers , fooles , and guirles , & boyes : fidlers , and iesters , monkeys , apes , babounes , drunckards , and swaggerers , and such trouble-townes . . besides , i should forget to finde the way , that leades the soule to her eternall blisse ; and then my state were at a wofull stay , no , i would wish , a better world then this . and in afflictions , here on earth to dwell , rather then seeke my heau'n on earth , & run to hell . . i would i were a man of such deepe wit , as might discerne the depth of e●ery cause : that wherefoere i did in iudgement sit , i might be held a note-booke , in the lawes . my braine might seeme a kinde of miracle : and euery word i spake , an oracle . . and yet i would not , for then , woe were me , i should be troubled wit● a world of cases : both rich and poore , would then ●●y clients be , some , with their pleasing , some , with piteous faces : and when the rich had left their briberie , i should not rest for formap●uperie . . i would i were a man of greatest power , that swaies a scepter , on this worlds great masse : that i might sit on toppe of pleasures tower , and make my will , my way , where ere i passe : that lawe might haue her being from my breath , my smile might be a life , my frowne a death . . and yet i would not , for then , doe i feare , enuy or malice would betray my trust : and some vile spirit , though against the haire , would seeke to lay mine honor in the dust . treason , or murther , would beset me so : i should not knowe , who were my friend , or foe . . no , i doe rather wish the lowe estate , and be an honest man , of meane degrees : be lou'd for good , and giue no cause of hate , and clime no higher , then a haw-thorne tree ; pay euery man his owne , giue reason , right : and work● all day , and take my rest at night . . for sure in courtes , are worlds of costly cares , that comber reason , in his course of rest : let me but learne , how thrift both spends & spares ; and make enough , as good as any feast . and fast , and pray , my daies may haue good end , and welcome all , that pleaseth god to send . . i would i were the fairest , sweetest creature , that could be painted , with the purest art : that arte might wonder at the worke of nature , how so perfection made vp euery part . that euery eye that saw mee , might admire mee , and euery heart , heard of me , might desire me . . and yet i would not , for then , out alasse , i should be troubled with a world of fooles : when many a simple idle headed asse , would put his wits vnto some poets schooles , to learne to make a verse to flatter mee : as there were no such louing foole as hee . . no , i doe rather wish the louely browne , where vertues beauty makes the inward faire : then be the gallant gazer of the towne , and make mine honor , but a barbers chaire : whē none that had , with losse of treasure tride me , once finding my foule inside would abide me . . i would i were an innocent , a foole , that can do nothing else , but laugh or crie : and eate fat-meate , and neuer goe to schoole ; and be in loue , but with an apple-pie : weare a pide-coate , a cockes-combe , and a bell , and thinke it did become me passing well . . and yet i would not : for then should i not discerne the difference , twixt the good & bad : nor how the gaine of all the world is got , nor who are sober , wise , nor who are mad . nor in the truth of follies sence to see : who 's the foole now ? ther 's no such foole as hee ? . i would i were a fidler , and could play , a thousand quauers in a minutes space : and at a bridale , brauely leade the way , before the bride , and giue the groome , a grace . that i might shake the head , and stare , and gape , and make a thousand faces like an ape . . and yet i would not : for ten to one my fiddle , or my fingers should not rest : but euery iacke a lute would call vpon , such moris daunces as doe like him best : and euery wagtaile with a wanton eye , would hang vpon me for a heidegy . . i would i were a cuckolde wittal asse , and car'de not who did mount my hackney saddle , yet thinke i haue as true a louing lasse as ere lay in swadling clouts or cradle : and manerly goe to the church before her , and would not heare , how many did be whore her . . and yet i would not : for then doe i feare , my hornes would be so hard , i could not bide them and whē their weight were more thē i could beare alas i know not what to doe to hide them . but euery one would say in bitter scornes , looke yonder goes a gallant paire of hornes . . i would i were the arranst cuckolde maker , that euer answerde for his aperne sport : there should not scape a wench , but i would take her and set her to her worke in such a sort that all the world should know , while i had health i would not see an idle common-wealth . . and yet i would not : for then doe i doubt , bride-well and i , should wrestle for the whippe : and once got in , i hardly should get out : till i had soundly pay'd for trully-trippe , whē all the beggers in the street would whoo me , and do me all the shame , that they could do me , . i would i were a most notorious thiefe , that might affright all true men , where i goe : and when i made demaund , they might be briefe , that in their budgets doe my busines knowe . and such as trauaile , with concealed treasure , should be but stewards , to maintain my pleasure . . and yet i would not : for then out of doubt , some dogge , or diuel , would for coyne betray me : some priuy search , would surely finde me out , o● watch , or warrant , some way , would way-lay me . and being caught , with bills , & clubb●s , & staues , bee 〈◊〉 , with a crue of beastly slaues . . then to the iustice , brought with such a ioy , as if some campe , or castle were surprisde : who knowing how such stragglers doe destroy , a world of wealth , hath presently deuisde , vnto the iaylers keeping to commend me : where i must stay , vntill the gallowes end me . . no , i had rather leade a quiet life , and feare to looke no true man in the face : keepe a poore house , maintaine an honest wife , trauell no further then the market-place . on sundayes goe to church , and home againe , and with my neighbors , drinke a pot , or twaine . . i would i were a iuggler , and could play a thousand p●ankes vpon a pepper-corne : and draw the witt●s of wyzardes , so away , they all might wonder at a bullockes-horne . and with their purses , runne and follow mee , to make them thinke they see , they doe not see . . and yet i would not : for then well i know , some eye , or other , would my sleights descrye : and to the world reueale my cunning so , i could not answere for my knauery . but some curst-queane , would either cracke my crown , or constable , would course me out of town . . i would i were a myller , and could grinde a hundred thousand bushells in an houre : and ere my m●ster and my 〈…〉 , b● closely filtching of a bagge of floure . and send it to my sweet-hart , for to make , a pudding-pie , a pastey , or a cake . . and yet i would not ; least my thumbes should be held all too great vpon my towling-dish : and such as did my secret cunning see , might curse , and wish mee many a bitter wish : and ●ay , when they before the mill-dore-stand , the millers-thumb's as broade as halfe a hand . . no , i had rather fairely buye my bread , and spend it as i get it honestly : then scarcely sleepe in quiet in my bed , when i but thinke vpon my subtilty ; to lay the wench along vpon the sacke , and steale her meale , e●e she had turn'd her back . . i would i were a taylor , and could cut a thousand yardes of veluet out in shreads : and in my purse , the money closely put , while simple hearts were beating of their heads , with labours t●yle to keepe a poore estate , like honest cutberd , and his bony - kate. . and yet i would not : least by falshoods trade , i should be call'd a stealer , that 's a thiefe : no , in no wise , by such meanes to be made a master-workman , were too great a griefe . no , let me rather be an honest youth , that neuer stole a yarde of stuffe in truth . . i would i were a keeper of a parke , to walke with my bent crosse-bow , & my hound , to know my game , and cl●sely in the darke , to lay a barren-doe vpon the ground and by my ve●●zon , more then by my fees , to feed on better meate then bread and cheefe . . and yet i would not : least if i be spide , i might be turned quite out of my walke ; and afterwards more punishment abide , then longs vnto a little angry talke . and cause more mischiefe after all , come to me , then all the good the does did euer doe me . . no , i had rather bee an honest keeper , to walke my parke , and looke vnto my pales ; and not to play the sluggard and the sleeper , and holde my land-lord vp with idle tales . take but my fees , be merry with my dame , and so to gaine , and keepe an honest name . . i would i were a collyer , might ●ell coles , and ●ill my sackes a quarter full of dust : a●d haung emptied them in some darke holes , sweare out my measure to be full , and iust . then laugh to thinke when i were gotten home , how i had c●●zen'd a kinde-hearted 〈◊〉 . . and yet i would not : least by my blacke face , i might be held a diuell then in deed : and so to doe my fellowes all disgrace , when many a one the worse for me should speed . no , god forbid , let me be true and iust , while other hide , the diuell in the dust . . i would i were a gardiner , and had skill , to digge and rake , & plant , and sowe , and slippe : the caterpiller , and the mowle to kill , to proyne my trees , and all my stalks to strippe . and when to plucke my fruite , and sowe my seeds , and how to keep my gardein cleane frō weeds . . and yet i would not : for then should i feare , the thiefe , the mowle , the worm , & blasting windes : i should not looke about me any where , but i should finde some crosses in their kindes . my plants would wither , or my seedes would rot , or loose in one yeare , more then ere i got . . no , i would rather take the markets happe , and pay my coyne , & keepe my minde in quiet : and what i bought , to bring home in my lappe , and when i come home , dresse it for my dyet . then in my gardein , watch a mowle or 〈◊〉 , and haue an other planting in my house . . i would i were a painter of such art , as like appelles , might abuse the eye : and to the life , so set out euery part , that straunge conceits might bee deceiu'd thereby . and i might vse my pensill in such sort , as all the world should neuer make report . . and yet i would not : for then doe i feare , my heart might fall vpon idolatry : for while my hand were drawing of a haire , i might be rapt into a thought too high . when thinking to behold an angels face , forget the diuell in an other place . . no , i had rather onely learne to knowe , the difference of my colours in their kindes : and haue a care , to set my shadowes so , they may not be a hurt to blessed mindes . and vse my pensill , on my cloath , and boord , and for what price i might my paines affoord . . i would i were a merchant of all wares , that i might furnish all both rich and poore : and what should fall vnto the beggars shares , i might haue plenty , alwaies at my doore . my shoppe might be a market of such state , as all the world may stand and wonder at . . and yet i would not : for euen doe i feare , i should finde many a begger in my booke : and when i could my mony not forb●are , i might goe hang my credit on a booke . when if both towne , and country came vnto me , in one , or both , some debt●rs would vndo me . . no , i would rather be of meane estate , haue mony alwaies ready in my chest : be sure to buy my wares at the best rate , and sell good stuffe , and serue my friends the best , and cosen no man , with false weight nor measure , but with true dealing make a poore mās treasure . . i would i were a practiser in phisicke , to know my simples , compounds , & my waters , to heale the rume , the tooth-ach and the tisicke , the coughe , olde aches , & such other matters , that i might by my skill in generall , be held the maister of the vrinall . . and yet i would not : for then day nor night , i should haue quiet scarcely in my bed : and in my conscience haue full many a fright , to heare my patient suddenly were dead : when by a vomit , i had burst his heart , or pur'gde his guttes out through the nether part . . no , i had rather bee an herbalist , to know the vertue both of hearbs & rootes , then be too bolde and desperate alchymist ; that ofte his weight and measure ouer-shootes , and so , by either want of care , or skill , in steede of curing , giue a killing-pill . . i would i were a high astronomer , that i might make my walke among the starres : and by my insight might fore-see a farre , what were to come , & talke of peace & warres of liu●s and deaths , and wonder , to ensue , although perhaps , but fewe doe fall out true . . and yet i would not : for then doe i doubt , with too-much study ▪ i should grow st●rk mad : when one conceit would put an other out , while giddy braines beyond themselues would gad . and seeking for the 〈◊〉 within the moone , mistake a morning , for an after-noone . . no , i would rather learne no more to knowe , then of the times and seasons of the yeare : what dayes the fayres are kept , and how to goe from towne to towne , & euery sheer , to sheere . that 〈◊〉 may not their day-note-books slack , and so to make an honest 〈◊〉 . . i would i were a r●re and sound 〈◊〉 , and had the lawes of honest loue by heart : would not corrupt my conscience for a million , nor euer pleade , but on the honest part . examine strictly , and consider duely , and so giue sentence to the matter truly . . and yet i would not : for then might i heare , how truth gets hatred , for her honest minde : and simple-fees , doe make but sory che●●e , while true plain-dealing hath but barely dinde . when such as know the world , and how to vse it , seeing a fee come faire , will not refuse it . . i would i were a scriuener , and could pen , all kinde of writings , write all kinde of hands : be well acquainted with great monyed-men , and closely deale for all their goods and lands . and being furnisht fully , to my pleasure , play them a trick ▪ to make them look their treasure . . and yet i would not : for then i am sure , my conscience would receiue a mortall-wound : and such a wound as neuer arte could cure , by all the feates that euer s●ri●e●er sound , when if i scap'● mine eares for forgery , my soule should goe to hell for vsury . . no , i had rather in a copy booke write a good sentence for a schollers reading : whereon the parents may be glad to looke , and say , god send their hands a happy speeding . and take my mony on the saterday for all the weeke , then bid my boyes goe play . . i would i were a trades man , and could sell my wares by weight , and measure as i list : and had such trickes to make my market well , that i might send home fooles with had-i-wist . that while poore soules did sit with losses crying , i might growe rich , with swearing , & with lying . . and yet i would not : for my conscience then , wold make me feele the smart of falshoods woe : when i beheld the ends of faithles men , with what a horror to their hell they goe . while true plaine-dealing hearts in quiet die , and faithfull loue doth liue eternally . . i would i were a broker , and for coyne tooke any pawnes , and ●are not what i tooke for interest , nor how i did pou●loyne , so i might get it with the siluer hooke . w●o were the thiefe , so ● might buye the wares , nor who did shift , so i did get the shares . . and yet i would not : for then doe i doubt , some priuate eyes , would closely prie into me : and some odde ladde or landresse finde me out , and for receiuing stolne goods would vndo me . when with the losse of all my goods , scarce hope , to be so happy , as to scape the rope . . no , i had rather trie a better trade , whereby to make some honest kinde of gaine : whereby some better reckoning may be made , then buy repentance with so great a paine . now fie vpon them , brokers , bawdes and theeues , make poore men weare their ierkins without sleeues . . i would i were a close promoting mate , to picke a hole in each offenders coat : and make a shew of seruice to the state , when i would purse vp many a priuy groat : but in great summes follow my information , till i were well paied for a reformation . . and yet i would not : for then euery knaue would single me out , for a secret friend : and teach me how to play the cunning slaue , to bring my busines to a wretched ende . while hellish craft with cloke of heresie , might hide a world of foule iniquitie . . no , i would rather learne my selfe t' amend what is amisse , and so my friends aduise ; then when i see an other man offend , in secret , seeke his ●uine to deuise . and making shew to seeke the good of all , set vp my selfe , with many thousands fall . . i would i were a tapster , fill my pot halfe vp with froth , and make my gaine of drinke : and make no care , how i my mony got , so i might hea●e my golde and siluer chinke . make more of drunkardes then of better men , by putting off bad licour now and then . . and yet i would not : for then should i be , at call and checke of euery iacke and gill : and many a lobcocke would looke into me , what drinke i drew , how i my pot did fill : and sometime trust so farre vpon the score , i scarce should put my head out of the doore . . no , i had rather runne an other race , though for lesse profit , yet for more content : that both with god and man , might be in grace , wherein my time might be more happily spent . and rather pay , my penny for my pot , then cosen twenty people for a groat . . i would i were as tall , and stout a man , as euer drewe a sword out of a sheath : that i might see , who durst come neere my canne , or speake a word , where i but seeme to breath , or fortune durst , but crosse me with her wheeles , for feare to see , her braines about her heeles . . and yet i would not : for then where should i bestowe my selfe ? but euery man would flie me : i should be sure to haue no company , where none that loue themselues , that wil come nigh me , and fortune would be sure to fit me so , that she wold some way seeke mine ouerthrow . . i would i were a trauellor , to passe the roughest seas , and card'e for winde and weather : and might arriue , where neuer creature was , but beasts , & birds ▪ that liue & feede together . and tell at home what i abroad haue seene , where neuer man yet but my selfe had beene . . and yet i would not : for i feare , that fewe would trust my stories , were they nere so true : words are but winde , and winde is but a dewe , farre trauellers may say that blacke is blewe . although perhaps some simple soules may say , surely , this man hath trauailde a great way : . no , i will rather trye my fortunes heere , and to my best aduantage vse my wittes : then runne abroad , and buye repentance deere , knowing how ofte , vnhappily fortune ●ittes . when weather-beaten sailes , with winde , & raine , scarce make a sauing - voyage home againe . . i would i were a player , and could act as many partes , as came vpon a stage : and in my braine , could make a full compact , of all that pasteth betwixt youth and age. that i might haue fiue-shares in euery play , and let them laugh , that beare the bell-away . . and yet i would not : for then doe i feare , if i should gall some goos-cappe with my speech : that he would freat & fume , and chase , and sweare , as if some flea had bit him by the breech . and in some passion , or strange agonie , disturbe both mee , and all the companie . . i would i were a poet , and could write ; the passage of this paltry world in time : and talke of warres , and many a valiant fight , and how the captaines did to honor clime . of wise , and faire , of gratious , vertuous , kinde , and of the bounty of a noble minde . . but speake but little of the life of loue , because it is a thing so harde to finde : and touch but little at the turtle-doue , seeing there are but fewe byrdes of that kinde . and libell against leawde and wicked harts , that on the earth , doe play the diuells-parts . . and yet i would not : for then would my braines , be with a world of toyes intoxicate : and i should fall vpon a thousand vaines , of this and that , and well i know not what . when some would say , that saw my frantick fittes , surely the poet is beside his wittes . . i would i were an honest countrey-wench , that only could make curtsey , smoile , & blush , and sit me downe vpon a good-ale bench , and answere wanton tomkin , with a iush . and well , go-too , and how-now ? pray-away , and for a tanzey , goe to stoole-ball-play . and yet i would not : for then doe i feare , my louers would be out of loue with mee : if i would not belieue them when they sweare , that i am shee , and i am onely shee , of all the maydes , before the church-house dore ; that hath their harts , and what can i haue more ? . no , i had rather be an honest wife , and loue my husband , and looke to my house ; and with my neighbours leade a quiet life , and keepe a cat , to driue away the mouse . hatch vp my chickins , pen vp my clocke-henne , and haue nothing to doe with naughtie men . . i would i were the gallanst courtizan , that euer put a foure-ear'de asse to schoole : that i might cleane put downe maide marian , and neuer be without my dainty foole . and make my mony baggs come ●umbling to me , and glad to see what seruice they can doe me . . and yet i would not : for then doe i doubt , some cunstable , or beadie of bridewell : by some olde bawde , would surely find me out , when for his silence , i should pay full well . or cart it to the place of youthes correction , where chopping chalke , would quite spoile my complexion . . no , i had rather be an honest maide , that neuer knewe any loues delight : and of a man , almost to be afraide , then see me to set my maider head so light . as for a wicked choise , to chaunge my name , to fit me onely , with a f●e for shame . . i would i were a bruer , and could make my water pay the charges of my malt : and for small beere , the price of strong beere take , and helpe a musty barrell with bay salt . keepe leaking vessells , stoppe them vp with clay , the drinke may runne out , when the earth's away . . and yet i would not : for then i should thinke , if i should take good mony for ill beere : my customers would curse me for my drinke , and say i solde both that was naught , and deere . and one so driue an other daily fro me , that in the ende they would quite ouerthrow me . . no , i had rather truly pay my penny for my full pot of either ale or beere : then seeke that hurt or spoiling of a many , or to vndoe the poore in a deere yeere . or make them say , whose trust i doe abuse , oh wicked bruer , looke what drinke he brues . . i would i were an excellent diuine , that had the bible at my fingers ends : the world might heare out of this mouth of mine , how god did make his enemies his friends . i were so follow'de , as if none but i , could plainely speake of true diuinity . . and yet i would not : for then ten to one , i should be call'd but a precizian : or formalist , and might goe preach alone , vnto my holy brother puritan . and so be flouted for my zealous loue , in taking paines for other mens behoue . . no , i had rather reade , and vnderstand the rules of grace , that haue the learned led : to know the power of the almighty hand , and with what foode , the blessed flocke are fed . rather then with a thundring and long praier , to leade into presumption , or dispaire . . i would i were a man of warlike might , and had the title of a generall : to point the captaines euery one their fight , where should the vangard , and the rereward fall . who should be leaders of the forlorne hope , and who the entrance to the army ope . . and yet i would not : for then i might see , how discontent might cause a mutinie : whereby the army might in danger be , to be surprized by the enemy . or by the losse of men , for honors gaine , to wound my conscience with a bloody paine . . no , i had rather praise the course of peace , a●d st●●y 〈◊〉 to helpe to holde the same : and ●ow soone quarrells ill begu● may cease , and ho● to keepe acco●d in quiet frame . that olde an● young may liue contented so , that to their graues , may all in quiet goe . . i would i were the miserablest wretch that euer crambde vp mony in his chest : that i might learne , but like a dogge to fetch lambes from the folde , and duckelings frō the nest . and when i tooke the paines to plucke and pull , know how to gaine , by feathers , and by wooll . . and yet i would not : least while i did liue ▪ i should scarce trust my selfe with that i haue : i should not heare the word of lend , nor giue , but only study , how to get and saue . and when i die , haue written on my doore , the dogge is dambn'de , that preyde vpon the poore . . i would i were the strangest prodigall , that euer strew'de his mony in the street : that i might make the beggers m●rry all , when they but sawe the shadowe of my feet . and churles might chafe , to see me so to throw away the wealth , that they did scrape for so . . and yet i would not ; least when all were gone , my stocke , my goods , my leases , & my lands : it sure would breake my heart to looke vpon , my whole estate to be in others hands . and then to hide me in some secret place , or grieue to death , to thinke of my disgrace . . i would i were so neate and spruse a noddy , as all in print , might speake , and looke , & walke : and so become for euery idle body , a kinde of ●able , or a stable-talke . and say to see me , tripping on the toe , the fool 's so prowd , he knows not how to goe . . and yet i would not : least some wood-cock-asse , to equall me in my 〈◊〉 : might paint , and princke himselfe vp in a glasse , and studie counterfeit gentilitie . and so perhaps put mee into some passion , to see my fashion , growe so out of fashion . . no , i will rather wisely looke about me , and weare both what , & how might fit my state : and haue a care within , what were without me , i might not be an owle , to wonder at . but i might passe through all the pide-coat-throng , and bee no taber for an idle-toong . . i would i were a beastly - epicure , that car'de for nothing but to eate and drinke : and talke of nought but natures-nour●ture , and filling vp my flagons to the brinke . of lusty swallowes , and of pleasing taste , and make no care how much good meat i waste . . and yet i would not : least the world should say , looke , yonder goes a barrell full of beere : who gulls in more good victualls in one day , then might suffize an honest man a yeere . and ere he dye , it will ( no doubt ) be found , the beast did burst , & stunck aboue the ground . . no , i had rather keepe a better dyet , and liue with bread and water all my life : then in my guttes to keepe so great a ryot , and in my s●omacke haue so sore a strife . that i should puffe , and blowe , and swell , & sweat , and be halfe-dead , ere i disgest my meat . . i would i were a man of all mens mindes , my wit were drawne into all kinde of passions : and my conceyts were all of sundry kindes , my cloathes made after all-countrey-fashions . i knew the secret of all natures-sence , and so of earth , and all her excellence . . and yet i would not : for then sure should i , be all too gaz'd at wheresoere i goe : and like the poore bare-feather'd aesops-pye , when euery byrd did her owne-feather knowe . be followed with many a flowting-lacke , or rauens feathers all pull'd from my backe . . no , i had rather weare but home-spun-thread , and haue my cloathes close vpon my breech : and by my labours-toyle to get my bread , and vse no other but my countrey-speech . and rather haue a foole thinke mee a foole , then craftie work-men know me by my toole . . i would i were the truest-hearted woman , that euer spake with a most pleasing toung : and neuer meane to giue offence to no man , nor neuer thrust into an idle throng . but so haue care of all my cariage , it may be helpe vnto my mariage . . and yet i would not : for then euery maide , within our towne , would stand & laugh at me : and call me foole , and say i were afraide , to know what in an honest man might be . for shee that will not looke ere shee did leape , might curse the trades-man , though his ware were cheape . . no , i had rather be a reasonable , t●ue , honest , witty , merry - bony-kate , that would not feare the constable , to see him looke in at our window-grate . as many we●ches will be now and then , that haue bene medling with too-many men . . i would i were the rarest politician , that euer plotred for preheminence : and of the doggedst disposition , that euer was in natures residence . and car'de not how the worlde to ruine went , so i might onely purchase my content . . and yet i would not : for then doe i feare , some sudden-flash frō heau'n would fall vpon me : and all the world reioyce to see and heare , in helples griefe , how i am woe begon me . when i of force should bid the world fare-well . and death were sent to summon mee to hell. . no , i had rather keepe the plaine high-way , that leades the soule to her eternall rest : then by illusion , seeke out a wry-way , to hatche my egges vp , in the diuells-nest . and with the worlde , when i had made an ende ▪ to finde in heau'n an euerlasting-friende . . i would i were , and yet i would not too , because i know not that , i know ●ot what : and when i would doe , then i cannot doe , when that would put out this , this put out that , and such strange fancies would ●y spir●t feede , that in the ende , i should grow mad indeede . . then let me see , if i at least can see , what may be seene , that 's worthie to be seene ▪ wherein might be , and onely there might bee , that always hath bene , and hath on●ly beene . in true conceit , in state of comforts store , where i would be , a●d say , would not no more . . yea , that 〈◊〉 such a thing indeed to finde , as one mi●●t seeke vntill ●is eyes were out : with all the st●ength both of ●is heart and minde , and trauell ouer all the earth about . a●d noting natures workes , and worth in all , finde all as nothing , or to nothing ●all . . yet there is something wheresoere it is , and it is some-w●●re , and no-where , but there : where all is well , and nothing is a●●sse , but yonder , here and there and e●e●●-where . where the bright-eyes of bless●d-soules may see , where all the ioyes of hearts and soul●● may bee . . ●ut wher●s this same , where ? that wold be known , and wh●re is this same knowledge to be ●ound ? and where is such a seede of science sowne ? and where is such a blessed piece of ground ? and where is such a blessing to be sought , that for that worth , se●● al the world at ●ought ? . where all the pride of beawtie is put downe , what natures reason , must subscribe to grace : and wit and will , may wander vp and downe , and vertue onely keepes a glorious pl●ce , where shee alone vnto her seruants showes , where a●l the com●ort of the spirit goes . yea , there alone the heart and soule may finde , the sacred summe of their eternall-sweete : which gladdes the soule , the spirit , and the minde , where all the graces do toegther meete . and all together , doe agree in one , to sing in glorie to thei● god alone . . what ? neither great , nor wise , no● rich , nor faire ? what would ● be then ? might i as i would : i would not be a moate amidst the ayre , nor yet a mowle , to digge within the ground . nor byrd , nor beast , that can but eate , and sleepe , nor like a baby , can but laugh and weepe . . nor like a bowby , without wit or sence , not like a baboune , for a bearardes whippe : nor like a lowse , in beggars residence , nor like a flea , that can but leape and skippe . nor like a worme , but to be troden on , nor like a gue-gaw , to be gaz'de vpon . . nor would i be a byrd within a cage , nor dogge in kennell , nor a bore in stye : nor crab-tree-staffe , to leane vpon for age , nor wicked liue , to leade a youth awrye . nor like a flooke , that floates but with the fludde , nor like an eele , that liues but in the mudde . . nor would i haue the crane picke out mine eyes , nor pyes , nor parats , teach me how to prat● : nor fill my pawnche too-full of wood-cock-pyes , nor haue m●dge-howlet make me watch too-late . nor let the cu●kooe learne me how to sing , nor with a buzzarde , make too lowe a wing . . nor would i bee a c●tte , to hunt a mowse , nor yet a ferret , to goe hunt a c●ny nor yet an ao● to stand and looke a lowse , nor yet a sh●epes-head , to be solde for mony . nor yet a hawke , to se●ze vpon a ducke , nor yet a nars● , to giue a baby sucke . . nor would i write vpon the death of dogges , and say here lyes a good olde-stinking curre : cut rusty face● out of rotten logges , nor of an owles-skinne , make an ape a furre . nor teach a byrde to whistle in a cage , nor be a ministrell at a marriage . . nor teach a cat , to hunt a mowse drye-foote , nor a young squyrrell ho● to clime a reede : a skarre-cr●w in a garde● how to shoote , nor a blinde-harper , how a song to reade . nor how a fle● may scape the fingers endes , nor how a lowse may liue among her friends . . nor would i be a golden alchymist , to studie the phylosophers fa●re stone : and feede a sight of fooles , with had-i-wist , to weepe for s●luer , when theyr golde is gone . poope noddy , neuer was there such an other , to make a couzen of a simple brother . . nor would i be a foole when all is done , to weare pyed coats , turn-spit , & eat fat-meat : follow my master , dandle his young sonne , and tell my mistris , who the foole did beat . that she might chide her wenches euery one , for medling with her foole , when she was gone . . nor sing new-ballads , nor make countrey-games , nor set vp sights , were neuer seene before : nor walke among my c●ue of cursed-dames , and bee a pander to a paltry-who . no , pandarisme is so poore a trade , that none but beggars , bargaine for a iade . . no , i would not bee any one of these , nor any of this wretched worlds delight : i would not so my spirits comforts leese , to haue mine eyes bew●tcht frō heauenly light . no , i would haue an other world then this , where i would seeke for my eternall-blisse . . and till i come vnto that glorious place , where all contents doe ouercome the heart : and loue doth liue in euerliuing-grace , while greatest ioy doth feele no smallest smart . but god is all in all , to his beloued , the sweet of soules , that sweetest soules haue proued . . to tell you truely , what i wish to bee , and neuer would be other , if i could : but in the comfort of the heau'ns decree , in soule and bodie , that i euer should . tho●g● in the world , not to the world to liue , but to my god , my seruice wholly giue . . this would i be , and would none other be , but a religious seruant of my god : and knowe there is none other god but he , and willingly to suffer mercies rod. ioy in his grace , and liue but in his loue , and seeke my blisse but in the heauen aboue . . and i would frame a kinde of faithfull praier , for all estates , within the state of grace : that carefull loue might neuer know despaire , no ●eruile feare might faithfull loue deface . and this would i both day and night deuise , to make my humble spirits exercise . . and i would arede the rules of sacred life , perswade the troubled soule to patience : the husband , care , and comfort to the wife , to childe and seruant , due obedience . faith to the friend , and to the neighbour peace , that loue might liue , and quarrels all may cease . . pray for the health of all that are deceased , confession vnto all that are conuicted : and patience vnto all , that are displeased , and comfort vnto all , that are afflicted . and mercy vnto all , that haue offended , and grace to all , that all may be amended . . pray for the king , the queene , & countries health their royall issue , and their peeres of estate : the counsaile , cleargy , and the common-wealth , that no misfortune may their blisse abate . but that , th' almighty so his church will cherish , that not a member of his loue may perish . . wish king , to haue king dauids heart , and euery queene , the queene of shelaus wit : and euery councell salomons best part , of vnderstanding , for a kingdome fit . and euery lady , faire rebeccaes face , and euery virgin , the wise virgins grace . . and euery souldiour , iosuahs true spirit , and euery scholler , aarons eloquence : and euery miser , wicked diues merits , and euery poore man , iobs true patience . and euery lawyer , maries heau'nly minde , and euery merchant of zacheus kinde . . doe not with esaw , hunt for venizon , and sell thy birthright for a messe of pottage : lest iacob steale away thy benison , when isaach falls vpon the yeeres of dotage . but be a ioseph in the time of neede , to good olde iacob , and his blessed seede . . be abraham in obedient sacrifice , and follow lot in his loues holines : like salomon , be in thy iudgement , wise , and ionathan in friendships faithfulnes like henoch make thy ioy of heauenly loue , and with eliah liue in heau'n aboue . . and diet not with holofernes drinke , but follow iudith , in her ioyfull strength : let dalila , not make stout sampson winke ; lest the philistines fall on thee at length . nor sal●mon be led with pharaohs childe , lest by the flesh , the spirit be beguilde . . be both a priest , a prophet , and a king , a priest , to make thy selfe a sacrifice : a prophet , to declare the way to bring the blessed spirit , vnto paradise . a king to rule thy selfe , with such direction , thy soule may keepe thy body in subiection . . know what , and how , & where , & when to speake , be fearefull , how thou doest thy god offend : a vertuous vow , take heed thou doest not breake , and mercies pleasure willingly attend . holde backe thy hand from all vnlawfull action , and weane thy spirit , from vngodly faction . . flatter not folly , with an idle faith , nor let earth stand vpon her owne desart : but shew what wisedome in the scripture saith , the fruitfull hand , doth shew the faithfull hart . beleeue the word , and thereto bend thy will , and teach obedience for a blessed skill . . chide sinners , as the father doth his childe , and keepe them in the awe of louing feare : make sinne most hatefull , but in words be milde : that humble patience may the better heare : and wounded conscience may receiue reliefe , whē true repentance pleades the sinners griefe . . yet flatter not the foule delight of sinne , but make it loathsome in the ●ie of loue : and seeke the hart with holy thoughts to winne , vnto the best way , to the soules behoue . so teach , so liue , that both in word and deede , the world may ioy thy heau'nly rules to reade . . heale the infect of sinne , with oile of grace , and wash the soule , with true cōtritious teares : and when confession shewes her heauy case , deliuer faith from all infernall feares . that when high iustice threatens sinne with death , mercy againe may giue repentance breath . . sit not with sathan , on the horse of pride : but see sweet iesus sitting on an asse : better on foote , then sowly so to ride , as with the diuell into hell to passe . there is no meane , but either heau'n or hell , for on this earth must no man euer dwell . . time hath a course , which nature cannot stay , for youth must die , or come to doting age : what is our life on earth ? but as a play , where many a part doth come vpon the stage . rich , poore , wise , fond , faire , fowle , & great & smal . and olde , and young , death makes an ende of al. . where he that makes his life a comedy , to laugh and sing , and talke away the time : may finde it in the ende a tragedy , when mournefull bells doe make no merry chime . when sad despaire shall feare infernall euill , while sinne and death , are agents for the diuel . . but doe not raue , nor raile , nor stampe , nor stare , as if thy care would goe to cuffes with sinne : but shew how mercy doth repentance spare , while working faith , doth heau'nly fauour winne . and loues obediēce to the law doth proue , the chosen soule , that god doth chiefly loue . . thus would i spend in seruice of my god , the lingring howres of these fewe daies of mi●e , to shew how sinne and death are ouertrod , but by the vertue of the power diuine . our thoughts but vaine , our substance slime and dust , and onely christ , for our eternall trust . . this would i be , and say , would not , no more , but onely not , be otherwise then this : all in effect , but as i said before , the life in that lifes kingdomes loue of his . my glorious god , whose grace all comfort giues , then be on earth , the greatest man that liues . finis . conceyted letters, nevvly layde open: or a most excellent bundle of new wit wherin is knit vp together all the perfections or arte of episteling, by which the most ignorant may with much modestie talke and argue with the best learned. a worke varying from the nature of former presidents. breton, nicholas, ?- ? approx. kb of xml-encoded text transcribed from -bit group-iv tiff page images. text creation partnership, ann arbor, mi ; oxford (uk) : - (eebo-tcp phase ). a stc estc s this keyboarded and encoded edition of the work described above is co-owned by the institutions providing financial support to the early english books online text creation partnership. this phase i text is available for reuse, according to the terms of creative commons . universal . the text can be copied, modified, distributed and performed, even for commercial purposes, all without asking permission. early english books online. (eebo-tcp ; phase , no. a ) transcribed from: (early english books online ; image set ) images scanned from microfilm: (early english books, - ; : ) conceyted letters, nevvly layde open: or a most excellent bundle of new wit wherin is knit vp together all the perfections or arte of episteling, by which the most ignorant may with much modestie talke and argue with the best learned. a worke varying from the nature of former presidents. breton, nicholas, ?- ? markham, gervase, ?- , attributed name. [ ] p. printed by b. alsop, for samuel rand, and are to be sold at his shop neere holborne bridge, london : . "to the reader" signed: i.m., usually interpreted as jervis, i.e. gervase, markham, to whom authorship is sometimes attributed; more likely he merely edited the work. signatures: a-f⁴ (-a ). reproduction of the original in the british library. created by converting tcp files to tei p using tcp tei.xsl, tei @ oxford. re-processed by university of nebraska-lincoln and northwestern, with changes to facilitate morpho-syntactic tagging. gap elements of known extent have been transformed into placeholder characters or elements to simplify the filling in of gaps by user contributors. eebo-tcp is a partnership between the universities of michigan and oxford and the publisher proquest to create accurately transcribed and encoded texts based on the image sets published by proquest via their early english books online (eebo) database (http://eebo.chadwyck.com). the general aim of eebo-tcp is to encode one copy (usually the first edition) of every monographic english-language title published 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xml conversion conceyted letters , newly layde open : or a most excellent bvndle of new wit , wherin is knit vp together all the perfections or arte of episteling , by which the most ignorant may with much modestie talke and argue with the best learned . a worke varying from the nature of former presidents . london , printed by b. alsop , for samuel rand , and are to be sold at his shop neere holborne bridge . . to the iuditious reader . three things ( iuditiall reader ) make books , and the puplication of bookes aboue good ; excellent , to wit , necessitie , vtility , & implicity , & where any one of these are figured , no doubt but the image is most comely , then how much more where all are contained , not helens thirty perfections can challenge more admiration , and though it may sauor of ostentation , to say this pamphlet hath all , yet it shall not be against truth to approue the subiect , more then a master , yea euen the soueraigne of all : for if writings be the verie soules and eternal substances of time , what writings are so excellent as those which passe from man to man , religion , aduice , familiaritie , courtship , and all necessary commercements ( by which euen the whole state of the world is sustained ) being in them ( as it were ) bound vp to outli●e all time , all computation , then what more necessary , for the profit how shall kings know and communicate their great actions , enlarge their bounds ▪ redresse their peoples iniuries , how shal the noble , know intelligēce to serue his coūtrie , the merchant trade , or to his owne bring the wealth of many kingdomes , or any or all sorts of people speake at a farre distance , but by the helpe of letters only , then what to mankinde more rich and beneficiall , which tully better to expresse , made it the crowne of all his labors . lastly , in these written heralds , are those imployments and braue implications , that whatsoeuer is excellent or good in man , is to be seene in them , as in a myrror , and so to be implyed eyther exemplarily or iudicially , according to the vertues and vices in them contained . if then these vertues shadowed in these presidents shall giue thee that benefit which thine expectation , hopes , or the authors ayme made his leuell vnto , i doubt not but thou wilt loue it , reade it , and imitate i● so farre as to thy priuate benefit : farewell . thine , i. m. conceyted letters , newly layde open . a letter to a friend , to borowe money . if borowing of money be not a breach of friend-ship , let me intreat your pa●tience to open your purse , a present occasion puts me to the aduenture of your kindenesse , the matter is not much , yet will at this time pleasure me as much as so much may doo : the sum fiue pounds , the time three moneths , my credit the assurance , and heartie● thankes the interest . thus without troubling the broker , or charging of the scriuener , hoping my letter shall be of sufficient power to preuaile with your loue ; i● treating your present answer , in the affection of an honest heart , i cōmit you to the almightie . yours , or not his owne d. m. his answere . if your friendship were a follower of fortune , loue would haue but little life in this world , the contents of your letter hath put mee to a strict account with my estate , how i may helpe you , and not hurt myselfe . i could make sufficient excuses , but that they taste of sm●ll comfort : and therefore knowing time to be precious , and to voyde delayes , let this suffise you , your request i haue satisfied , and the money i haue sent you : and not doubting your credite , will take your word for a bond. now for the use without abuse , i wish but requitall , vpon the like occasion . and so ( glad that in this , or any thing in my power , ) i may make proofe of my loue : i rest in the same . yours , or not my owne . n. r. a letter to a kinsman , for newes . i would be glad to heare how you doe , how the worlde goes with you , what newes are stirring , what wherligigges are in the braines of mad men , and what rekes raskals keep among better men , what their opinions are that study the starres of the man in the moone , and whether honest men among the multitude be not taxed for their wisedome : how farre a mans tongue will goe beyonde his teeth , and doe no hurt to his lippes , and whether dalyla be dead that betrayed sampson to the philistines , how pride and patience agree together in vngratious spirits , how the diuell bestirs him about his villany in the world : and whether loue bee not laught at for a m●trie iest of witte , especially where the weaker sorte want the strength of vnderstanding , many such notes may light in the way of thy obseruation : of which what thou hast in memory , i pray thee put downe in a few lines , which shal not be lost in my loue , and the sooner the better , for by thy long silence , i doubt of thy welfare , how euer it be kéepe it not from thy friend , who regards not fortune but vertue : vpon which my affection grounded can neuer be remoued : fa●ewel . thine or not his owne , w. t. ggod c●●zine , you write vnto mee to knowe how i doe : in a word neuer worse , both weak● in bodie , and sicke in minde , in briefe as neare death as may be to liue : if you knew my crosses , you would pittie my discomforts , the varieti● whereof is so great , that i thinke there was neuer carte so loaden with wares , as my heart is with heauinesse and woes ! oh this iron ag● smells of nothing but rust , whiles the bagges of mettall eates vp the hearts of man : where is kindnesse , but onely among children for apples and nuts ? friendship ( i thinke ) is flowen away for feare of abuse , and loue is among the saintes which are onely in heauen : and if the world be at this passe , in what case are the people : wh●re men in shape are monsters in nature ; and where women ( since the creation , ) are become straunge creatures ? whiles howling with sinne , and wéeping with shame , makes such black ghost amongst tormented soules , as if the diuell had licence to make a hell vpon earth ? some are all for the church , and nothing for god : other all for christ , & nothing for charitie : and ●est men for themselues , and leaue their neighbours to the wide worlde . children are weary of their parents , before they bee parence of children , and parents so couetous and vnkinde , that nature hath forgotten her course . to conclude , the misery of time is such , as puts patience to the vtmost tryall of her strength , and by the course of the elements , the almanack● makers knowes not what will become of this world : now for my selfe , i would i were with him that madeit : but his will be done , who can mende it at his pleasure : vnto whose heauenly tuition , vntill i sée you , i leaue you , yours , or not his owne . r. b. a letter of challenge . if i thought that you durst answer me , i would challenge you , yet where the sicke of a feuer may burue after a shaking , i kn●we not how shame may make a cowarde more desperate , the● valiant : yet once my wrongs i can put vp , whiles looking on the obiect of my reuenge , i become an a●iect to my selfe , to thinke what mettall i am to temper with . but in brie●e to lose no more time with you , to morrowe is my day , the h●wer eight in the morning , the pl●co , the padock● within the thicket : where the determination of businesse i hope will be briefer then discourse , and so i ende : endlesse . yours : as you haue made mee . t. n. his answer . idle humors shewes add●● brayues , where lacke of iudgement , prooues imperfection indiscretion : to challenge a coward is no balour , but if your sword were as nimble as your penne , i should not knowe how to put by the poynte : but i thinke that your furie is but a flash , which betwéene heats and colde , hath made a little thunder , that will goe away in a clowde : to temper with mettalls is fittest for artistes , but in the rules of honor scorne hath no place . but touching your agonie , take héede of an ag●e , left shame fellowes shifte , in putting off a quarrell , with excuse : in briefe , there shall nothing fayle but your selfe ; who as you deserue at my hands , shall finde mée from my heart , yours , as you mine . r. d. a loue-letter , to a worthie gentle-woman . fayre mistris , if i had no eyes , i should not like you , and it no wit i should not loue you , for the brightnes of your beauty is for no blind sight to gaz● vpon , nor the worthines of your vertu● for no weake braynes to beate vpon . if you say i flatter you , looke into your selfe , and doo me n● wrong , and if i doo you right , chyde not affection , for a discouerie , where truth is honourable , pardon my presumption if it excéede your pleasure , and commend his seruice , who will make an honour or your fauor : so intreating your patience , for answer to my poore letter , vntill i heare from you , and alwayes i rest . your deuoted , to be commaunded . n. r. her answere . syr ; if your wits goes with your eyes , your braynes may be on the out-side of your head : and th●n if you deceyue your seife , i hope i shall not bee blamed , colours are but shadowes , and may b●full of illusions , and the worthynesse of vertue may be a reach aboue the worldes reason , yet the discouery of affection may be mor●in wordes then matter , especially where discretion sounds the depth of desart , though the honour as truth be worth regard . where there is no faults there néedes no pardon , and therefore without trouble of patience , finding no cause of displeasure , i thus conclude : loue hath a priuilege to be at the commaund of kindnesse , in which i rest , to wish you much happinesse . your wel-willing friend . e. s. a conceyted letter of newes . good unckl● , i knowe you looke for newes , from this plot of our earthly paradise , which when you left , it was a place of great pleasure : but since your departure , some wicked blasts haue withered some of our principall plants , but god be thanked , we haue at this time so good a gardener , that so plucks vppe the weedes by the rootes , that ( i hope ) this spring wee shall haue a flourishin● piece of ground . hobgoblin and the fayries , hath brought theyr beléeuers to the gallowes : where ( had not mercie giuen grace ) they had bene almost a● o man in desperation ; but it is an ill winde , that blowes no man to good : for halter-men and ballet-makers were not better sette a worke this many a day . our sunne shewes his beams in great brightnesse , whiles the man in the moone is fall●n quite thorough the clowdes : wilde byrdes put in cadges , become tame in little time : but our iacke-dawes will be chattering , whiles they haue a tongu● in theyr heads . our turtle-doues are the prettyest fooles in the world : but when a cuckow counterfaits the nightingale , there is an ill closse in the musicke : our peacocke was so prowde , that hee could not leaue spreading his tayle , but since moulting-time hee hath lost many of his feathers . our poast-horses haue galled their riders , and our asses are kept but onely for theyr milke : in summe , for men and women , the best ( god be thanked are well , and for the worst god will take order for theyr amendment , and so with my most hearty commendation , i rest your euer-louing nephew . t. m. the vnckles answer . my kinde nephewe , i thanke thee heartily for thy merrie letter , in which i like well of thy iudgement in wryting of newes , to meddle with no matters of state : for hée that lookes too high may haue a suddain downe-fall , and olde countrey-prouerbe , may prooue a good parte of spéeche ; i remember i haue hearde my gr●und . father tell of one that was taught him in his t●●uell : let the horse neigh , know thou thy course and god thy way : and so much for this . now for your earthly paradise , i thought it ( when i came from it ) a goodly poece of ground , and t' was pittie that any blaste should per●h the least plant in it : but as it is i am very glad to heare so well of it , god blesse the owner of it , and the gardener , that so well wéedeth it . now for the byrdes , hee that knoweth not a cuckowe from a nightingale , is like vnto a lark-catcher , that hauing caught an owle , tooke her for a fine hawke , till looking on her face , and fearing she had bene aspirite , he let her flye to the diuell . as for peacocks , they will be prowde , till they looke on theyr legges , and iackdawes will prate , it is their nature : and therefore be not angry with a milke-wenche , if shée make not a curtsi● like mistrisse c●nstable , for there may be difference in their bréeding , and so foorth . now for our countrey-newes , i will tell you what is come to my hands : our coultes are so lustie , that we cannot kéepe a filly in quiet for them , and our géese are so fatte that they wallowe as they goe : our sowes are so forward , that we shall haue a world of ●at pigges : and our ewes so suckle our lambes , that they leaue almost no flesh on their backs : our mill horse hath broken his halter , and layd his load at the mill doore : and our towne bull is so fat , that he shall be bayted for the butcher : our towne is so full of marriages , that there is scarce cakes enough for the bridales . tom piper and the blinde harper are hyred for these hollidayes with my young landlord , who hath sworne by his fathers soule , that hee will whoord vp none of his siluer : other such h●mely stuffe there is store about vs , but because you haue better wares nearer hand , i care not much if i trouble you no longer with such trifles . i pray you let me heare from you , of such occurrents as comes in your way : in the meane time alwayes i rest . the most louing vnckle . f. l. a conceyted loue-letter . swéete creature , to tell you i loue you , were a phrase of too plaine a fashion : and yet when truth is indeed the best ●●oquence , affection needs no inuention to expresse the care of her content ; which being in three letters , makes a word soone to be read , which being y : o : v : nothing doubting you● spelling , i hope you will so kindely put together , that a coniunction of lo●● shall haue no separation daring life : and thus b●see●hing you to learne this lesson by hart , without a crosse in conceyte , to hinder the course of loues comfort : till i heare from you in that nature , that may make mée a happy creature , i rest . yours wholly , and onely if you will. m. d. her answer . kind● syr , to tell you i loue you , were too crosse an answer with a comfortable request : and yet when dissimulation is the worst fruit● of inuention , descretion may be pardoned in concealing of loue . touching your letter , they are sooner read then vnderstoode , while imaginatiue hopes may be deceyued in theyr happinesse , and yet to auoyde all touch of ingratitude , in that nature of kindenesse , that may giue honor content , as a simple scholler in the arte of loue , ●●sath● to haue that by heart , that may trouble more then my head , when separation of coniunctions may endanger the death of comfort , wishing nothing , nothing amisse , to them that meane all well , i rest . yours , as i may be mine owne . e. b. a letter from ● ladie to a gentleman , whom shee called her seruant , for the preferring of a gentle-woman vnto her . seruant i haue often spoken to you for that you must needs doo for mée : i am going to the court , and shall haue great vse of a gentle-woman to attende mée , i know you haue many kins-men and acquaintance , among whom you may finde ●ne to fitte mee : i will take her at your hand , and regard her for your sake , and if her desarts answers my desires , shée shall lose no loue in my fauor , and therefore leauing this trusty charge to the care of your discréete kindenesse , as you will expect a greater courtesse at my hands : i rest , your louing mistrisse . f. t. his answer . good madame ; you spake vnto mée , to helpe you 〈◊〉 a gentle-woman , which with my letter i haue here sent you : a woman and gentle , who i hope will not be altogether vnworthy of your entertainment : for her person , shée is not deformed , nor her face of the worst feature , shée is neither b●ea●-eyed , nor tongue-tyed , and for her qualities i hope shée can doe more then make curtsey and blush : her parentage is not bare , nor her breeding idle , and for her disposition , i hope it wil be nothing vispleasing : to praise her in any perfection , i dare not , but in all will leaue har to the tryall of your patience : so wishing my dutifull seruice in this , or what else may lye in my power , so fortunate as to deserue your sauour , and this gentle-woman so gracious as to gaine the continuance of your g●●d opinion , in prayer for your health , and hearts most wished happinesse , i take my leaue for thie time , but rest at all times , your ladyships most humble seruant . r. g. a letter from a kinde of diogines , to a courtyer . syr , i heare by some of my acquaintance that you goe on apace with the world : i pray god you go as fast towards heauen ; but by the way let me tell you , what i thinke fittest for you , now and then to haue minde of , least you forgette the mayne , while the bye-way deceyue you : for what is honor without vertue ? king dauid tells you , it is but a blast : meaning a prowde man : and what is wealth without wisedome , but couetousnesse ? and that is the toole of all euill : and what is life without grace , the very high-way to hell ? let therefore vertue be your honor : wisedome your wealth : and grace your life : so that god bless●yon , the diuell can neuer hurte you : let not a little wealth beget a great deale of pride in you , lest a great deale of pride beget you but little witte . know whence you are : who you are : and where you are : you are from the ●lim● of the earth , but a creature on earth : be merry with measure , but be not madde in any case : for patience is the guyde , of experience , where haste makes more waste then good worke : to conclude , be loyall to soueraignti● : faithfull in friendship : constant in loue : and honest in all : farewell . thine as thou knowest . b. b. a letter of zealous loue , written from a gentleman to his brother . brother , since i last hearde from you , i am sorrie to heare that i doo of you : that you are wound so farre into the world , as if that you neuer meant to get out of it ; you know i haue trauelled farre , séene much , and haue some vnderstanding : by all the obseruation of time , in the courses of nature , i finde salomons truth in the tryall of the worlde , that there is little of it , but is little worth in it , ( when all béeing but uanitie ) there is little uertue to be found in it : beléeue me brother , wée are neuer in one nature , but differ in another : in the flesh , but not in the spiritie ; for whiles i contemplate the substance of the soules comfort , thou art puzzelled in the worlde , among the puddles of the earth , yea , i feare the nature of thy affect to bee as farre from the rule of religion , as the most sen●lesse creature is from the vse of reason : oh brother , i know thou hast wronged many , and thy selfe most , i would thou wert a zacheu● to write all : but better betimes then to late , looke home to the maine chance , haue a care of thy soule , and thy body will be the better ; beleeue it , there is no rust eateth so fast into any mettall , as the venom of au●●ice into the heart of a wicked man : prodigality is the way to penury , but couet●usnesse is the roote of all euill , betwixt both there is a meane , that to hit on , is a kinde of happinesse , and if thou hast no eares but of midas , that can heare of nothing but gold , take a heart of simion , to ioy in nothing but christ iesus . turne a new leafe , serue god for whom thou wert created , and let not the earth triumph ouer thée , for whom it was made to tread vpon , lift vp thine eyes towards heauen , where one ioy of the elect is worth all the kingdomes of the world : leaue the world ere it leaues thée , and loue him euer , that will neuer leaue thée : let thy li●e be a pilgrimage , and the earth but a passage , and the heauen only the home of thy soules eternall happinesse , once a day reade these few lines for my sake , which if they doe that good to thée , which i hartily pray for in thee , till when and euer my hearts loue . thy louing brother , n. p. his answere my good brother , i thanke you for your carefull and kinde letter , yet let me tell you , that zeale without discretion proues not the best part of religion : reports may be idle , and then belee●e may be erronious , when mistakings by misconstruings may bréed abuse of good vs●s : i know that riches are witches to them that make their heauen of this world , but he that hath a leaden wit , will ●euer worshippe a golden calfe : but since i know abraham and lazarus were alike in election , giue mée leaue while i am in this world , by christ rather th●n auarise , rather to be a husbandman , then tobe a labourer for hire : if i haue wronged any , it is vnwillingly , whom if i know , i will satisfie most willingly , and for the wound of conscience , i hope to be so farre from hypocrisie , that i shall be free from that feare , and therefore though trauel hath taught you much experience in the world , and hauing sufficient maintenance to passe through the world , you make the lesse account of the world , yet when carefull thrist bréedeth no couetous thraldome , be not iealous of my loue , with all the pleasures of the world to make comparison with the least of heauens comfort , i know the highest mountaine is but earth , and the lowest valley is no other , and therefore when i carry my foot-stoole on my head , let mée walke like a foole or monster . in briefe , i know the world and how to vse it , and kéepe account with my cares , how i may most contentedly leaue it , but for my loue to him that make it , let me liue no longer in it , then i loue and honor him aboue it , and so intreating you to blow off●ll breaths that may abuse my disposition , and to be perswaded so farre of my soules health , that my ioy is euer and only in christ iesus , to his preseruation , leauing the happy issue of your hopes in the nature of the best loue , till i sée you , and alwaies i rest : your most louing brother , t. w. a letter of loue , to an honourable ladie . honourable madame : if loue were not aboue reason , it would not be so high in regard : who dwelling onely in the spirites of the best vnderstandings , feedes the heart onely with the frui●ts of an infallible resolution : what it is in it ●wne nature hath bene diue●sly described , but i thinke neuer knowne but vnto them that inwardly knowe it . some holde it a riddle , that none can interpret , but hée that made it : and others a myracle , that amazeth all that beleeue it : but if it bée as i haue read of it , a childe and beautie begotte it : i hope nature will bée her selfe , and not vnkinde vnto her owne breede : how to prooue truth , the honor in your eyes , that haue wrought my heart to your seruice , shall ●ake knowne to your fauor , in the happinesse of your employment . so crauing pardon for my presumption , in my deuoted duety , to the honor of your commaund , i humbly take my leaue . your ladyships , in all humblenesse . r. m. her answer . worthie knight , if loue be aboue reason , it must be eyther diuine or diuelish , and so regarded accordingly : what it is i thinke is best known by the effect of it , howsoeuer idle braynes haue beaten about the description of it : riddles are but ieasts of witte , and myracles are ceased for being seene in our age , but if it be a childe ( though of a strange parentag● , ) surely nature will not suffer the mother to be cruell to her owne bréede , but if it fall out to bée an vngratious father , what then will be thought of the children ? yet least in misconstruing a conceit , i may mistake a content , since in the secret of nature may be a sense of strange vnderstanding , i will suspend my iudgement , till i haue made proofe of my opinion : when eyes and hearts méete together in discourse , i hope the businesse will be soone ●nded , ( that is ) referred to indifferent iudgement : so till occasion be offered of the performance of employment , hoping that uertue and honor will soone agrée vpon sure grounds , till i sée you , i rest , your louing friend . m. w. a letter from a knight to a nobleman , for the entertaining of a secretary . noble lord , i heare that your secretary hath lately taken his leaue of this worlde , in whole place ( if you be not prouided ) let my loue preuaile with your honor , for the entertainment of this bearer , a gentleman and a kinsman of mine , in whose commendations i dare thus farre vse my credite , his heart shall bee as faire as his hand vppon any occasion of your employment , and for his wit it is both in caput and copie-holde , for he hath read much , and obserued more then a little , his discent hath béene from the loynes of an honourable line , and for his disposition euery way , i hope you shall finde it no way displeasing , not to trouble you with long circumstance , leauing your happinesse to your acceptance , with my seruice to your commaund : in all humble loue i take my leaue for this time . but rest during lif● . your honours deuoted , to be commaunded , w. r. the lords answere . my kind knight , i haue receyued your letter , fulfilled your request , and entertained your kinsman , of whom i am already so well perswaded , besides the assurance of your knowledge , that i thinke a little matter shall not make square in our loues : i finde what you writte of him , and shall haue much employment for him , i thanke you for him , and if he continue his carriage , which i doubt not , he will bee of better fortune then my fauour , and yet somewhat the more for your sake , i will take such a care of him , that ere many monthes passe you shall finde my loue in him , so till i sée you at my house , where you shall make your owne welcome . i rest , your most assured friend , e. s. a letter of a simple man to a scholler , that was determined to play the wagge with him . worshipful sir , i vnderstand by my honest friend and scho●lfellow in our parish church , that your worshippe hath a great knowledge in casting of natiuities , and telling mens fortunes , to tell you truely what yeares i am , my grandame sayes i was at lawfull age to enter vpon my fathers farme at lent last , and then your worship may ghesse much about the time , the the day and the hours i do not wel remember : but to the purpose , i heare say that in your studie among the starres , you haue gone by all the planets , and ten to one if your worshippe will goe ouer them , but you shall finde mee in one of them , and if you aske of them that dwell in those hou●es , some of them may tell you that of mee that all the world is not acquainted with , i pray you sirlet mee entreate you to take a little paines for mee , and chiefely , what good happe or ill is like to before mee , as well among men as women , and when i come for my note , i will better consider your paines , in the meane time i haue sent you a peece of gold that saw no light this many a day : so till i heare from you , which i pray you let bee as soone as you can , i commit your worshippe to god. from my house at columsbery this second day of iuly , . your worships to commaund , ienkin hoguiskine . his answer . my good friend , i receyued your letter and your kinde token , and though i loue n●t to shewe my skill in those secrets , yet ●or your schoole-fellowes sakes i haue taken a little paines for you : i will tell you what i haue found among them all : if you were borne vpon the sunday , sol is a hote planet , and you will be much subiect to sun-burning , especially ( if you goe to plough bare headed : if vpon the munday , the moone is full of water , and if you ●●ll your braines too full of drinke , you may growe lunatike , and so be in danger of bedlame : if vpon tuesday , mars is a bloody fellowe , and if you goe to fisticuffes , you will hardly be without a bloody nose : if vpon wednesday , you must weare ● nightcap , and bée euer at your booke : especially ( if you can write and reade ) and be in any office in your pa●●ish : if vpon the thursday , you will be as prowde as a beggar , especially ( if you weare your best cloathes ) on a working day : if vpon a friday , beware wenches , least they make thée a poore man , especially ( about cuckow time : ) and if vpon a satterday ; oh you will be so froward that ( if you marrie ) your wife will neuer endure the house with you , especially ( if shée be of the bréede of a scholler : ) and therefore not yet hauing heard any newes in any of the houses of you : vntill i heare from you againe , i can say no more to you , and so i rest , your assured friend . t. w. a letter to a friend , on the otherside of the sea. distance of placo must make no difference of minds , loue and life amongst hearts make an ende together , i haue long longed to heare from you , and if i had knowne whether , i had ●are this written vnto you : but now hauing met with him that meaneth shortly to see you , i haue thought good to let you know , that i yet liue to loue you , and forget net to pray for you , that all happinesse may befall you ; glad i would be to see you , and in the meane time to heare from you , how the world goeth there about you , whether al birds be of one feather , and how they flie together , what blazing stars haue beene lately seene , and what your astronomers thinke what will follow of their appearance , whether your wine be watered before it come ouer , & how youth and age agrée vpon the coniunction coplatiue : how the great fish and the little agree together in your seas , and how your rabbets escape the kite abroad , and the pole-cat in their borowes , how the fexes and wolues prey vpon your géese and lambs , & what sport your swallowes make with the flyes in the ayre . i wish you not to write of any wonders , because they are incredulous , nor of matters of state , for they may be perhappes ill taken : but onely how honest men thriue , and knaues haue their rewardes , how wise men are honoured , and fooles laught at , and how the weaker sort hold their strength with the stronger , when wenches eyes pull out mens hearts out of their bellies , their wittes out of theyr braiues , and theyr money out of their purses , and such matters of no moment , then must needes if you will take a little paines so set downe in a little paper , i shall be glad to looke vpon them , and in my loue to requite them , for our world to heare it , were a worlde to thinke of it : but the messengers haste not giuing me time to write of it vntill the next poste , i will say but this of it , god blesse the best , and mend or end the worst , grant all honest harts good liues in it , and a ioyfull departure when they are to leaue it , to which prayer , hoping you will say amen , till we meet , and alwayes , i rest , yours , or not mine owne . i. g. his answere . my long acquaintance , and worthy beloued friend● i haue lately receyued your letters , wherein i find your desire to heare of the passages in the world on this side the salt-water . now to satisfie in as much as i can , let mee tell you that i finde some difference in the natures of nations , but touching their di●sions , i thinke they are much alike thorow the whole world , for on the one side , i ●inde the powerfull , imperi●us : the ambitious en●ious , the couetous neuer satisfied , the licentious idle , and the foolish vnprofitable : on the other side maiesty gratious , honour v●r●uous , wealth charitable , thrift wealthie , 〈◊〉 all , and religion loyall , and labour commodious . now looking into the danger of greatnesse , the charge of honour , the care of wealth , the misery of want , the ●●lly of wantonnesse , and the beggery of idlenese : i haue chosen the meane for my part of musicke , where i shall neither stra●n my voyce , nor stretch my stringes , but with little charge keepe my instrument 〈◊〉 tune : the passages are heere as in other places , when ianuary and may meet in coniunction , there are strange kindes of countenances that shew not the best content . and when windes are highest in summer , the fruit shall fall 〈◊〉 they be ripe , many idle exercises are more costly then comfortable , much talke and little truth , & gaye outsides haue poore insides , ●athes● and lyes as common as high-wayes , and painted images make feeles idels , honest men thought more silly then the wise among she wizards of the world , and the diuel among the brokers dayly hunted with beggars , murmuring of warre among vnquiet spirits , and peace guarded for feare of a close stratagem● . in summe , such variety of businesse , that euery mans braine is ●ul of humours : and for women they are of such force , that they put men to great patience : for my sel●e , i see the world at that passe , that i thinke him happy that is well out of it : in summe , god blesse the best while the worst mend , and sen● vs his grace , and health with a happy méeting : so till i heare from you , which i wish often with my harts loue that shall neuer end but with life , with my heartie commendations i commit you to the almighty . yours as mine owne . r. g. a letter from a friend in the city to a scholler in the vniuersity . honest ned , since i left the blessed place wherein thou dwellest , i am come into a world that doth amaze me with imaginations , how nature could so iuggle with the world as to make men become shadowes , women picture : but neare the end of daies i see the diuell labours hard about his haruest , else could madnesse neuer so ouer-rule , as to turn wisdome out of dores . the disloyaltie of subiects to most gratious princes , vnthankefulnesse of seruants to most bountifull masters , vnthankefull heartes to best deseruing spirite , disobedient children to most carefull parents yea most vngracious creatures to the most gracious creat●r , makes mee feare a ne●● dealing vpon the earth , to cleanse the world from iniquitie , the diuel is feared in his colours , but followed in his conditions , and heauen more spokē o● , th● lookt after , charitable mouths haue other meanings in their hearte , and ●●thes are so common that they are little in account , the cuppe of 〈◊〉 is toppe full to the brimme , 〈…〉 to the health of the diuell : reason 〈…〉 to the world , that a. t. to much in the world ●akes him a wofull scholler that keepes that lesson in his heart , iacke a lent scarce a gentleman will ride on cocke-horse , like a rascal , and io●e fiddle in a french hoode will be a lady before her mistresse . prison is become a practise of policie to deceiue the witt● with a plot of villanie : the breath of some man is deadly , especially vpon a capitall ●ffence : when iustice impartiall weedes the land of the vnnaturall : the pruner of the three trees hath gotten● much by vnwholesome fruit , who when he hath pared the outside , puts the rest in an earthen pi● . beléeue me ne● , i shall not bee at rest till i be with thee , where i may walke to the well that yeeldes the spirit a sweet water . shortly i hope to see thee , in the meane time , let mee heare from thee that vpon the least of thy wish , i may the sooner be with thee . farewell . thine if his owne . r. d. his answere . kinde francke , in perusing of thy letter , i find no little touch of passion , and that thy brain is not a little distempered with the cares of this world , which though they touch not thy person , yet being a christian , thou canst not but hate a iew : far mine owne part , i haue read of many idle passages in times past , but i am most hartily ●ory to heare of the sinfull occurrents of this age : i haue read in the discourse of sin , that enuie is a pestilent humor in a pestiferous spirit , and that pride is the fore-horse of follies , that drawes the diuels car into hell : i haue read likewise , that queene helens lust was the spoile of trey , and that her name will neuer be blotted out of the blacke booke of infamie : i haue read of many things , of which i haue taken some notice , as of the cuckow ●illing the sparow that hatcheth her , and the turkie cocke beating his henne when hee hath trod her , but a dogge to be too saw●ie with a lion : fie vpon it , there is almost no beast can abide it . i read likewise , that vpon a time , that sin was growne to such a a height that the diuel laid about him like a great lord , but god be thanked , there was an angell that had authoritie ouer him , seeing his ●●●kes , quickely weakened his force , fetched him into his precinct , and kept him so fast lockt in his chaine , that he could not passe beyond his ●●●its , but what is all this to thée , no more but a 〈◊〉 of thy kindnesse , as thou writest what thou hast séen , so i what i haue read , when set the hare against the goose giblets and there would be a strange ●ish of didlums : wel , when thou art weary there , come hither , and as wee may , wee will be merrie together : farewell . thine , or not his selfe , w. r. a letter to a scholler that tooke vpon him the interpretation of dreames . sir i heare by a kinsman of mine , among other your deepe iudgements in many other learned points of arte , of your excellent iudgement in the interpretation of dreames , and being perswaded much of your kindnesse , by such as hath conuersed much in your company , i am bold to intreate your opinion vpon some apparisions that lately troubled me in my ●leep , and though i will not be frighted with furies , nor will trust vnto flatteries , yet if i may haue some notice of the issue of these night troubles , i shall take it for a kindnesse , that i would not bury in obliuion . first , mée thought i saw phaeton in the skie , sitting in sols glorious carre , and many fiery driuers about him , but on a sodaine giuing his horses the bridle , for want of holding they run with such a speed , that the carre was ouerthrowne , phaeton fell downe and all his driuers with him : with the sudden noise whereof i awoke , when i fell a sléepe againe , i saw , me thought , certaine great starres mounting aboue the sunne , but comming neere his heate they were suddenly dissolued , hange a while in the aire , and at last fell into the bottome of the earth , with the fall whereof i awoke , now toward morning , taking a little nappe , me thought i saw a kinde of furie or shee diuell let out of hell with charmes or poisons to doe much hurt in the world , but a gratious power came from heauen , for the good of the world , and with the breath of his mouth made her so vanish away , that i neuer heard more what bec●me of her . these were the thrée dreames which troubled me in my sleepe , the interpretation whereof , leauing to the description of your kinde patience : i rest . your louing friend , r. i. his answere . sir , though my profession be not to interprete night troubles : yet at the request of your friend , i am content to tell you mine opinion of your strange apparitions . touching your first dreame , it should seeme you are somewhat poeticall , and hauing the day before read of the fiction , were troubled in the night with a fable : for your mounting starres , i guesse you were the euening before at the starre or the moone , or some such elemental signe , studying some tauerne astronomie , that your braine being in the altitude of canary . taking the candles for starres , seeing one of them by mischance 〈◊〉 with his candle stick downe to the ground , being a little troubled with it to bed-ward , brought out this strange vision in your ●●●pe , for the third , if you come to furies , shee diuels , or such kinde of spirits , i haue nothing to say to them , nor will trouble my thought with them . and therefore leauing such as loue hell to deale with such hagges , beseeching god to blesse me and thee , and all honest hearts from all such horrible creatures : i rest , your louing friend , l. t. a letter of a patient to his physitian . master doctor , your patient cōmends him to your patience , to beare a little kinde chiding for your too long absence : my disease holds his owne , and my paine nothing diminished , and if you come not the sooner your physicke will be past working , for my stomacke is weake , and my heart groweth faint , and yet i feede , though my 〈◊〉 be not the best , loath i am to languish if i may haue hope of comfort , but your absence makes me doubt of my recouery . i pray you therefore haste you vnto me , and let me be assured of your comming● lest you come too late , you know my disease and are acquainted with my body , for my cure i leaue it to god and your conscience , and so entreating your present answere of your spéedie presence , i commit you to the almightie . your sicke louing patient , t. n. his answere . my good patient , i feare your impatience hath by some passion encreased your paine , i know the force of your disease cannot but be weakened , if you be not mor afraid then hurt , you will not die of this malady , if my businesse were not great , i would see you , or if your need were great , i would not be from you : but knowing euery erampe is not a con●ultion , nor euery stitch at the heart : i will onely wish you to put off melancholie , to take heed of cold , to haue minde rather of heauen then earth : eate good meat , but not too much : drinke good wine , but measurably : be in charitie with all the world , but not too farre with any , especially with the feminine gender : vse metion for naturall physicke , 〈◊〉 let a merrie heart be your best physitian , for conceit is hurtfull , if it be not contentiue , and it is past the reach of my reason to eure a corrupted mind : shortly , and god willing , i will see you , in the meane time imagine i am with you , for indeed i wil not be long from you : and this let me tell you , that to put you out of feare , i haue no feare of you , but that you will be past physicke ere my hope faile of your cure ; and that will not be in haste , and so hoping that you are not so weeke in spirit , but that you can endure a little paine with patience in hope or assured health , till i sée you , and alwaies i rest , your physitian and louing friend : w. r. a letter from a yong gentleman to an old captaine . my good captaine , hauing of late no little disposition to martiall disciplino , and in the field of bloud to aduenture life for honor , i am to entreate your aduice as one long experienced in that course , for what you shall thinke fit ●or my furniture for such seruice as may deserue regard , and how i may so cary my selfe in al companies , that i may not be ●anished the best : and i● it please you shortly to go ouer to your company , that you will let me serue vnder your colours : and so beseeching your present answere , that i may the better determine of my desires , leauing to your kinde di●cretion the care of my instruction , protesting in my best endeauors to shew my loue in you seruice ; till i heare from you , i rest . your affectionate friend , b. r. his answere . sir , your desire i mislike not , if your bodie will answere your mind , your booke warres yéeld n● blowes , and therefore séeme swéete in reading , but come to the triall of the buisinesse , and you will finde it full of bitternesse , but if resolution haue taken roote with you , and not easily to bee remoued , i will tell you what i thinke shall most behoue you to carrie with you ; a good heart , a stayed head , and a strong stomack , a purse to de●ray necessary charge , and a care in laying out of expences , neither offer nor take wrong , at least not much : borrow little , pay all , obserue the wise , loue the honest , be not idle nor ill exercised , beware of for●eits , play and wanton pleasures , for thy furniture , thy armor and pike , thy peece and thy sword , shall be sufficient to make thee a souldier : serue god , and feare not the diuell , let thy enemie sée thy face , and not thy back , and be not proud of any honorable action ; but giue god the glory of all : when i goe , which will be shortly , i will giue thée notice , in the meane time sée mee , and i will loue thée : farewell . thy assured louing friend , b. w. a dogged letter to a displeasing companion . after my harty commendations , hoping that you are in good health , as i was at the writing hereof , when my head aked , wishing you no better comfort , then a scould to your wife , desirous to heare from you , that i may neuer heare more of you , and sorie with my slefe to be troubled with the thought of you , assuring you that there is no man cares lesse for you , for the vilenesse i know in you , and the villany i heare of you , wishing all honest men to beware of you , no wise man to trust you , hoping , if that god doe not the sooner m●nd you , the gallowes will and you : to deale plainly with you , as a rakehell i found you , so a rakehell i leaue you . yours as you see by your good seruice . t. m. his answere . o man in desperation , how are thy wits out of fashion ; it seemes by thy spight , thy spleene is full of corruption , for thy wishes they cannot hurt me ; nor thy words trouble mee , ●ory i am that thy wits are a w●●ll gathering , or gone god knowes whither : what ill soeuer you think of me , i knew better then you thinke of mee , if your head ake , you should better binds vp your braines , then let them fly● so neere bedlam , to raile without discretion , vpon a causelesse imagination : but while the wise note your folly , and the honest pitie your ●urie , i shall be the lesse sorie for you , because i will haue nothing to doe with you : if your breath bee as 〈◊〉 as your pe●ne , no christian will abide you , and so 〈◊〉 nothing but as an idle humor followeth you , a worse plague then a scoulding wife , which is as neare hell as may he , wil torment you : as a woodcock i know you , and a dawcock i hold you ▪ and so 〈◊〉 i see better of you , to you● madde fits i leaue you , and so rest as you see by the course of your owne cards . yours , as you mine , d. r. a letter of reconciliation . honest daniel , i thought to trie the vertue of thy loue in thy patience , but i see we are all weake , when rage gets vpto his height . reason is a poore man , if thou diddest thinke i was madde , thou mightest haue béene sory and not angry , and if well in my wits , thou mightest haue thought it an humor of iest to trie a friend in earnest : onely louers haue not beene of a little continuance , and shall a conceit of vnkindnesse breake the knot of our friendship , ●acre bee it from both and either of vs , thou knowest thine owne desert , and my disposition and mightest therefore suspect my distemper of braine through the 〈◊〉 of the same disease , then fall into collor vpon 〈◊〉 of male content : but since i began a 〈◊〉 ▪ i will end the combate , and all causes set aside , loue thee in spight of all spight , and therefore let vs be as we were , and euer will be , one minde in two bodies , and so with hearts shaking hands , and shaking of all ill humo●rs , that may make the least breach into our loues till i see thee , and alwayes i rest : if not thine , not mine owne . w. t. his answer . my most worthy beloued , and neuer to be remoued kind wilkin , beleeue me it : i can be angry and ●ke with kindnesse to meete with humors in their kinde , onely to bee out of your dept for a few good words . i tooke a little paines to blot a little pa●er , which if you will put to the fice , mine shall soone consume to ashes , and to auoyde all memoriall of mad humours : i confesse nature is subiect to imperfection , yea and reason is sometimes weake in discretion , but loue is euer himselfe , where hee liues in the spirites of vnderstanding . thinke therefore of me as of your selfe , who rather embrace kindnesse then beléeue madnesse , and leauing all humour of iest , haue a heart that will euer loue you in earnest . so patting off all thought of quarrell , where the combat is but a conceits of kindnesse in the irremoueable resolution of infringeable affection : i rest as i haue beene and can now be none other . but thine what i am mine owne . i. g. a letter written from an olde man to his son before his death . my sonne , thou art now comming into the world , that i am going out of , and yet before my departure out of it , let me tell thee what i hold needfull for thee to haue care of in it , i know thou wilt not break thy bread all in one house , séede alwayes of one dish , nor liue alwayes in one place , and therefore let mee reade thée a short lecture for thy carriage in all courses , the court is a place of charge more then ease , the citie gawdes of more price then worth , and the country sportes of more pleasure than profite , yet is there no seruice to the king , no dwelling to the city , nor pleasure to the country , but all the waight of the worth of them is in the hand of wisedome , who in the knowledge of the vse of them makes the best estéem of them : but least long lessons may ouercharge thy memorie , take this one rule for thy learning in all , and thou shalt finde it good in more then a few , wheresoeuer thou goest , note the best , choose the best , & keepe the best , bée not , buried in earth before thou commest to thy grau● , nor builde castles in the ayre , least they fall downe vpon thy head , let not thy eye abuse thy heart , nor thy tongue discredite thy will , and let reason gouerne will in all the passages of nature , bée neyther néedy nor vngratefull , vn●●urteous , nor vnkind , and examine thy conscience in the care of thy content , ground thy loue vpon vertue , the hope vpon reason , and thy happinesse vpon grace , liue as a stranger in the world , and make all the hast thou canst into heauen , bée loyall to thy prince , naturall to thy country , faithfull to thy friend , kind to thy neighbour , and honest to the whole world , so shall god blesse thee , the best loue thee ; and the worst not hurte thée . and thus so weake in body , that the spirit fainteth in forced to expresse the full of a fathers loue vnto thee , with my prayers to the lord of heauen for thy preseruation in this world , and eternall happinesse in the world to come , with my loues blessing , and therewith what i am able to leaue thee , to the mercifull guarde of heauens glory i commit thee . thy most louing father , w. i. his answere . my most louing father , this legacy of your loue , for the directiō of my life , how much i prize in my hearts thankefulnesse , the eye of your iudgement shall beh●ld in my obseruation , and giue mee leaue to tell you , that in this little time that i haue spent idely in this world , i haue had some taste of the meate that you haue giuen mee , where i finde that the best meate may bee spoyled in the dressing , while a cunning cooke will make a rich seruice of small cost , and though giddie heads are in loue with gawdes , yet since the better sorte of opinions estéeme a small diamond before a great saphire , i care not if i rather aduenture far for the honor of vertue , then lessen my estate , by breach of arms , & since there are so many counterfeites , that the best ieweller may be mistaken , i will meddle with no such wares as may call repentance to an after reckoning , while my hart looketh toward heauen , i hope the earth shall not blinde mine eye , nor the vaine delights of nature preuayle against the vertue of reason : but alis in the power of powers , by whose grace being guided , i shall bee euer so preserued , that howsoeuer my heart be wounded , my ●aith shall neuer bee confounded , in hope whereof , and prayers for which , beséeching the almighty eyther in health to prolong your dayes , or in the election of his loue to call you to a better life , more esteeming these precepts of your loue , then all the portion you can leaue , ●aning your blessing , i humbly take my lea●e . your most louing and obedient sonne , w. r. a letter to a kinsman that came from the vniuersity to the court , was giuen much to study . my good cosin , i hear since you came from the uniuersity to the court , yo● are enclined much to melancholy , your minde onely delighted in reading and study , and among many variety of matters of import , that you take much delight in searching out of petigrees , and heraldry , the knowledge whereof i holde both honourable and profitable : but the vse thereof requires a héedefull care , ●or in discoursing of matters vnfit , may be brought within the compasse of folly : but as a friend to giue you a caueatinal your course of that study , take my adui●● for the bettering of your vnderstanding in the best of your cotes : ●ee not too busie with the crowne , and of all beasts beware of the lyon , if he sleepe , wake him not least you trouble his patience , and in his walke crosse not his way , least his frowne growes wrothfull , for other beasts thinke of them as your reason wil giue you leaue : where you finde hon●urs , note if you can the desert● of them , and for bought cotes , consider of them in their kinds , times alter and natures in them , and therefore in the setting downe of angiquities , there may be much deceit thorow the corruption of the writers or directors for strange cotes , as to see an eagle haue a flie in her mouth , and a mause bite a catte by the tayle , or a goose keepe a foxe in his denne : wonder at it , but make no words of it , and if you sée a black swan in a blew field , and an e●le in her belly , running out at her tayle , or a peacocke pulled out of his feathers , & making his pearch vpon a crosse barre , smile at the conceit , but keepe the censure of it to your selfe . to conclude , reade much , but beléeue little : thinke much , but speake little , and know much but meddle little , but in medling with other mens cotes , looke that you loose not more then your owne ierkin : and so wishing your studies as profitable as pleasing to you , till i see you , i commit you to the almighty : your louing c●nse● , w. r. his answer . syr , i haue read your letter , and considered of the contents : to the answere whereof , giue me leaue to tell you that i am not determined to hurt mine eye-sight with too deepe looking into a milstone , nor to beleeue antiquity f●●th ● then reason may carry my vnderstanding , and whatsoeuer i finde of ●●tes , i will so carry my due and true allegiance to the crowne , that i will 〈◊〉 all touch of dis●o●altie : for the lyon , i will neyther trouble him , waking nor sleeping , and for his walke , wish no beast to be so f●●lish , as to crosse his pleasure in his passage : for your marcy conceites of strange cotes , i will onely smile at my contecture of them , and so long as i know a f●lc●n from a buza●d , an eagle from an owle , and a nightingale from a cuckow . let mee alone to iudge of the natures of birdes , and how they are borne , and when i looke into the nature of honour , whether by purchase , fauour or desert i note the time with the persons , and so goe on with my opinions to the iudgement , i keepe to my 〈…〉 . your very louing kinsman , t. d. a letter of vnkindnesse vpon a conceite of ill carriage in a friend . there are two ill qualities in a woman , and two worse in a man : in the first vnkindnesse and inconstancy , in the second , vnfaithfulnesse and vnthankefulnesse : and will you beare both the imperfections , that none may excéede you in euill , wha● my deserts haue bin at your hands you know , and what your requitall hath bin to me , i would i knew not : but what shall i thinke ? is euery man onely for himselfe , and let the world go as it li●t , hath vertue abandoned the earth , and is wisedome so rapt vp in the mistie clouds of concupiscence , that she can scarce shew any glimmering of the light of liue grace : god forbid , for vertue hath her working in all the children of her loue : of which i would you were one , that i might ioy as much in your conuersion , as i feare your confusion : bée notangry though i seeme bitter , for i am touched to the quicke , yet write i more out of loue then hate , for i will suspend my opinion vntill your answere giue me satisfaction , that i shall shortly with your presence cleare my thought of your indignities , till when and alwayes i rest , yours as you know , and shall know , t. m. his answer . what women are i know , but what mē should be i know , and what i am you shall finde , alwayes one and the same , in i●remoueable affection to an assured friend . uertue i know hath her working in the hea●ts of the honest , and i hope you wil not taxe me of a contrarie condition : but if a misse report breedes a misse beliefe , an vngratious conceit may worke a grieuous vnkindnesse ; if your deserts , and my requitall were weighed together in an euen ballens , i hope there would not bee much in equality : but let humours bleed their last , and better thoughts wil follow : i am content to make a bitter swéet of an angry loue , shortly i will see you , and then so satisfie you that the old prouerbe shall come new in proofe . the falling out of louers is the renewing of loue : in which i wil rest without all doubts , yours as i haue beene , and euer will bee , r. d. a fantasticke loue letter . mistris if you were not a witch , your eyes could not haue so wrought in my heart , as to make me thinke of nothing but your loue : and if your words were not char●●es they could not so commaund me from my selfe , as to seuer me wholy to your seruice : but if it be so that you are borne a creature onely to craci●●e my spirit , i must onely pray for patience to mitigate my passion , finding your nature as ●arre from pitie , as my hope is from happinesse , that if there be any spa●ke of grace in you , let it kindle a cole in your kindnesse , to warme the life of my loue , that i may not die in the col● feare of disdaine : but reuiuing in the vertue of your fauour , i may honor you aboue the whole world : so leauing my life to the answere of your owne loue , i rest , yours what you will , t. r. her answere . seruant , if you were not a foole , you would not runne so from your wits , as to write you care not how , vpon an imagination you know not what : mine eyes be mine owne , and if your heart be not yours , shall i winke because you are wilfull ? no such matter ; and my words haue made a metamorphosis of your wit , i am sorie my breath should blow away your vnderstanding ; yet lest you should thinke i am past grace , in the pitie of perplexities , let me entreate you not to feare your own● shadow : walke temperately in the sunne , and the heat will doe you no hurt . so wishing you better then you wish your selfe , not to trouble your head with idle humours : i rest , as i haue reason , your louing mistresse , m. t. a letter of griefe to a faire creature , that was separated from her second selfe , for playing false with a third person . sweet soule that once was , now the most wretchedest creature that is , how haue you made a metamorphosts of your selfe , when you were vertuous , you were faire ; now you are vitious , you are foule : when you were w●e , you were honored ; now you are foolish , you are scorned : when you were gratious , you were beloued ; now you be wicked , you are hated . oh strange alteration , from vertue to vice , from wisdome to folly , from grace to ●inne , as to make the creature so offensiue to the c●●ator : what shall i say vnto you ? but onely that i am sorie for you , but cannot helpe you , and onely pray for you , that your sin may be forgiuen , that your shame may be forgotten : and so beseeching the highest , whom you haue offended most in the mercie of iustice , to shew the glory of maiesty , in the sorrow of humanitie and christian charitie , with a broken heart to thinke of your wounded soule , wishing your true repentance to be a president for the conuersion of all such vnhappy creatures : i rest , your friend , and no further , but in prayer for your soules health , t. r. her answere . my once kinde friend , now worthily farre off from the title of such comfort , with sigh●s let me write that which i seale with the teares of my heart : i now finde the wound of conscience so déepe cut into my heart , as comes too neer the danger of my soule , and were not faith the strong hold of hope , patience would bee too ●ull of feare : i confesse shame to be a gentle punishment of ●inne , and repentance a true pleader for mercy , for none ●ees the angry face of sinne , but the repentant sinner . for the world , i hate it , and my selfe most in it , for my sinne , i loath it , and abhorre my selfe for it , and for my life , i am wearie of it , that i care not how soone i were ridde of it : but all things to gods pleasure , to whom i beséech you in christian charity to pray for me , that the enemie of christ may not preuaile against me , that whatsoeuer befall me , i may not fall for euer . so with a bleeding heart in the bitternesse of griefe , as full of sorrow as a sinfull soule can hold : i rest , your worthy , forsaken friend , e. r. a letter to a friend for his opinion in diuers points of considerations . my honest ned , i pray thée write me word by this ●earer how thou doest , thy opinion of the world , of life and death , honestie and wit , and what comes into thy head , when thou hast leasure to be idl● , i long to heare from thee , to reade thy conceits , which if they be of the old fashion , are better then of the new forme : ●ee what will be , to me it shall be welcome , and thy selfe better whensoeuer i may see thee : for dull wits and 〈◊〉 heads , so beate about the market in this towne , that i had rather goe a mile wide , then kéepe way with such wilde : geese : and so loth to trouble thée with trifling newes , to no good purpose , in the affection of a faithfull heart , i rest ▪ thine what mine , b. w. his answere . kind henry , to answere thy request , in a few words let me tell thee , for the world i finde it a walke that soone wearieth a good spirit , this life is but a puffe , and death but an abridge●ent of time . now for some notes i haue taken of the world , and diuers things in it : let me tell thee , that if all the wealth in the world were in one chest , it would not buy one howre of life , if all the henesty of the world were in one heart , it would not buy ●ne bit of bread and if all the wit in the world were in one wicked pate , it would not buy one iot of grace : and therefore it is meete with death at a meaner price , and to carie money with honestie , the better to goe to market , and to ioyne grace with witte , to finde the high way to heauen . this is all for this time i haue had leasure to think vpon as more comes in my head , i will make you acquainted with it , in the meane time , marke what i haue written , and it will doe thée no hurt in reading : farewell . thine , or not mine owne w. f. finis . honest counsaile a merrie fitte of a poeticall furie: good to read, better to follow. breton, nicholas, ?- ? approx. kb of xml-encoded text transcribed from -bit group-iv tiff page images. text creation partnership, ann arbor, mi ; oxford (uk) : - (eebo-tcp phase ). a stc estc s this keyboarded and encoded edition of the work described above is co-owned by the institutions providing financial support to the early english books online text creation partnership. this phase i text is available for reuse, according to the terms of creative commons . universal . the text can be copied, modified, distributed and performed, even for commercial purposes, all without asking permission. early english books online. (eebo-tcp ; phase , no. a ) transcribed from: (early english books online ; image set ) images scanned from microfilm: (early english books, - ; : ) honest counsaile a merrie fitte of a poeticall furie: good to read, better to follow. breton, nicholas, ?- ? [ ] p. by w. w[hite] for william iones dwelling at the signe of the gunne neare holborne conduit, imprinted at london : . dedication signed: n.b., i.e. nicholas breton. in verse. printer's name from stc. signatures: a-d⁴. the first leaf is blank except for large signature-mark "a"; the last leaf is blank. reproduction of the original in the henry e. huntington library and art gallery. created by converting tcp files to tei p using tcp tei.xsl, tei @ oxford. re-processed by university of nebraska-lincoln and northwestern, with changes to facilitate morpho-syntactic tagging. gap elements of known extent have been transformed into placeholder characters or elements to simplify the filling in of gaps by user contributors. eebo-tcp is a partnership between the universities of michigan and oxford and the publisher proquest to create accurately transcribed and encoded texts based on the image sets published by proquest via their early english books online (eebo) database (http://eebo.chadwyck.com). the general aim of eebo-tcp is to encode one copy (usually the first edition) of every monographic english-language title published between and available in eebo. eebo-tcp aimed to produce large quantities of textual data within the usual project restraints of time and funding, and therefore chose to create diplomatic transcriptions (as opposed to critical editions) with light-touch, mainly structural encoding based on the text encoding initiative (http://www.tei-c.org). the eebo-tcp project was divided into two phases. the , texts created during phase of the project have been released into the public domain as of january . anyone can now take and use these texts for their own purposes, but we respectfully request that due credit and attribution is given to their original source. users should be aware of the process of creating the tcp texts, and therefore of any assumptions that can be made about the data. text selection was based on the new cambridge bibliography of english literature (ncbel). if an author (or for an anonymous work, the title) appears in ncbel, then their works are eligible for inclusion. selection was intended to range over a wide variety of subject areas, to reflect the true nature of the print record of the period. in general, first editions of a works in english were prioritized, although there are a number of works in other languages, notably latin and welsh, included and sometimes a second or later edition of a work was chosen if there was a compelling reason to do so. image sets were sent to external keying companies for transcription and basic encoding. quality assurance was then carried out by editorial teams in oxford and michigan. % (or pages, whichever is the greater) of each text was proofread for accuracy and those which did not meet qa standards were returned to the keyers to be redone. after proofreading, the encoding was enhanced and/or corrected and characters marked as illegible were corrected where possible up to a limit of instances per text. any remaining illegibles were encoded as <gap>s. understanding these processes should make clear that, while the overall quality of tcp data is very good, some errors will remain and some readable characters will be marked as illegible. users should bear in mind that in all likelihood such instances will never have been looked at by a tcp editor. the texts were encoded and linked to page images in accordance with level of the tei in libraries guidelines. copies of the texts have been issued variously as sgml (tcp schema; ascii text with mnemonic sdata character entities); displayable xml (tcp schema; characters represented either as utf- unicode or text strings within braces); or lossless xml (tei p , characters represented either as utf- unicode or tei g elements). keying and markup guidelines are available at the text creation partnership web site . eng - tcp assigned for keying and markup - aptara keyed and coded from proquest page images - jonathan blaney sampled and proofread - jonathan blaney text and markup reviewed and edited - pfs batch review (qc) and xml conversion honest counsaile . a merrie fitte of a poeticall furie : good to read , better to follow . imprinted at london by w.w. for william iones dwelling at the signe of the gunne neare holborne conduit . . to the right wor . my very good friend and loving father iames dackham of steepleton in the countie of dorset esquier ; health , happinesse , and heauen . my good father , the loue that i haue euer noted in you , to all good spirits , and especially the learned , with the bande of many good fauours ; wherein i am indebted to your kindnes , made mee in this little porticall rownd , to shew you the labour of my spirit ; which with my harti● loue i commende to your kinde acceptation : the tract is short , and the lessons not vnnecessarie for old men to read , and young men to follow : some lines may seeme prettie , other pleasant ; and some perhaps not vnprofitable : as they bee , i leaue them to your leysure to peruse , and your pleasure to make vse of : and so loth to be tedious in a trifle ; w●●●ing you craesus treasure , with your spirits better comfort , and continuall health and happines : in prayer for the same , in all thankfulnes for your euer vndeserued kidnes : i rest . your louing sonne , n. b. to the reader . all good fathers that loue their children , and all good children that would be loued of their fathers , reade and follow , if you can , and will , this honest counsaile ; fetcht out of an odde furie : no matter for the rime , so the reason serue turne : hee meant well that wrote it ; and you may take it well that read it : it is a kalender of good notes ; and hee that studies it well , may happe be as wise as a walnut : yet , as there is somewhat to laugh at , so there is somewhat to looke at ; which well perused , may yeelde profite : such as it is , i commende it to your witte , and leysure , to make vse of , as you haue reason : how soeuer it like your humour , shew no imperfection ; but if you finde it to your minde , much good do it you : if not , let it not trouble you : so wishing you to do as you list , i rest as i finde cause . your friende , n. b. honest counsaile . my sonne , for that i hold thee deere , and haue not long to tarrie heere ; this lesson kindly learne of mee , to leaue the world , ere it leaue thee : and rather learne , and wish to die , then liue in filthy villanie . learne not to cogge , and lie , and prate , to climbe the stepps of honors state : nor waight vpon a wicked whore , like serberus , to keepe her dore , while that the diuell getteth in , to place him in the pride of sinne . nor follow fooles , nor flatter knaues , nor swagger with the swearing slaues ; nor coozen any crooked croane , nor counterfaite a needles moane . nor cut a pursse , nor robb a church , nor giue a silly soule the lurch : nor want sufficient for thy need , nor shrinke to stand thy friend in steed . nor foyst a die , nor cut a card , nor hinder vertue of reward . nor make religion cloake of sinne , nor fall into the diuels ginne . learne not to paint an ougly face , nor falsely plead a poore mans case . nor take a bribe , nor do a wrong , nor pittilesse a paine prolong . nor plot a treason , nor conspire too high an honour to aspire . nor lazie with the idle bones , nor feede vpon the needy ones . nor false thy fayth , nor feare thy foe : nor seeke thy wealth by others woe . oh do not thou delight in blood , nor , beare two faces in a hood : nor play the asse , to make men laffe , nor with the drunckarde learne to quaffe : nor sweare , and lie , for worldes of wealth , nor purchase honors tipe by stealth . nor cuckold age , nor slaunder youth : nor vse thy tongue vnto vntrueth , nor bend thy wittes to wanton trickes , nor come too neare the lade that kickes : nor borrow still , and neuer pay , nor carde nor dice thy wealth away . nor fall in loue with foolish thinges , nor come among the serpents stinges . nor drowne thy selfe in puddle water , nor set a gloze on an ill matter : nor vndermine an honest minde , nor to a brother be vnkind . nor tempt the chast affect , to euill : nor follow atheists to the diuell . nor take in-cummes , raise no rent , nor murther anie innocent . deflowre no virgin ; trust betray , nor wake the night , and sleepe the day . nor haunt the fairies in the night , nor carrie hornes to all mens sight : nor weare gay clothes on thy backe , and see a world of people lacke . nor scratch with cats , nor snarle with curres , nor line thy coate with hedg-hogs furres . nor butt with rammes , nor fight with bulls , nor cheate vpon a sight of gulls . nor grace the care of craftines , nor blot the name of noblenes . nor tickle follie in the eare , nor like the wind , be euerie where : nor play with monkies , apes , nor owles , nor harken to the diuels howles . nor set thy hart in beautis eies , nor make the earth a paradice . nor put thy trust in any one , but onely thy good god alone . oh do not thou become a dogge , nor feede vpon a meazzled hogge . nor in a poyson seeke for honny , nor like a ferret , hunt a cunny . nor like a tiger , teare and kill , what ere he findes , his maw to fill . doe not thou set thy loue to sale , nor listen to an idle tale . nor binde a promise with an oath , and make no care of fayth and troth . nor follow witches , nor their charmes , nor , pleasure in thy neighbours harmes . nor to an old griefe , add a new . nor in thy conscience prooue a iew. nor let a cruell wolfe goe loose , nor , with a foxe , to hunt a goose. nor loue a dogge more then a man , nor kill a ducke , to gaine a swan . nor chase a flea , nor lodge a lowse , nor swagger in a bawdie house . nor hunt a doe that is with fawne , nor lay thy lands nor clothes to pawne , nor liue by ballads nor bald rimes , nor libell vpon loftie crimes . nor loose thy time in making loue , nor take a lack-daw for a doue . nor feede with rauens , on little lambes , nor with the eagle , kill their dambes . nor with the cuckow kill thy breeder , nor laugh at any learned reeder . nor with the turkie , beat thy hen , nor company with wicked men : nor make a trauayle vnto rome , and come , for to be hang'd at home , nor go to schole for cunning art , nor learne to play the diuels part . oh do not thou corrupt thy soule , with keeping of a cursed rowle : nor blot thy conscience with the blame of a deserued wilfull shame . nor seeke by power to oppresse the widdow , nor the fatherlesse . nor serue the proude , nor sooth the rich , nor tread the poore into the ditch . nor creepe into an open eare , and seeke a silly hart to teare . nor looke as bigge as fifteene beeues , nor hang on euery rascals sleeues . nor take delight in euey gawde , nor play the pander , nor the bawde : the iacke , the iuggler , nor the iester : the hange-man , nor the debter-rester . oh do thou rather wish to die , then liue by beggers miserie . doe not thou stalke like to a steeple , to ouerlooke a world of people : nor creepe and kneele vnto a thistle , nor be at euery beggers whistle . nor vse the trade of vsurie , to bring poore men to beggerie . nor coozen chapmen of their wares , nor deale vnequally in shares : nor promise much , and nought performe , nor scorne an euill to reforme . nor credite euery idle breath , nor seeke the meanest christians death : nor hardly vse a louing wife , nor with a whore to lead thy life . oh be not made a wretched slaue , to be commaunded by a knaue : nor climbe a mile beyond the moone , nor make the morning after noone : nor stoppe thine eares to good aduice , nor in thy thoughts to be too nice : nor with the swine to digge the durt , nor seeke thine honest neighbours hurt : nor fall into a lunacie , nor herezie , nor leloucie : nor haue thy paunch and guts too full , nor beare a bittle headed skull : nor hurt thy soule for any good , nor idly loose ● drop of blood . nor credite dreames , nor trust to hope , nor fall within the deadly rope . oh do not thou transforme thy selfe , nor play the misbegotten elfe . nor rouze thy selfe among thy bagges , nor glorie in thy gaudie ragges : nor set thy loue on too much ease , nor be a scowrer of the seas . nor practise craft in any trade , nor count a hackney but a lade : nor builde vp castles in the aire , nor hope in vaine , nor yet despaire . nor loue and care not whom , nor why , nor trust a friend before thou trie . nor come at euery cuckoes call , nor let a follie fret thy gall . nor striue to wrestle with an oke , nor spend away thy coyne in smoke . nor robbe an other of his right , nor loose thine owne , for lacke of sight . nor let thy mony goe for winde , nor foolishly be wilfull blinde , nor pull vp hearbes , and cherish weedes , nor tittle tattle , more then needes nor keepe thy mony till it rust , nor in thy word to prooue vniust : nor foule thy soule with bloody hands , nor hide thy treasure in the sandes . nor counterfaire a hand and seale , to ouerthrow a common-weale . nor willingly commit offence , nor stand in a foule faults defence nor kill a patient with a pill , nor keepe a sicke man pining still . nor weare a fether for the winde , nor stand and waight til fooles haue dinde . nor fleare , and leare , and looke aside , nor goe on foote while other ride : nor make diuision among friends , nor coyne a lie at fingers ends . not take delight to sucke and swill , nor be a slaue to wicked will : nor foolishly be made a stale , to loose a nutt , and get a shale : nor tie thee to a wicked woman , that will be kind , nor true to no man. nor do thou fish for muddie eeles , nor waight vpon a pack-horse heeles : nor be a layler to a thiefe , nor barre the needie of reliefe . nor liue with an vngodly shrow , nor of a friend , to make a foe . nor like a baby , long for toyes , nor sort thy selfe with girls nor boyes . nor tell thy secrets to a knaue , nor digg vp thy old graundsirs graue . nor 〈◊〉 a pettie benefice , nor make a painted sacrifice : nor make of gold as of a god , nor be by villaines ouer-trod . nor ke●pe ● cocke that hath no spurres , nor dwell among a sight of curres . nor watch a moale , a ratte , a mouse , nor breake into a poore mans house . nor like a c 〈…〉 t in thy chaire , nor play the hidder in a faire . nor tell no fortunes , nor no fables , nor feede on crumbs at beggers tables . nor breake a iest vpon a friende , nor dwell vpon a pudding ende : nor whine and cry ▪ i wot not why , nor make an idle sh●w to die . oh do not thou befoole thy selfe , to set thy soule to sale for pelfe : nor sigh , and sobbe , and swell , and burst , to leaue the best , and take the worst . do not thou enuie vertues grace , nor seeke true honour to deface : nor play the rascall with a rigge , nor sownde to see one kill a pigge : nor seeke a birds-nest in a bush , nor driue the nightingale to hush : nor angle for a hugie fish , nor make a poyson of the dish : nor in an epicurious feast to lie , and tumble , like a beast . nor snuffe and snortle like a horse , nor seeke reuenge without remorse . nor ioyne with iewes gainst christians , nor liue with the philistians . nor bragg and crake , and stampe and stare , nor come where such ill cattell are . nor winde about a wenches witt , to teach her how to play the titt : nor , if shee reede thy paradoxe , infect her with a pepper boxe . oh let thy backe not be consumde , thy periwigge not be perfumde : thy tongue be tipt with tatling lies , to hide thy spirits miseries . nor with despairing sorrow dwell , to leaue the way to heauen , for hell , but if thou seest , and canst conciue , how sathan doth the world deceiue : that sinne of thee no hold may take , thus to thy god , thy prayers make . oh my good god , vpon my knees i begge , let mee be none of these : but humbly fall vpon my face , to begge of thy most glorious grace , one sparke of wisedome , to direct my soule , the life of thy elect . make mee to know thy holy will , and be obedient to it still . make my delight , but in thy lawes , and keepe mee from the diuels clawes . make mee to tread the way of trueth , and honour age , with gratious youth : with reuerence in thy worde to heare thee , and in my soule , to loue and feare thee : to make thy trueth , my strongest tower , and sing thy prayses euery hower . oh scale mine eyes , and cleare my sight , and shew mee that eternall light , where mercies loue may let mee see , where all the ioyes of angels bee ; that i may heare them sing and play , vpon their highest holy day : and to their musique now and then , mine humble soule may sing amen . oh lay my heart vpon my brest , and with thy grace , my spirit rest , that all the world within my thought , may see a worke of mercie wrought : where grace hath made a glorious fight , when sinne and death , are put to flight . oh in thy glorious mercie heare mee , let neuer wickednes come neare mee : but in thy grace such comfort shew mee , that sinne may neuer ouerthrow mee : with thy loue let me rauisht bee , and long with thine , to be with thee : be thou my king , oh king of kinges , thy holie hand tune my hart stringes : to sing a new song in thy praise , to end , in neuer ending dayes : my dittie be of thy deare loue , where like the faithfull turtle doue , my musique may but mourning bee , till i thy louelie sight may see : and soule and heart may both reioyce , when i may heare thy heauenlie voyce . my sinnes forgiuen in thy good grace , giue mee thy meanest seruants place : where fayth & trueth may still attende thee , and loue may neuer more offende thee . oh with thy grace my heart inspire , to bring foorth fruictes of thy desire : giue mee thy peters penitence , pauls fayth , and iob his patience : and maries grace , and iohn his loue , that in my heart i may approue : when all these graces meete in mee , what ioy my soule shall haue in thee . but , oh my god! my heart doth ake , my soule with trembling feare doth quake , that sinne hath brought mee in such plight , as makes mee ouglie in thy sight . and i ( oh wretch ) am one of those , whom thou hast reckoned for thy foes : and that thy mercie will not heare mee , nor comfort euer shall come neare mee . my prayer turned into sinne , no gate of grace shall enter in : but all my thoughts all farre amisse , shall banisht be from hope of blisse : and my poore soule by sinnes desart , condem'd vnto eternall smart . and yet againe mee thinkes i see , how thy great mercie lookes on mee , and tels me , faith may be victorious , while grace will be in mercie glorious : and what true hartes , do truelie proue , that turne to thee in teares of loue . in which vnfaigned faithfull teares , wherein the wofull spirit weares : i humbly fall at mercies feete , where grace and loue and glorie meete : and in the teares of true contribution , thus makes my wofull soules petition . in mercie looke on mee , deare god , forgiue my sinnes , forbeare thy rod : behold my griefe , and ease my paine , and take me to thy grace againe : that i may see that bright sunne shine , whose glorie neuer can decline . where i with simeons ioy may sing , when i embrace my holy king. and sinne may die , and sorowes cease , and so my soule may rest in peace . who will be wise , let him take heede , he giue no wordes , nor seale no bandes : he tell no lies , nor forge no deede , nor put his wealth in hucksters handes . who will be rich , let him leaue play , weare bare apparell , fare but thin : and neuer make an idle day , nor giue a point , nor lend a pin. who will be great , let him be bold , and beare no coales , for feare thy burne : and make a kind of god of gold , and get a slaue to serue his turne . who will be honest , let him flie , the companie of knaues and whores : and bring his hart vnto his eie , to thrust ill humors out of doores . who will be gratious , let him throw his sinfull soule at mercies feete : that penitence may kindly know , how sinnes are troden vnder feete . finis . a poste with a packet of madde letters. the second part breton, nicholas, ?- ? approx. kb of xml-encoded text transcribed from -bit group-iv tiff page images. text creation partnership, ann arbor, mi ; oxford (uk) : - (eebo-tcp phase ). a stc . estc s ocm this keyboarded and encoded edition of the work described above is co-owned by the institutions providing financial support to the early english books online text creation partnership. this phase i text is available for reuse, according to the terms of creative commons . universal . the text can be copied, modified, distributed and performed, even for commercial purposes, all without asking permission. early english books online. (eebo-tcp ; phase , no. a ) transcribed from: (early english books online ; image set ) images scanned from microfilm: (early english books, - ; : ) a poste with a packet of madde letters. the second part breton, nicholas, ?- ? [ ] p. printed by r.b. for iohn browne, and iohn smethicke, and are to be solde in s. dunstones churhyard [sic], london : . illustrated t.p. dedication signed: nich. breton. signatures: [a]-h⁴. formerly stc . reproduction of original in the henry e. huntington library and art gallery. created by converting tcp files to tei p using tcp tei.xsl, tei @ oxford. re-processed by university of nebraska-lincoln and northwestern, with changes to facilitate morpho-syntactic tagging. gap elements of known extent have been transformed into placeholder characters or elements to simplify the filling in of gaps by user contributors. eebo-tcp is a partnership between the universities of michigan and oxford and the publisher proquest to create accurately transcribed and encoded texts based on the image sets published by proquest via their early english books online (eebo) database (http://eebo.chadwyck.com). the general aim of eebo-tcp is to encode one copy (usually the first edition) of every monographic english-language title published between and available in eebo. eebo-tcp aimed to produce large quantities of textual data within the usual project restraints of time and funding, and therefore chose to create diplomatic transcriptions (as opposed to critical editions) with light-touch, mainly structural encoding based on the text encoding initiative (http://www.tei-c.org). the eebo-tcp project was divided into two phases. the , texts created during phase of the project have been released into the public domain as of january . anyone can now take and use these texts for their own purposes, but we respectfully request that due credit and attribution is given to their original source. users should be aware of the process of creating the tcp texts, and therefore of any assumptions that can be made about the data. text selection was based on the new cambridge bibliography of english literature (ncbel). if an author (or for an anonymous work, the title) appears in ncbel, then their works are eligible for inclusion. selection was intended to range over a wide variety of subject areas, to reflect the true nature of the print record of the period. in general, first editions of a works in english were prioritized, although there are a number of works in other languages, notably latin and welsh, included and sometimes a second or later edition of a work was chosen if there was a compelling reason to do so. image sets were sent to external keying companies for transcription and basic encoding. quality assurance was then carried out by editorial teams in oxford and michigan. % (or pages, whichever is the greater) of each text was proofread for accuracy and those which did not meet qa standards were returned to the keyers to be redone. after proofreading, the encoding was enhanced and/or corrected and characters marked as illegible were corrected where possible up to a limit of instances per text. any remaining illegibles were encoded as <gap>s. understanding these processes should make clear that, while the overall quality of tcp data is very good, some errors will remain and some readable characters will be marked as illegible. users should bear in mind that in all likelihood such instances will never have been looked at by a tcp editor. the texts were encoded and linked to page images in accordance with level of the tei in libraries guidelines. copies of the texts have been issued variously as sgml (tcp schema; ascii text with mnemonic sdata character entities); displayable xml (tcp schema; characters represented either as utf- unicode or text strings within braces); or lossless xml (tei p , characters represented either as utf- unicode or tei g elements). keying and markup guidelines are available at the text creation partnership web site . eng - tcp assigned for keying and markup - spi global keyed and coded from proquest page images - olivia bottum sampled and proofread - olivia bottum text and markup reviewed and edited - pfs batch review (qc) and xml conversion a poste with a packet of madde letters . the second part . london . printed by r. b. for iohn browne , and iohn smethicke , and are to be solde in s. dunstones churhyard ▪ . to the reader . reader i knowe not what you are , and therefore i cannot well tell what to saye to you : onelye this at aduenture , if you bee wise , you will not play the fool in scoffing at that , which perhappes may deserue a better countenaunce : if you bee not wise , i can but praye for your better vnderstanding : howsouer you bee , i will hope the beste of you , that you will think of my work as it deserues , which is as much as i desire ▪ if you get any good by it , thank me for it : if hurt , thanke your selfe , for youre abuse of that mighte serue you better : this is all i can , and will at this time saye vnto you : my intente was to pleasure manie , and you maie be one of them : and to hurt none at all , and therefore not you . so leauing my booke to your liking , as it falleth out , i rest as i haue reason ; your friend , nich. breton . a poste vvith a packet of madde letters . the second part . the letter betweene the knight r.m. and the lady e. r. sweet should be that spirit , which through the instinct of loue vnderstādeth the silence of truth whose tonge is the hearte , whose words are sighs , in which are hidden the secret fruites of those trees , that onely grow in the paradise of reason ; vouchsafe then faire eie , more brighte then the sunny beames , with one faire glaunce , of ●our gratious fauoure to blesse this rude and vnworthy paper , the which if it haue made you any offence , in the fire consume it ; but if thorough the power of the fates , or the effect of your kindenes , it maie doe you the leaste pleasure , let him be metamorphosed to worse then nothing , that woulde be any thing , but that letter , during your reading , or euer any other thing , then your will in your seruice : for that vnder heauen , hauing no cause of comforte , but in my concealed hope of your grace , let all worlds sweet be as bitternes to my thought ▪ that shal seeke sweetnes in other sence : so looking for no felicitie but in the nest of the phaenix , in the admiration of honour , in the humilitie of loue i rest . yours deuoted to be commanded ▪ her answere . wisedome mighte well appeare in that hearte , which could pearce into the conceipte of that spirit , that with the figures of loue , deceiues the sence of simplicitie : which not suspecting euill , findes seldome other substance : o poore truthe how is thy title made a shadow of deceipt , while in seeking of paradise , folly falls into hell : yet , not to wrong any creature , happy maie that liue , that makes faith his felicitye , and pardoned be that paper , that doth but his masters message : let then sighs be buried in the depth of forgetfullnes , while silence vnderstandeth that vertue speaketh : and in the fier of that flame , whose heat is more felt then seen , be that letter burned that offendes me with pleasure : so assuring my selfe , that if from the nest of the phaenix you passe without a fether , either the figure will be a cipher , or the fancie affection : so leauing your beste thought to a blessed issue , i rest affectionately ▪ yours in what i maie . e ; r. his replie . vnworthy should that heart bee of the least of loues happines , that can haue power to giue place , to the poyson of deceeite : and more then miserable were the life , that to hel makes sutch a passage : oh blessed creature , do not thinke the world to be the caue of the accursed , nor doe a wrong to loue , in the suspition of truth ; simple faith hath no feare , and true loue cannot faine ; but , if silence be the onely aunswere of the expectation o● comforte , hope in obscurenesse m●st seeke the happinesse of desire : but let not fancy bee cipher , when faith knowes no fiction , but let your fauoure bee the fether in the neste of my honours phenix : which till i maie kindly receiue , i shal in the sunne beames of your beautie , consume to the ashes of discomfort : in which commending the sum of my life to the true and honourable seruice of loue , i rest ▪ yours what mine owne . r. m. her aunswere . vngratious is that spirite , that thorough suspition of deceipte , doth iniury to loue : and blessed is that fancie , that liues onelie by faithe : sweet is the warre , where kindnes endes the quarrell , and little the hurt , where hope is a moste present and readie helpe : in briefe , they are blinde trauailers that in seeking to finde heauen , goe to hell , and if loue bee himselfe , he hath life in assurance : let it then suffice you , to finde the due of desart , where desire exceedes not the limits of reason : so , in the nature of that honour , that giues vertue her best grace , commending the comfort of your care to the condition of your conceipte , i reste : as i haue occasion to equall honoure in true affection . yours as i finde cause . e. r. a merry letter from a conceited friend to his like familiar . honestie , i hope i am in the righte , excepte the greate winde haue blowen cleane awa●e youre beste witte , giue me leaue , spight of your teeth , to tell you that i loue you , & lea●t i should growe deafe i would bee glad to heare of you : for tho●gh i am ●ot blinde , yet i cannot see you ▪ and therefore hauing a lit messenger , i thought it not amisse to write to you , not for any thing that i haue to saie to you , but that while i think on you , you shoulde see i doe not forgot you : for though complimentes are but idle , yet they make wordes in steed of better matter , and so forth : now to the purpose , you shall vnderstand , that at the writing hereof a sodaine occasion of busines made mee make an end , ere i had begon , & thereore intending to write i know not what , to abridge my conceite i know not how : but hoping that you are wise enough to thinke what you lift , i will onely praie for you , that being in as good health , as i lea●t you , as soone as conueniently you can , i may meet with you , 〈◊〉 , & where it shal please you for as you know , i am for you , in al kindnes to quite you ▪ and so to him that made you , euer to blesse and keepe you , with my heartes commendation i leaue you . yours what mine owne , b. an answere to the same . wagge-pasty , i am sure i am not in the wrong , excepte the sunne haue dried vp your brains since , i left you : let mee , for i will tell you that , in my loue , i outleape you , and will not be so idle , as not to answere you , that my sences doe not so fayle me , but that i vnderstand you , and hauing no better company would be glad to bee troubled with you : for you haue not a kind thought wherein i doe not quarrell with you , whether is more force in the nature of true friendshippe : which because , fortune fauoures few fooles this yeare , wee must carry longer to plaie our game : but neuer too late to goe to an ill bargaine , for now we doe but talke our purses take no hurt , but when the terme comes that wee maie ioyne issue in our cases , i fear the kings head in fish●treet wil ●●nd vs tw● good clients : but , all is well that endes well ; excepte it were bad in the beginning , as i think be this my letter , for , beeing troubled with i not tell you what , leaste it shoulde make you thinke i care not what , i haue written what you may read , and doe as you see cause , either to replie vpon imperfection , or let it rest with a no● plus : and so not doubting you to bee your selfe , and to put mee in the number of your second selfe : i rest to your selfe as my selfe . one alwaies yours . h. w. a replie to the last letter . if you were as wise , as i could wish you , i could take a little paines to write vnto you , and yet for that you vnderstand your self , i care not if i trouble you with a little idlenes : in the parish of sain● asse , at the sign of the hobby horse , maid marian , and the foole , fell together by the eares with the piper : so y ● had not the good mā of y ● pewter candlestick , set in for the moris daunce , the maiegame had beene quite spoyled ▪ but when the game had gone rounde and the braynes were well warmed , the legges grew so nimble that their heels went higher then their heades : but in al this cold sweat , while lu●●iguts and his best beloued , were casting sheepe eies at a cods-head , hue and crie came thorough the streete , that the foxe had killed a tame goose , at the sodaine noyse where of the multitude were so skarde that all the moris dauncers were deuided , & the foole ranne home to your town : but because we haue some misse of him in our parish , i pray you keep him not too long with you , and so for lack of better present occurrents , content your selfe , with such newes as the time affoordes you : he●reafter you maie haue better , til when and alwaies , i rest as you know : yours . t. r. an answere . if you were not more then half mad , you wold not haue daūced such a trenchmor ▪ with your little wits : but , yet , since i ghesse it is about the full of moone , i will hope shortly of your amendment : in the mean● time , let me aduise you , to take patience with your vnderstanding , to direct you in a better cours : for when you waked out of your dreame , you sawe no bodie , but the man that you thought was tunne to our towne , and hee was putting you on a coat of elboes : for maid-marian she i thinke is troubled with you in her cream pot : but , for the hobby horse , alas he hath forgot your turn : and therefore you should do wel to make your repaire to our market , i think it will be a saints daie , when if a naughty bird doe not crosse the nightingale , you shall heare some strange musique about our medowe plot : at the least you shall heare the old song that you were wonte to like well of , song by the black browes , with the cherry cheeks , vnder the side of the pied cowe : come liue with mee & be my loue : you knowe the rest , and so i rest , thine what mine . n. r. an other replie . o braue oliuer , leaue me not behind yow yow plaie y e marchant al the week and make al whole vpon the holy daie ; you would be angry , if you could tell how ▪ & yet , hauing y ● cards in your hand , you cannot chuse but turn vp n●●dy ▪ but the matter 〈…〉 great , the tailer that sitted my coate hath made ●ou many a ●●cket , where if it were not for displeasing of iack an apes , ● could make him fall ●ut with his workeman , for acquainting you with his inuention ▪ but let this passe and to a better purpose ; my neighboure and youre good friende hath a welcome in store for you , and his eldest daughter would make you both a husband , and a brother , her wort● you know , and his wealth wil doe no hurt : i should bee glad of your good fortune , and you , i think , should playe wel at be you pleased ; and so much for the coniunc●io● c●pulatiue : newe , for newes , i bear none of late , but that the bailiffe of our hundreth , hath had a mischaunce , his wife taking a blow● that neuer smarted he hath a paine in his head , that cannot be cured : for hauing no other pla●ster but patience , is resolued to make good cheere with his friends , and finding him self alone , is content to make merry , with good felowes : this is all for this time ; and so in hast i end , yours . n. b. an answere . when wits goe a wool gathering , the thred of it may bee fine , if it bee well spunne : i see you haue little to doe , that haue so much leisure to play your leripups , if i coulde meet you right , i would fit you a penny worth : but though i cannot pay you , your due , i will not die in your debt , & though i plaie at noddy , i will not take the carde out of your hand● for , i know not how you can spare him : but leauing gamsters to their tricks , & iack an apes to his monkie , let me tell you , that for your neighbour , you are so neer him , that i need not t● trouble him and ●or his w●lth and her worth , you know wel enough what to doe with them : for my selfe i loue not to shake hāds w t your constable in the cōpany of kind felowship , but yet not wronging an honest wench , i wil wish her better fortune , then my affl●ction : and so commending thy selfe , i will assist thee with my good praiers , that the bailiffe of the hūdreth may find thee o●e among a thousand , i meane to shake handes , but not heads with and so ▪ in s●me little occasion , of sodain busines i will heere conclude for this time , and alwaies rest : thine r. m , to my honourable good lord my lord morafi . right honorable , to expresse vnto your good lordship , the hūble dutie of my affection , i cannot better do it , then by this bearer : whom for many good parts , fitting your honoures pleasure , i can wel commend to your fauorable entertainmēt : for , as such maisters are like black swans : so , such seruāts are choys creaturs : for a little matter of small moment , wil hoyse vp folly aboue the clouds , while wisedome runnes a course , of a more careful tēper : such i hope shal i find your seruāt , whose wit & conscience take such counsaile in all his actions , that the iudgments of good experience hold him worthy good account : for my self , least i may be partial , i willeaue his prayse to your proo●e : and in hope of your contentment ; onelie intreat your entertainment ; shortly i hope to see you : till when , perswaded that his seruice shall gaine him more praise then my penne , i will leaue his qualities to your triall , and his seruice to your fauour ; and so in infragible loue rest , during life . yours assured in true affection . r.b. to my louing cousen , master t. vv. iustice of peace . syr , i would be glad to write you newes of the dispatch of your busines , but yet it will not bee : for lawyers b●ing ful of clyents , cannot answere al men at once : and therefore considering your matter is in a case of more conscience then gaine , i must attend the leisure of your counsellour , who as he is wi●e , i doubte not but will proue honest : an● then a little time will be well 〈◊〉 with , that brings a good houre at the last : your aduersarie is full of mony , and trudgeth vp and downe like a foxe , but i hope in s●eed of a goose , hee will bee choaked with a feather : haue you no feare nor care of it , for i doubt not to effect it to your content : and so much for your lawe busines . now for other matters , the occurrents of this time , are either so friuolous , or dangerous , that i thinke silence better blamed , then babbling : for though there be fewe partridges , yet there are many setters heer in this town , who listen for speeches , intercept letters , accuse the simple , and vndoe the foolish : and therefore i had rather bee silent with the nightingale til may , then prate like a cuckoe out of season : yet for that you shall not think me fearefull of sparrow blasting , i wil write you a little news . tobacco is like to grow a great commoditie , for there is not an ostler , nor a tapster , but will be at his whiffe or two , and vse it as a shooing-horn to draw on a potte of beere . ●ottell ale , is more common then good , and yet deare enough , it is so taken vp with the drunken true . theeues are well weeded , and yet besides shoue-groate testers , there are some lookers now and then . painting was neuer s● common , and pretty cheape . and for women , some goe like antickes ; some like maskers ; some proudly sober , and some like carelesse resolution , but some few like angels : but they are too high for men : and therefore i leaue them to higher powers . now men are as in times past , if young , hardly wise , though witty : if aged wise : if wealthy , serued and honoured : if poore , at least scorned , if not worse vsed : if wise , perhaps employed : if folish , baffled ; this i say for the most part : for somtime , for some cause both youth and age , and pouerty and folly , are l●●ely borne withall : but for that this is rather an old obseruation , then any new matter , i wil end my long letter : with neuer ending loue : and so in hope of your health ▪ commit you to the almightie . your very louing cousen ▪ vv. r , to the right honourable his very good lord , the lord. vv. h. righte honourable , your noblenesse neuer ceasing to binde my seruice to your kindnesse ▪ hath made me at this instant to presume a little vpon your good fauour : so it is my good lord , that i am shortly to bestow a daughter of mine in mariage vpon a gentleman of some worth , and according to our custome , friends must bee feasted , when a pa●●y of uenison is a grace to the whole seruice : your honour shall much pleasure mee , and as often heeretofore , giue mee no little cause to bee thankeful : my state is not greate , but my loue so farre assured , as wherein i maye deserue , that i cannot requite , i will faile of my hope , but i will discharge some parte of my debte : and so not doubting your honourable fauoure to this my sute for a bucke , beseeching god to adde happines to youre good health , i humbly take my leaue . your honors in all humblenes r.s. to his deare friend , m. f. r. at his lodging in the temple . you wrote of late vnto mee , for my opinion of your intent , and abuse for your course : which two pointes i will touch as truelie and fitly , as i can . your intent is to leaue your studie , and first to courte and then to armes : but what hath altered your intent in studie , to fall vpon an entent to straunge courses ▪ for youre bookes peaceably entreat of those thinges , which you maye finde disquiet in passing through . for , touching your first course , is it not bett●r to reade of princes , then to carrie theire crownes ? you cannot feel their burthens , except you had their cares . howe full of perils are theire pleasures ? yea , howe many instrumentes of mischiefe doth the deuill send into the worlde , to crosse the courses of good princes , that are leading theire people to heauen ? and if they bee woolues to theire owne flockes , how safe is it to bee farre from theire courtes ? now , leauing good princes to gods blessing , and other to his amendment , goe a little to his counsell . oh howe greate are the weight of the charges ? and howe many the natures of their troubles : who , if they all bee of one minde , and as if were one body of many members , yet sometime a toe , and a finger , a hand , or an arme , a tooth or an eie , a tongue or an ●are , may perhaps bee out of temper , and so that all the bodie maie be out of frame ▪ saye their wittes are greate thorough experience of place : and their pleasures greate in the authoritie of power : and their powers greate , in the vertue of fauoure : yet with all , when experience is put to a newe studie , prouidence muste ●rie the power of witte , with no little trouble : and when pleasures holde in power , loue hath no place in seruilitie : and when power restes vpon fauoure , what is the feare of fortune ? and further ●is not the care of a common wealth , a continuall toyl of witte ? power , a daungerous s●eppe to pride ; hatefull in the highest eie : and fortune vnfaithfull in all her fauoures ? rather read then , the laudable cariage of their courses , in the seruice of kings , then seek in court to see their kingly courses : for god only knoweth their consciences , themselues onely their cares , and thou canst not knowe their crosses : but leauing thē to their honorable proceedings , goe yet a little lower to the ladies , & what shalt thou see ? either a creature like an angell , if vertuous : or worse then a woman , if vitious : perhaps thou shalt see , painting spoyl a good complexion , or deceiue a simple ●ie-sight : heate out of a fiue presence , a fond spirit speak idlelie , & perhaps an idle wit playe the wanton , now what art thou benefitted by all this ▪ a●●se thine eye with a picture , offend thine ●are wish fol●y , or loose thy time a idlenesse . were it not better for thee to read ye●iction of venus , then to be seruant vnto vanitie ? and to laugh at a fancie , then to follow folly ? ●et , far there be a phaenix among birds , if h●r nest be too high take heed of climing , for fea●e of a fall : take heede of the obiect , that makes an abiect of a subiect : but looke a side at the attendants , what shall you see ? cost & curtesie , long seruice , painefull duty , hope of fauoure , with feare of displeasure , a great haruest , many labourers , & ●ewe gaines , and must be so , for desires are many , but deserts fewer , and therefore they hope little . in summe , a prince thou canst neuer be , a counsellor neuer thinke to be : ladies are lowly , but beautie is costly ; and the charge of attendance , may bring hope for assurance . in mine opinion therfore , thy intent is not good , and thy proceeding will be worse , in thy humour of courting . now , for armes , is it not better to read of the noble acts of conquerours , then to trie the miserie of the conquered , and to suffice nature with a little , then to starue for want of food ? oh the danger of death , the doubt of victorie , the crosse of valour , the terror of a sigh , sacke of a cittie , the defence of a battaile , the sight of blood , the cares of the sorrowful , and the consideration of conscience : oh these , with many other i● banquets , bitter stormes , deadly wounds , cold lodging , hard fare , stinking drink , and louzy rags : and who knowes howe long : these things i say , with what else i say not , are sufficient i hope to disswade thee from so desperate a course : rather reade of true valour , and vpon good cause , and fit time : aduenture life for honour , for thy country , thy religion , or thy life : otherwise vnder y e shewe of seeking honour , go● not like a hired butcher to kill beasts : like a bloudy tyrant , to kill men for mony : remember what thou hast read : blessed are the peace-makers : seek peace & ensue it : for god wil blesse it , if he make it . yet if needs thou wilt goe to the field , begin not with the court , least dainty fare , ease , and idlenes , make thee vnfit to aduenture the hard course to honour : but though in regard of the great trauailes , and pe●ills in those passages , the tittles of honour , do most truelie belong to the well deseruers , while valour showne in mercy , doth grace noblenes in goodnesse , yet , for that i think thy body not answerable to thy spirit , out of my loue i haue writen thee my aduise . hoping that it will take effect , though not as i with , yet such as may be to thy good : and so knowing thy iudgement sufficient to determine of thy best course , i leaue thee with it , to y e direction of the almighty , whom i beseech euer so to bles thee that i may alwaies heare wel of thee , and reioyce to see thee : from my lodging in the little colledge , this tenth of august , . thine more then spoken . n. b. a letter of a batchelar , to a ritch widdowe . widdow , if you wold not be sowre , i would cal you sweet : for though you know i loue you , yet you wil say i flatter you : but yet bee it how it will , this is truth , beleeue it as you wil : your eies haue caught my hearte , who hath sworne me a seruant to your wil ▪ i cannot with eloquence court you ▪ but i can truelie loue you , and think my selfe blessed , if i might enioie you : for as your presence may please the wisest , so your wisedome may commaund the honest : for your wealth , be it more or lesse then is reported , your selfe being of more worth then you can haue , i wish your selfe rather then what is yours you fear perhaps youths inconstancy , it is triall that proueth truth : and for my loue , it shall end with my life : but what are wordes vnbeleeued ? or hopes not firmly grounded ? like the vision of a dream , which awake proues nothing : yet good widow , if you be kinde pitty mee : and if pitiful , fauour me : and if gratious , loue mee : god will reward you , loue will be true to you , and i wil dye ere i wil deceiue you : you may encrease your coyne , and decrease youre comfort : when a coughing sung at midnighte , maie make you weepe before day : but venture a little and haue much : what i am , or haue , you shall haue all my loue , my seruice , my life , & what can you haue more ? a little more drinke to make the cup run ouer : and perhaps marre the drink that was good before : a little more coyne to fil the tother bagge , and perhaps fal out to prooue a peece of false monie : when cōmended by a coistrel , that will serue for nothing but a c●ckold ; or kirbd by a gub , that wil grate you to the bones for an old groat : you wil curse your treasure that was the cause of your destruction . no no , good widow , be good to thy selfe , in being kind to me : hear mee , beleeue me , loue me , & take me : for i wil be a seruāt to thy wil , a companion to thy kindnesse , & as a steward of thy substance : this , as i liue , & hope of thy loue , thou shalt finde : for my heart hath auowed it , and i wil not be a villain to mine own soule . in which , paying for thy health , and to bee made happy in thy kindnesse , to say amen to my prayers : i rest , thine auowed , howsoeuer regarded . t.m. to my louing friend . vv. d. at his fathers house in couentrie . honest vvill , i heare by your mother , that you are going to the uniuersitie , where no doubt , but with good care & diligence , you maie doe your selfe much good : but for that i haue passed the place y t you are going to● , & haue tried the natures of those studies , and the profit to be made of them , let me tell thee mine opinion of them , and which i thinke best for thee to follow for thy good : first , for the b●tter blessing of whatsoeuer thou followest , bestow some labour in the reading of the diuine loue : that done , note what i tell thee for the increase of thy stocke , when thou shalt come to haue any dealings in the world : for thy better instructions in such courses , as may be for thy cōmoditie , obserue y e rules that i wil read thee : first for grammer , it is euery ushers of pettie schooles , common ●lai●e . logick is but for the uniuersitie : for musick , it brings more crotchets then crowns : for astronomy , it goes too high aboue the cloudes , to doe any good on the earth : cosmography is good for a trauailer , and astrology for a sea-man : but for him that meanes to gather wealth , and grow rich , let him bee perfect in arithmetick , to be sure of his numbers : it will be a meane to gather wealth many waies , for if you keepe a merchants booke , you shall learne his accounts , the prices of his wares , and the gaines of them , as well by greate as by retaile : as wel outward , as homeward : & this is a sure waie to wealth : againe , if thou be aduanced to place of office , to keepe account of the number of the people , the duties , tributes , and what paiments so euer to be made by them , for subsidies , fifteens , customes , and what els soeuer . arithmetick is most necessary for thy speedy dispatch of all those businesses : for howsoeuer honour may be sought or bought by them that haue enough , seeke thou wealth , and that will bring thee what the world can giue thee : for if thou fall into want , and impairing or spending thy stocke , bee forced to take some meane course for thy maintenāce , i wil tel thee what thou shalt find true : the honest wil only pitty thee , and say thou maist keepe a schoole , t is an honest trade , whē a churl wil grudg at his groat , for a shillings worth of labour , in beating quick sence into a dull wit : who , if hee bee not capable of a good vnderstanding ▪ yet shall the fault of his imperfection be imputed to thy negligence , and thou vndeserued , receiue either a frowne or a foule worde for thy laboure : nowe the proud peacock that hath a little more mony thē wit , wil perhaps entertain thee to a blew coate , and forty shillings which , how gratious it will be to a good spirit , thou shalt find , and i shal be sory to hear : beleeue me , if thou haue al the sciences , be furnished with manie languages , and art acquainted with honourable courses , and hast a heart as honest as can liue ; yet if thou lack wealth to grace al the rest , thou shalt haue a foole come ouer thee , and a knaue abuse thee . & he whose wit goes no further then his trade , so play vpon thy misery , with scāning thy cours of life , that thou wilt wish rather neuer to be borne , then to be borne downe with vnhappines : yea for necessities sake thou shalt be enforced to bestowe thy studie in fictions and follies , and to spend thy spirit in vain , yea i may saie , vile inuentions , to commend an vnworthy person , to the wound of thine owne conscience , who though he loue to heare himselfe flattered , yet perhaps when he hath very miserablie rewarded thee ▪ yet will he lye of his bounty , which is little better then beggery : oh what a plague is it to a noble spirit , through meer want , to present an asse , with a burthen of wit , or a base spirit with a tract of honour ? oh deare vvill , the wealthy that haue but a little wit , wil grow rich with making a benefit of thy labours : while thou not waying thy lacke of iudgement , in the first directing of thy course , wilt pine away with sorrow to thinke of thy mistaken fortune : in briefe therfore follow my counsell , studie all the artes superficially , but chiefely arithmetique , for it is the assured way to wealth : bee not ignorant in diuinity , for it is the soules comfort : and take heede of poetry , leaste it runne away with thy wit : for it hath commonly one of these three properties , belibelling the wicked , abusing the honest , or pleasing the foolish : and therfore though some excellent man may haue an excellent humour , doe thou rather reade in an euening , then make thy daies worke in the studie of idlenesse : giue them praise that deserue it , but doe not thou bend thy delight towards it : for in a word , it is more full of pleasure then profit . thus haue i writ thee a tedious letter , hoping that if thou wilt followe my aduise , it will doe thee no harme : and if so much good as i desire , i shall be glad to see it : in the meane time , leauing thy courses with thy selfe , to the guiding and tuition of the almightie , i rest : thine in much affection , r. p. to his most honoured lady madam , izabella tarina . honourable madame , how my vnworthinesse may hope of your goodnesse , i cannot find : but in the notes of your noblenesse , which , as it may well challenge the heighth of your title , so doth it bind a world of seruants to your good fauour : among whome , my selfe more desirous then able to deserue the least of your good countenance , am yet presumptuous to trouble you with an humble sute . i haue a sister of yeares sufficient , to vnderstand betwixt good and euill : and of disposition , i thanke god , not a misse : her bringing vpp hath beene chiefely at her booke and needle , but yet is shee not vnfurnished of other parts fit for a seruant of her place : which if it mighte so stand with your good pleasure , shoulde bee to attende your honour in your chamber : her trueth i will vndertake , for her diligence i will not doubte of ; her kinde nature i can speake of , and her affection vnto your ladishippe , i knowe is not a little : if therefore in all these , shee may bee pleasing to your entertainemente , i shall bee bound to your good fauoure in the honour of her preferment ; which beeing the highest aduancement , that her duty can deserue , i leaue her seruice with mine owne , to your honourable emploiment . so crauing pardon to my boldnesse , with fauor to my sute , i humblie take my leaue . your ladiships in all humblenesse , f. w. to my most beloued god-father , t. h. god-father , at the font you gaue me a name , and as i haue heard , and read of others , you vndertooke to see mee brought vp in learning , and in the feare of god : i doe not remember that euer i yet receiued pennie from you , towardes the charge thereof ; and you hauing neither charge of wife nor children , might doe well to bestowe your blessing vppon mee , in somwhat better then a bare hand , which wil buie nothing : is it possible . that hauing one foot in the graue , the other should be so farre off ? am i your nearest in nature , and shall i bee furthest off in loue ? i know not the cause , but what euer it be misconceiued in vnkindnes , let me intreat you , to beleeue my loue , and i desire no more ; for when you are wearie of the flatterie of those that feede vppon you , among the greate showers of your kindnesse , that you dailie raine downe vppon their fieldes , you will i hope bestowe one droppe of grace vppon my grounde : i will ●ege nothing but your will , and will loue you more then they which tell you more : bee not couetous to gather for them that gape for your goods : and bee not fast handed to him , who loues you more then al you haue : and the good that you will doe , let it be in your life , that you maie see your contentmēt in the issue of your kindnes : loath i am to wearie you with words , and therfore in the loue of a true heart , which dailie praieth for your health and heartes ease , hoping that god wil moue you for my good , whosoeuer is a meane of my hurt , i cease further at this time to trouble you , but rest alwaies in the dutie of mine humble loue . your affectionate god sonne . t , b. to my dearest beloued friend on earth , h. w. honest harry , out of the troubled spirit of a tormēted heart i write to thee , and therefore beare with my skill if it be not in the pleasing nature of so good an humor as i could wish , and thou art worthie of : but as i know thee able to iudge of colours , better then the blind eies of beetel heads , and of that true kindnesse , that can and dooth rather comfort the afflicted , then encrease the sorrowes of the distressed : let mee imparte to thee some part of my passion , that patience in thy pitie , may the better plaie her part in my spirit : what shall i saie ? i liue as without life , pleasuring in nothing , crossed in all hopes , put in manie feares , languishing in manie sorrowes , & troubled with the grief of a wounded conscience : not with the horror of murther , the feare of treason , nor delight of sinne : but with the crueltie of fortune , the vnkindnesse of friends , and the breach of my credit : and most of all , with them whom i most loue . oh god , my heart aketh , and blame it not : and my spirit mourneth , and reprooue it not : for though patience bee a vertue that maketh men diuine , yet there is but one christ , & men are no angels : and let me tell thee true , the miserie of my life is intolerable in the sense of nature : for compare the afflictions of the most patient , with the causes of my passions , and prouide a world of pittie , to behold the mappe of my miseries : hath one man beene wealthie , & becom poore ? so am i : hath another suffered wrong ? so doe i another buried his parents , children , & deare friendes ? so haue i : another trauailed farre in hope of gaine , and return with losse ? so haue i : another been wounded in the wars , fared hard , laine in a cold bed , manie a bitter storme , and been at manie a hard banquet ? all these haue i : another imprisoned , so haue i : another long beene sicke ? so haue i : another plagued with an vnquiet wife ? so am i : another indebted to his hearts griefe , and faine would paie and cannot ? so am i : another in loue ? so am i ; another out of loue with himselfe ? so am i ; in summe , when anie of these crosses , are able to kill the heart of a kind spirit , and all these lie at once so heauie vpon mine hart , as nothing but the hand of god can remoue , besides my continual toile , for the reward of vnquietnesse ; while that which should be my comfort , is my corrosiue , imagine how , with all this , i can liue ; and think what a death it is thus to liue . oh the scorn of the proud , the abuse of the vngratious , the scoff of the foolish , and the scanning of the vnkind : the companie of the discontentiue , and the want of the most affected ; the disgrace of learning , the losse of time , and the miserie of want . if there be a hell on the earth , it cannot be farre from this caue of my discomforte ; where i am sure , the diuel seeing my desire to serue god , laieth all the barres he can in the waie of my best comfort : but i de●●● him , and hope in christ that my liuing and louing god , who hath tried my soule in aduersities , wil one day in his mercie , so look vpon me , that the diuel shall be driuen back from his purpose , and the tears of my sorrow wipt away , i shall reioyce in such a ioy , as all my griefes cleane forgotten , my hart and soule , shall in the ioy of all my sense , in the heauenlie harmonie of a holy himne , sing a new song of praise , to the glorie of my sauiour : for the hastening whereof , in my deliuerance from my torments , and comforts in his mercies , i will frame my dailie prayers , and bee assured of thy amen : but i feare i am too tedious , and therefore wil thus end : god continue my patience , but not my sorrowes , giue me deliuerance from my miseries , and make me thankful for his blessings : & blesse thee with as much happines , as thou knowst i want ; so leauing my hopes to his mercies , and vs both to his tuition : i rest ; with as little rest , as i think any man can rest , thine , or not mine owne . n.r. to his faire mistresse and heartes honour , mistresse a. t. ladie , i haue been so ill a scholar to loue , that i neuer yet learned the courting of beautie , neither would i willingly vse act to abuse vertue : and therefore if plaine truth may haue grace , i will vse no atturneie in this case : which being to be iudged in your kindnes , i will onely craue audience , and stand to your arbitrement : my case being mine owne lawyer , thus i plead : your eies haue stolne my hearte : now i must either be accessarie to mine own hurte , or accuse you of the fellonie , but rather willing to loose my heart in your eyes , then keepe them to looke on other light , i wil onelie appeale to your selfe , what to doe in this passion : if i loue , you must know it , for your eies haue my hearte : and if i loose my hearte , you must haue it , for your eies are wel worthie of it ; but now you haue it , preserue it for your seruice , let it not die in displeasure ▪ that hath no life but in your loue : of it could speak , it would tell you how dearlie , highlie , and onelie it honours you , and if you will beleeue it , you shal quicklie find it : for it is dedicated to your seruice , and hath no care , but of your fauoure ; keepe it then to your vse , vse it to your pleasure , and let it dye in other comfort . in summe , not to dwel ●pon ceremonies , it is nothing mine , but al yours : and if it maie liue in your eyes , it seekes no other heauen in this world : driue it not then frō you that hath no life but in you : and take it wholly to you , that is as nothing without you : so leauing it with my selfe , to the honour of your onelie seruice , i take my leaue for this time : but will rest euer . yours ●●●wed and deuoted . r. s. to his very good friend , master ▪ r. b. at his house in coll. syr , i knowe you loue no long letters , and my sute being t● most men so vnpleasing , i would be loath to be tedious : i haue purchased a peece of land , and laied out al my mony ; now vpon the sodain , an vnexpected occasiō puts me to an extraordinarie charge : for the furnishing wherof , i am constrained to try my good frinds : among which presuming of your kind promise vpon any vrgent occasion to stand me in steed , i am to intreat you by this bearer , to helpe me to forty pounds . wherein you shall so much pleasure me , as so much maie doe , and as i can requi●e it , i will not forget it : i would haue it for sixe months : my daie i will not breake , i will take it kindelie , and deserue it thankfully : my seruant is trusty , and therefore i praie you send it by him : and as you will bee assured of m● loue , feede mee not with delays nor excuse : for i knowe you haue it , and you know i will pa●e it . thus loath to vse you like a broker , to send you a pawne , as an honest neighbour . let me be beholding to your kindnesse , in which you shal giue me cause in the like , or a greater matter to rest vpon , at as short a warning . your assured friend to vse , r. h. to the right worshipfull my very good master , syr thomas vvard knight , at his house in padow . syr , after mine humble duty : i haue talked wit● diuers of those parties , to whō you directed me , touching y e benefit to be made of the sate , which you haue in hand , whose opinions i fi●de diuers : yet all agreeing in this , that if you can procure it irreuocable , the mony will be aduentured : otherwise , they are loth to engage their states and credits , too far vpō bare hopes for liues are vncertaine , and in the change of times , diuerse things fall out contrary to expectation : you shall therefore doe well before you trouble any of them in it , to make sure of the matter , in such sort as may be best for your profit : for the sute being effected to good purpose , leaue to me to deal in it to your contēt : ther is much muttering that you are like to be crossed in it , i would therefore wish you to trie your strength in it , & not to slip time , for it is pretious in a good course : bear with me i beseech you , if i moue your patience , in vrging your speed : for it is for your owne good : against your comming to town , i will haue some what else for you to set on foote , for he that wil work , must not haue the fire without an yron : but not knowing your businesse , i will forbear at this time to trouble you with idle newes : and only praying for your health and harts ease , cōmit the consideration of your owne causes , to the mannaging of your good discretion : & so humbly take my leaue for this time , and rest alwaies , your worships humble seruant , i. t. to my assured louing friend . t. b. with speed , none paiment of debts , is not onely a crack in credit , but a losse of friends : vpon your letter i furnished your want : and fortune hauing bene your friend , a large conscience mee thinketh doth not wel : your excuse i yet know not , no● can wel deuise it : but acquaint me with it , that i may not wrong your disposition : for a seeled affection , expecteth the like measure in kindnes : the mony you had of me is not much , but if it haue done you pleasure , i am glad of it : and if you can well spare it , by this bearer , i pray you returne it , or the cause why you detaine it : i haue lately bought sheepe to store a pasture that i haue taken to farme , and my mony being short , i am boul● to write to you for mine owne , which if it come , shall be welcome , if not , so that i know how it may steed you , i will forbear it : and for the conference betwixt your sonne , and my daughter , i think they are more ready for vs , then wee for them : youre mind i know , and am contented with it . for as i see their proceedings , we will soone fall vpon agreement : and to be plaine with you , i think i were best rather to prouide you more mony , then demand any more that you haue , and therefore making your excuse , in this onelie point of affection , intreating pardon for my plaine manner of writing , assuring you , that if this matter goe forward , ( as it is no other like ) as their lo●es , so shal our purses be one : and thus hoping of your health as mine owne , with commendations to youre kind sonne , youre , selfe , and your ▪ good shrew , i commit you to the almighty : caunterbury this fourth of august . . your very louing friend . n.t. to a iudge in the behalfe of an offender . my good lord , your honourable care of iustice ▪ i hope is seasoned with the charitable weight of mercy : for though the law cutteth off offence by sharpe punishment , yet death takes away repentance , and where there is sorrow , ther is signe of grace : the best iudge of true iustice , christe iesus pardoned the great sinner , and with the gentle rebuke of sin no more , called her to great grace : now shall iustice , vpon the first fact , vse an other course vpon an offender ? i knowe it is your oath to doe iustice , yet may you giue time of repentance , in reprieuing this poore man , whose pardon will bee easily attained . your honor shall doe a good deede , god in imitating his course in iustice , will surely regard and reward you , the penitent offender shall be bound euer to pray for you ▪ my selfe with all his friends , will truly honor you , and no doubt but our king , who is full of mercie , when his maiestie ▪ shall heare of it will comme●d you : beseeching therefore your honour to stay the sentence of his death vntill the next a●●ise , or to graunt him a reprieue til the said time : leauing the poore mans life to a word of your mouth , with my humble and bounden seruice to your ho●orable commandemēt , in prayer for your good health and all other happinesse : i humbly take my leaue . your honors in all humblenes , d. h. a letter of complements , to my very good friend master h. w. at his house in kelton . syr , if i could haue let passe so fit a messenger without some thankful remembrance , i were vnworthy of so good a friēd ; but your kindnesse being such , as wil euer worke in a good mind , i praie you let me salute you with this little tokē of my loue ▪ the runlet is of suc● sacke , as bristowe hath no better , and the suger-lofe for your good lady , i assure you is right barbary , which at this time , is bere of some price , but vpon the c●●sing of the troubles there , i hope we shall haue it cheape here : in the meane time , howsoeuer it be , what you neede ▪ command in that or what else may bee in my power to accomplish : and so wishing i were with you at the killing of one of your fat buck● , with my heartie commendations to your selfe and your good bedfellow , & manie thanks to you both fo● my great good cheare and most kind entertainment ▪ hoping to see you at my house , at your comming to towne , where you shall make your owne welcome , i commit you to the almightie : london , this xx . of iulie , . your very louing and assured friend , c. r. to his assured friend master tho. rise , at his house in the strand . against this time of my attēdance vpon the iudge of this circuit , i shall haue occasion to vse manie things , whereof i am now vnfurnished : your skill in chusing the best , and knowing the prices , i know long since , by your kindnesse in the like trouble : and therefore entreate you once more to take a little paines with this bearer my seruant in helping him , in the laying out of his monie , vpon such parcels , as in my note for mine vse , i haue set down : your trauel nor kindnes shall not be vnthankfullie forgotten , and wherin i may in this countrie or elsewhere pleasure you , you shall not faile of my best meanes : if you haue anie newes , i praie you acquaint me with them , and if the shippers be come from the indies , what good successe they haue had : but some earnest businesse makes me briefer then i otherwise would be ; and therfore hoping of your health , and not doubting of your kindnesse , with heartie commendations , i commit you to the almightie : salop , this twelfth of iune . your assured friend , t. m. to his very good friend , master s. b. at his house in ferill . syr , where you wrote vnto me , touching the sale of your lorshippe of bar , i cannot answer you for two causes : the one , of price is too high : the other , your hast of monie is too great : for touching your price , the land you know is much impaired since the death of your father , the woods are low and verie backward , by cutting it afore their ful growth , and your trees are so wasted , that thee is scarce a piece of timber worth the felling : your moor is shrewdly spoyled for lack of draining and your pastures are so ouergrowne with bushes , that it wil aske greate cost in stubbing , before it be brought to any good passe : yet not withstanding , for that we haue been vpon speech for it , and that you seeme willing to deale with me , if you wil pitch a reasonable price , your mony shall not bee long deferred : i pray you therefore , ●f i may haue it as i told you , if it be a hundreth pounds more , i care not , but further indeed , i will not goe a penny : let me know your mind by this bearer , out of hand , for i am offered , ( i thinke ) a better bargaine : but for my records sake , and the rather to be your neighbour , that we may now and then haue a game or two at bowles , hoping of your good health & your bedfellowes , i commit you to the almightie : from my house , this . of iune . . your very louing friend , e. f. a letter to a proud mistris . howe beautie will make a foole proude , i would your plaster worke did not witnesse : but had you witte to helpe wickednesse , you would put a parrat out of countenance : your countenance is made after your conceite , as ful of merrye tricks as a monkey , and for your foote pace , i thinke you haue sore heeles , you walke so nicely as vpon eg-shels : your haire is none of your owne , and for your steeple tyre it is like the gaude of a maide-marian , so that had you a foole by the hand , you might walk where you would in a morice daunce : oh fine come to it , howe it fiddles like a hackney that would tire at halfe a mile : wel your tabacco breath , with your tooth lesse chappes , will be shor●ly such bad ware , that you will stand in the market , and no man bid a pennie for you : but what doe i meane to spoile paper with such matter ? and therefore i wil heare abruptlie end : wash your face , scoure your hands , put on a cleane smock , get you to your prayers , repent youre wickednesse , and mourne to death for your soules sake , for your carkasse is not worth the carrying to the earth : and so hoping that in a good humour you wil doe somewhat better then hang your selfe : i leaue you to his mishappe , that finds you for the most filthy creature on this earth ; till you be neuer more seene in the world . your poore friend at a pinch . b.t. a vile answere of a perilous wench . betwixt a railing knaue and a rascall , what is the difference ? and from a nitty rogue , what can be lookt for but a lowse ? oh diuell incarnate : who euer knew such a villain ? your haire i will not meddle with , for feare of a fall , but i wonder the iewellers doe not deale with you for a face , where a pinne can scarce stand betwixt a pearle and a rubie : oh , the french rewme bids you keepe out of the winde , for fear your suel stakes scarce hold vp a rotten carkasse : nowe in steed of a morice dance , you know the hey vp holborn ; where the hang-man at the gallowes stayes to learne you a newe turne : but thou wretched worme , vnworthy the name of a man , get thee to thy knees , aske forgiuenes of all the worlde , make thy confession in the cart , and commend thy soule to the lord , for thy flesh the dogs will not meddle with : and so in hast hoping my letter may come to thee afore the last cast ; i end in hast . thy charitable friend , b. c. a letter of challenge to a swaggerer . syrra , your swaggering is so foolish , that children laugh at you where you goe : and for youre valour , if your father bee awaie your sworne will doe no hurt : your tossing of pots feare none but flyes , and for youe braue wordes , they are nothing but winde ▪ but least i doe you some pleasure , in telling you of your faults , let this suffice to make an end of al matters : tomorrow in the morning you shall haue mee by eight of the clock ▪ in the field , beyond your lodging , neere vnto the pool● ▪ where if you dare come alone , you shall find me without companie , ready to doe more the i will speake : till when , expecting no other answere then your selfe , i rest , your auowed enemy , i. t. a dogged answere . doe you imagine mee a philistian , that you beginne to plaie goliah in a letter ? i assure you , if your deedes be like your wordes , my father will not abide the winde of you : but for my sword it hath a point , and therefore cares not a pointe for you ▪ if you be not drunke , i muse what madnes doth possesse you ? but the best is , i hope , nowe you haue spoken , you haue done : for i will be there where you appoint , but i thinke will not performe : but as you tell me of my faults , i hope to whip you for yours : and so sorrie to haue lost so much time about idlenesse , i end , yours as i haue reason , f. r. to my very good cosen m i.d. at his house in swandes . cosen , i vnderstand you are determined to put your younger sonne apprentise to a merchant : beleeue mee , i allow of your resolution heerein , for i that haue trauailed farre . and seene much , can speak somewhat of them , and theire noble profession . i could well giue it a higher title , for a righte merchant is a roiall fellow , hee is desirous to see much , to trauail much , and sometime to gaine a little , doth aduenture much : though sometime for a little aduēture he doth gain much ▪ but what are the sundrie natures of perils , as well at sea , as at land , as well of his goods , as his person , none knoweth but himselfe , or like himselfe : but hauing trauailed farre , and finished his voyage , after his safe returne , hauing giuen god thankes , note what is the course of his life : to obserue a comely order in the citty ▪ and enrich many poore men by the retailing of his goods , who sit at ease , and sell in their sh●ps , that he with great ●oil , & danger fetched out of farre countries . now , say his gain be great , let it be answered , 〈◊〉 y e desert of his trauaile , shall a faire or a fine horse , brought out of barbarie , bee heere finely kept , well fed , and neatly dressed , and richly attyred : and shall not a merchant , that hath trauailed many miles beyond barbarie , not bee thoughte worthy of a fine house , good land , dainty faire , and an honorable title , for the resolution of his aduenture , and the toyle of his trauaile ? shall a lute or a citerne , brought out of italy , bee put in a case of veluet , and laced with g●ld for well sounding ? and shall not a merchant that fetcht that lute , and went farre further then that coūtrie for better commodities , not be thought worthy of his gaine , and honoured for his minde ? shall the lawyer f●ll breath at an high rate ? and shall the merchant be grudged his price for his wares ? what shall i say ? who vp-holdes the state of a citty ? or the honour of a state vnder the king , but the merchant : who beautifieth a court with iewels , and outward ornaments , but the trauaile of the merchant ? who be autifies the gardens with sundry sorts of fruites and flowers , but the trauailing merchant ? he may well bee called the merchant , the sea-singer , or the maker of the sea to sing : the sea-singer , when hee hath faire winde and good weather , and maketh the sea to sing , when shee sees the goodlie houses that floate vpon her waues , and cast anchor in her sands . but let me leaue the sea , and come to the land , consider of the sweet and ciuill man●er of their liues , whose houses more neat ? whose wiues more modest ? whose apparrell more comely ? whose diet more daintie ? & whose cariage more commendable ? valiant without quarrels , merry without madnesse , bountifull in their gifts , and coy in all their banquets ? whose children are better nurtured ? whose seruants better gouerned ? whose house better stuffed and maintained ? furthermore , what comforte haue the distressed found beyond the seas ? and howe many poore doe they relieue at home ? what colledges ? what hospitals ? what almes houses haue they builded ? and in effect what citties haue they enlarged , and what countries haue they enritched ? how fewe lawyers can say so ? if that be al true , which much more might be said in their honor : giue them their right , say the merchant is a royall fellow , and goe forwardes with your intent , if you will euer haue your sonne see any thing , know any thing , doe any thing , or bee worth any thing , put him to a merchant , and giue with him such a portion as out of his yeeres may set vp his trade or trafficke : doubte not hee will doe well , and think not he can almost do better : so beseeching god to bles him in al his courses , without which wil be worse then nothing , i pray you doe as i wish you , charge him to serue god , and so turne him to the world : and thus hauing truely written you my opinion touching your purpose , wishing health and honour , and all happinesse , to all worthy true merchants , in hope of your health i commit you to the almighty . london , this twentieth of august , . your very louing cosen ▪ n. b. a letter of loue to a most sweet and wise creature . sweet , were that spirit that by the instinct of loue doth vnderstand the silence of truth : whose tongue is his hearte , and whose wor●es are sighes , in which are hidden those secret fruites of comfort , that onely growe in the grounde of your grace : uouchsafe therefore fair sweete , with the sunne-bright eyes of youre beauty , to cast one looke vpon the rude lynes of this poore letter : which if it haue beene so vnhappye as to moue your displeasure , let the fire bee the reward of his presumption : but if through the fauor of the faults or the vertue of your gratious pittie it hath beene worthy the reading , let mee be metamorphosed to worse then nothing , if i desire to be any other thing then that may pleese you in all ceremonies and circumstances , or in affection : and therefore , leauing , my seruice to your commaund , and my loue to the life of your fauour , wishing to die like the phenix , to receiue in the beames of your beautie , i rest full of vnrest , til i may fullie rest , yours as you may of you will ; r. e. the ladies answere . wise were that hearte which could pierce into the conceit of that spirite , which with the art of loue , seeketh to inchaunt the trust of simplicity : which , for not suspecting of euill-falls vpon the point of much miserie : oh poor truth , how art thou made a vaile or couer for decet ? when vnder the shadow of paradise , is sought the waie to hell . oh cursed trees that carry such fruite : but not to wrong any creature : happy may that hearte liue , which in faith onely seekes his felicitie : and pardoned be that paper that doth but his dutye . let then all sighs be drowned in the deepth of obliuion , while silence vnderstandeth that vertue speaketh . nowe for the nest of the phenix , if you can clime so high & carrie awaie neuer a feather with you , then it is but a fiction , or vertue vnhappie , but to waite the issue of honors hope , to the blisse of vertues fauour , i rest , when i further vnderstand you , as i thinke good to answere you : and till then , and alwaies rest , yours as falls , as i well may ; a.b. a replie to the aunswere . vnworthie were that minde of the thought of loue , which could giue place to the treason of betraying of trust : and more then miserable were that life , that towards hell could make such a passage . oh angel-like creature , thinke not the world the habitation onely of the accursed : nor do wrong to loue , in suspition of truth : you saie , happie be that life that seeks happinesse in faithfulnesse : but what doe you say to loue ? a simple conceit cannot descend into suspition , and the thought of deceite is hatefull to loue : bee not then incredulous where loue is vertuous , and for the fiction of the phenix , make the substance true in your selfe , whose least thougte of fauour , shall be worth all the feathers of the fairest bird that flieth . so reposing hopes comfort on the honoure of your kindnes , bese●ching you to vnderstand nothing of mee more then all yours , i reste in that onely rest , euer to rest . yours onely and all , e. a. an answere to the same . vnhappie be that soule , which in suspicion of truth , should wrong the vertue of loue ; and blessed bee that heart , which in hate of treason , makes faith his felicitie . silence is a language that conceit is onely acquainted with , and gentle is that warre , which giues no deadly wound : feare not then the paine that a breath will blow awaie , when the hope of comfort wil cure the disease : but what need more figures ? flie the waie to hell , and finde the way to heauen , let thy heart goe with thy tong and the eccho wil giue a happy sound . till when , not doubting the diuine nature of loue to be free from the diuelish poison of deceit : i rest as i find reason . yours in a●fection , though not assuring , m. i , to his deerest , fairest , and worthiest of loue , honour , and seruice , mistris e. t. if i should commend you aboue the moone , and compare you with the sunne , you would put me in the cloudes for a flatterer : but knowing your owne worth , and finding the substance of my truth , you cannot blame , in admiration , to speake truth of your perfection , which of what power it is in drawing the seruice of reason , if you would beleeue , loue would quicklie tell you : but the course of inconstancie in the vnwise : breedeth distrust of truth in the most faithfull : but all birds are not of one feather , nor all men of one mind . in briefe not to make a long haruest of a little torne , which being ripe , woulde be gathered in good time : let truth be my spokes-man , and beleefe my comfort : the hope whereof , as my onely worldes happines , referring onely to the care of your kindnes , in the faith of true affection , i rest . yours auowed and assured . r. n. a letter to a friend to borrow a piece of mony . sir , as nothing more trieth a friend then calamitie , so is there nothing more grieuous then to bee beholding : in kindnes therefore , if i maye become your debtor for fiue pounds , it is not much yet will it pleasure me more then a little : your appointed day i will not breake with you , and wherein i may thankfully require you , you shall find no forgetfulnes of your kindnes : but time is precious , and therefore entreating your speedie answere , in hope of no deniall , i rest . your assured friend to command . t. w. the aunswere , i would be as glad to pleasure you as any man , but truth cannot be blamed : for more then for my necessary vse , that i cannot spate , i am not presently furnished : i praye you therefore take not a deniall vnkindly : for i● my credit will pleasure you , i will not faile my best to doe you good : if otherwise you would vrge mee , it will ●●e to little purpose : and therefore sory that i am not in tune to satisfie your expectation , i must leaue patience to your kind discretion , which as you know me , shall commaund me : for i am , and will bee to the vttermost of my power . you re assured friend . d. s. to my best beloued cosen mistrisse h.c. at her house in pe . chest. my good cousen , i remember at my last being with you , wee had some conference aboute consideration : beleeue me , when i consider the worlde , and what i haue seene in it , and the best things of it , and that all if it effect , is as nothing or rather worse , if any thinge at all , i wonder howe men , who haue so much iudgement of good frō euill : will shewe so little vnderstanding of good , in following of euil : how can those mē that know the in certaine time of death , liue as though they thought neuer to die ? h●we can hee that readeth , or heareth the word of god and beleeueth the truth of it , bee so carelesse of it , and so disobedient to it ? will men bee sicke , that may bee whole ●or dye , that may liue ? what shall i say ? but as paule saide to the corinthians : o yee foolish people : who hath bewitched yee ? it is the worde of god , that transgression is as the sinne of witch-crafte : and surely , if men were not bewitched with sinne , they could not so delight in wickednesse : being the crosse and barre to all their happines : coulde the theefe consider the doome of the lawe , or the miserie of the dispoyled , surely hee would not steale : if the adulterer did consider the filthines of his action , and the shame of his folly , surelye hee would turne honest : if the murtherer did consider the horror of death , and the terror of sinne , hee woulde neuer kill : in briefe , if any sinner woulde looke into the foule nature of sinne , hee woulde bee out of loue with it , and if ●ee did consider the power of gods wrath , hee woulde bee afraide of it : nay , could or would man consider the goodnes of god towards him , in commaunding and forbidding nothing but that which is good for him , howe could hee bee so forgetfull of his owne good , in offending the author of all goodnesse : if the vnthrif● coulde consider the misery of wan● , sure he would not be carelesse of his esta●e : if the couetous coulde consider the misery of the poor , he would be more charitable : if the swaggerer could consider the comelines of sobriety , and the shame of immodesty , surely hee would be more ciuill . if the magistrate did consider the misery of the poore , he woulde not be so careles of their torment , put them to such sorrow , but remember that iustice without mercie , is to neere a tuch of tira●ny . if the offendant did consider the griefe and shame of punishment , he ▪ would containe himselfe within the compasse of a better course . if ●ee that preacheth the worde , and followeth it not , could consider the heauinesse of gods iudgemente , and the shame of his folly , hee woulde doubtlesse bee more carefull of his soul , and more kinde to his flock : if the lawyer could consider the lawe of god ▪ hee would neuer grieue his clyent , nor speake against a knowne truth : but as i saide before , to leaue tediousnesse , it is the onely lack of consideration , that maketh the heedlesse will of man to runne the waye of error , to the ruine of his beste comforte , and therefore entreat you , notwithstanding my allowance of your iudgement touching the heauenly prouidence , and power in the motion of al good actions : yet so to allow of my opinion , touching consideration , that it is a great , and one of the greatest causes of the confusion of reason , by the corruption of nature : and knowing that the care of your consideration is such as doth and may wel giue example to the most expert , to follow the rules of your directions in the whole course of your life , wishing my selfe so happie , as to enioy the company of so good a friend , till i see you and euer : i rest in fast setled affection . your very louing friend . n. v. to my sweet loue mistris e. p. sweet loue , if absence could breed forgetfulnesse , then fortune should doe much harme to affection : but when the eye of the mind looketh into the ioye of the hearte , the sentence may well be spoken . as in silence you may heare me , so in absence you may see me : for loue is not an hours humour , nor a shadowe of light , but it is a light of the spirit , and a continuing passion : thinke not therfore , i do or can forget thee , or loue my sefe , but for thee : shortly i hope to see thee , and in the meane time , though not with thee , yet not from thee , nor well at rest with my selfe , til i may reste only with thee , i rest alwaies to rest . thine onely and all . ● . vv. her aunswere . my deare , if delayes were not a death to loue , excuse were currant in the construction of kingdomes : but sentences are better spoken then vnderstood , and a pleasing presence , is better then an excused absence : remembrance is good , but possession better , and loue holdeth memorie , but a kind of melancholie . let your selfe therefore be your messenger rather of your loue , then your letters , least fortune in a mad fit be a crosse to your best comforte , not in respect of my constancy , but my parents vnkindnesse , this is all i will write at this time , but wishing a happie time , to the beginning of a neuer ending , i rest til that time , and at all times on the same : yours as you know . e. p. an old mans letter to a young widdow . vviddow , i haue neither a smooth face nor a filed tongue , to cheate your eies , nor abuse your eares withall : but a true hearte , and a constant minde , that doth inwardly loue you , and will n●uer deceiue you : fickle heads , and vnbrideled wills , know not wher , nor how to bestow themselues , when their wits goe a woolgathering among shrewes , that haue bad ●●e●ces : they may be kind , but not constant , and loue loues no out-lookers : besides , light heads haue no staied heeles and a little wealth soone spent , who knoweth the woe of want can tell you the difference betwixt an old mans darling , and a young mans warling : why ? how can they loue , that scarce know how to like ? i know you haue manie suters of worth : but none that i thinke worthy : for none can loue you so much , nor esteeme you so well : for i haue knowne the world , and care not for it , nor for any thing but you . if therefore all i haue may please you , and my selfe , to loue and honour you , make my comfort your contentment , and i will seeke no other paradise in this world . thus hoping that reason in your fauour , wil effect the hope of my affection , leauing to your selfe , to be youre selfe : i rest , yours , or not his owne . t.p. sir , if i could euer see yo● , but in a letter , i should delight much in your presence , but contraries are not correspondēt : a gr●y b●ad and a greene minde fit not , your perswasions were forcible , were not your selfe of too much weaknesse ▪ but , though for your good will. i thank you , yet for nothing will i be indebted to you : not for a world would i be troubled with you : for , as your yeeres , so i feare our fancies will be different : and then patience mouing , choller may breed discontentment : when to be an old mans d●rling is a kind of curse to nature : you say wel , who can loue , that knowes not howe to like ? and the se●ces vncapable of their comfort , what is imagination but a dreame ? a blind man can iudge no colours , a deafe man hath no skill in musique , a dumb man no eloquence , and an old man little feeling in loues passion● for my sutors they sute my time , and serue their owne , and for their worth . i shal iudge of the most worthy : nowe for their wittes , if they lose not their own fleeces , let them gather wool where they can , but for your loue , i will not venture on it , least beeing too old , it be not sweet , and for my yoūg sutors , i hope i shal take heed of shadowed sourenesse : and for fortune , while vertue gouernes affection , i will not feare my felicitie : so hoping your own reason wil perswade you to haue patience with your passion , and leaue mee to my better comfort : meaning to be as you wish me , my selfe : & none other : i rest , not yours , if mine owne . p. m. a letter of a young man to his sweet heart . my loue , if i could haue as good passage as my letters , i would bee a better messenger of my thoughts , then my words can expresse : but as the secret of my hearte is sealed vp in my letter , so is the secret of my loue sealed vp in my heart : which none can see , but your eies , nor shal knowe , but your kindnesse , let me not then languish in the lingring hope of my desires , but hasten my comforte in the onely answere of your content : you know the houre of the first meeeting of our fantasies , the true continuance of our irremoueable affections , and why will you not appoint the conclusion of our comforte ? triall cannot let you doubte my loue : and loue will bee sworn for the securitie of my truth : both which thus far plead for me in your fauour : giue truth the reward of triall , and loue the regard of truth , and desire not the sentence of iustice to let me liue or die in your iudgemente : for imprisoned i am in youre beauty , bound in 〈◊〉 ●ands of your seruice , and liue but in the hope of your fauour , in which i rest euer and only , to rest happie in this world . yours , though not yours , r. e. an answere to this letter . my sweet , i rather wishe your self , thē your letter , though in the hast of your desire , your presence had bene to little purpose : for deeds are in a good way , that are subscribed and sealed ; but till the deliuery be made , the matter is not fully finished , haue therfore patience for a time , for it is soon enough , that is wel enough : and yet i confesse in kindnes , delaie is little comfort : yet stay for a faire day though it be almost at noon , be perswaded of my affection , and let faith feare no fortune , for loue can be no changeling , and so imagine of my selfe : when you offend , i will punish you , and when you ●oe please , i wil pra●se you ▪ so assuring truth beliefe , and loue comfort , i rest so soon as i wel may , to giue the reason of your best rest : and till then and ●uer wil rest . yours as i may . m. i. a merry letter of newes to a friend , right troi●● , i know thou louest no complement , nor carest for anie trickes , but as a good fellowe , and a friende , woulde●t hea●e how the world goeth : with al the world i am not acquainted with , and therefore i know not what to say to it , but for the little part of it , the pettie place , or parish where i dwel , and some few miles aboute it , i will tel you , there is a fall of connies : for there is such a world of them euery day in the market , that except they be yoūg and fat , there is little mony bidden for them : ●ackenie iades are ●●arce worth theire meat ; and euerie house hath such a dog , that not a begger ●are come neere a door : and not a mouse at a cheese but a catte is at her heeles : maide-marion of late was got with child in her sleep , and the hobby-horse was halfe mad , that the fool should be the father of it : a great talke there is of setting vp of a newe ●auerne , but tobacco is the thing that will vent the old sack : there is spoken so much gibb●ng , that wee haue almoste forgot our mother tongue : for euery boy in our schoole hath latine at his fing●s ends ▪ marrie t is in a book , for all his wit is in his copie for in capite he hath little : our free school is n●w painted with wisdome ouer the gate : for within , excepte some vnhappie wag , there is no more wit then is necessarie : uowe for other newes i will tel you , wet weather frights vs with a hard har●est , and vsurers are halfe mad , for lack of v●terance of theire monie : lawe was neuer more in vse , nor men more out of monie : & for woemen they are strange creatures , for some of them haue three faces : and so fine in proud paces , that if they carry it as they doe , they wil put manie men out of countenance : for other ordinarie matters , they are as you lefte them , a pot of ale to worth a pennie , a bawd will haue braue cloathes , the man in the moone is aboue the cloudes , and the knaue of clubbes will stil make one in the stocke : other things there are , that i am shortly to acquaint you with : in the meane time write vnto me how thou doest , and how the minde blows on your side , and so sorrie i haue no good thing to send thee , with the loue of my heart i commit thee to the almighty , thine to the end . m.r. an answere . thou mad villain , what hath walke aboute thy braines , to put thy wits in such atemper ? a tale of a tubbe , and the bottome out : well , to quite your kindnes , you shall knowe somewhat of our world . so it is , that the foxe hath made a hand with most of our fat geese , the woolfe meetes with our lambes before they can welgoe from the damme , and the water-rat hath so spoiled our sish-pools ▪ that if hee had not beene caught with a trap , we might haue gone to y e sea for a red herring : our ba●●●ffes bul runnes through all the rie in our parish , and the tanners dogge hath worried a wild sow . the bail●ffe of our hundreth takes vpon him like a iustice , & since the newe alehouse was set vp , the co●stable is much troubled : but though oates be rank , and rye bee ripe , wheat is but thinne , and barlie short , good fellowship goes down the wind , and yet wenches are righte bred , our piper is falne sicke of an ale surfet , and olde ●uddle got a blowe at midnighte , that makes him straddle all day : parnell shall haue her sweet heart , in spight of tom. tinker , and there is w●ndring in the towne , that thou art not in the gaole before the sessions : but be thou of● good chear , there is time enough for a good turne , and come when thou wilt , thou shalte make thine owne welcome . oh mad staue , let me be merry w t thee a little , for thou knowest i loue thee : thy gransire is going to his graue , and hath bequeathed thee , a knaues portion : the bel hath gone for him , but so soon as he is past , i wil sēd thee word in post , that for griefe of his death thou maist drinke to all christen soules , thy sister is where she was , and sweares thou arte honester then thy father . i will say no more , but thou haste friends that thou knowest not , and therefore come when thou wilt , we will haue a health ere we part : and so in hast farewell . thine to the proofe : r. s. to a young man going to trauell beyond the sea. good cousen , i finde by your last letter , your present intent to trauell , i pray god it fall out for your good ▪ for though in respect of your yeares , your bodie bee in good state to indure some hardnesse , yet there is difference in the natures of countries , both in the ayr , and the diet : but aboue these things , there are many things to be observed , that negligently regarded , may be greatlie to your hurt : as first , for your religion , haue a great care that your eies lead not your heart after the horror of idolatry , serue god sincerely , not fondlie : not in shewe , but in truth of zeale : and for all your comfort in all your course ▪ that you trust in him and none else : now secondlie , for your carkasse , take heed of too much following the feminine set and praie for continencie , it is a blessed vertue : i speake not this , for the common or base sort , for i hope your spirit is too high to stoupe to such game , but as the sirenes , whose faces are bewitching obiects , and whose voices , as inchanting musique if these be in the waie of your eare or your eye , hast you from them , least too late you find it too true , that you will hardly scape drowning when you are ouer head and eares : such weeds will hang on your heeles , as will so hinder youre swimming y t you will hardly ouercome it in health , if you hap to scape with your life : furthermore , if you meete with some chast penilasse whose beautie walks e●ē with her vertue : let not a chast eie in her , beget an vnchast thought in you ; i speak not this in feare of anie thinge but your youth , ye● though i know you wel disposed in many waies , i doubte you are not righte in all ▪ & this being a thing that i know moste necessarie , i thoughte in my loue to giue you●punc ; a note of : nowe for your purse , let it be priuate to your owne knowledge , least it be an occasion of your vnhappinesse , and breede you more partakers then for your profit : now for your tongue , let it follow your wit , and typpe it with truth , that it may abide al ●utch : and for your diet , let it be sparing : for better leaue with an appetite , then goe to phisick for a surfet : now for your conuersation , chuse the wise , and rather heare them , then trouble them , and against all fortunes , take patience in all your passage : so seruing god , and obseruing the word , no doubt but you shall make a benefit of your voyage , and i shall be ioyfull of your returne , and thus loath to tier you with a long tale , when i knowe in a little you wil vnderstand much : in praier for your good successe and sa●e returne , i commit you to the almighty . your affectionate kinesman and assured friend . n.b. to his friend g.t. in his time of sicknesse , and sorrow for a great misfortune . deare george , knowing the cause , though not the condition of thy sicknesse , i am bold a little to aduise thee for the better recouerie of thy health : thou knowest that there is nothing passeth neither vnder nor aboue the heauens , but either by the direction or permission of the wisedome of the almightie : ther is no day but hath his night , no elemēt but hath his contrarie , nor comfort on the earth without a cros : thou art sorry to see the cruelty of fortune , but turne thine eies to a better light , and thou shalt see it a trial of gods loue : for if nature bee accursed for sin , thou must finde it in this world or another : and the second death is worse then the first . if sicknes makē thee feel the hand of god , shall not patience make thee trie his mercy ? and health make thee know his loue ? if losses make thee poore , wert thou not beteer with patience be gods begger , then in pride the worlds king ? grieue not then at thy fortune , but liue by thy faith : ●e rather iob then a saul , for there is no spurning against so sharpe a pricke as gods purpose : i am sorry for thy sicknesse , but more for the cause , for to mourn to no end is mee●e folly , and a pi●ing sicknesse is a signe , of more passion then patience : christ suffered for thee , suffer thou for thy selfe , lay away thy too much melancholy , for sighing is womanish , and weeping is babish : be wise therfore for thy selfe , and be good to thy sefe , pluck vp thy spirits , and put thy selfe onelie vppon god , liue not like a dead man , but die like a liuing man , let not fortune be a messenger of death , nor impatience a preiudice to thy health , take thy horse and ride ouer to me , and take the time as it falls : if faire the fewer clothes : if foule , take a cloak , but deferre n●t the time , for thought pearceth apace , & for the mind there is no phisick , but patience and mirth : bring the first with thee , and the last i wil prouide for thee : til when , wishing thee once out of thy solemne celi , and to take my house for thy better comfort , till i see thee and alwaies , i rest . th●●e in all mine owne . d.r. an answere to the same . how easilie the healthfull can giue counsel to the sicke , & how hardly they can take it , i woulde i were not in case to proue , but i see patience need not bee perswaded , for where paine is , ●hee will be entertained , i know there is no re●●sting of gods power , nor muttering against it : but yet think that flesh and blood in many things hath much adoe to bear it : & though fortune be a fiction , yet it troubleth many fine wits , and the triall of patience , puts the best spirits to a hard point : neuer to haue had , is little woe to want , but to loese , hopeles of recouerie , wil sting the heart of a good mind : a sorrow is sooner taken then put off , & death is comfortable to the afflicted : fooles cannot take thought , & knaues will not : but y e honest & carefull vnderstand the plague of misery : if death be this waie ordained me , i cannot auoid it , & if hell come vnlooked for , i shal be glad of it , but i am too weak , too rude , & too full of grief to go : but if you will take the pains to make me trie the cōfort of your company , my cell shall haue some ●●ome to entertain a friende for such a need : & knowing your loue , can account no lesse ▪ i pray you therefore without further ceremonies , let mee see you very shortly , if i liue you shal knowe my kindnes , if i dye you shall find my loue , so drawing towards a feuers fit , i am forced thus to conclude : in the spight of fortune , in the grace of god i wil digest what i can , & praie for patience for the rest , & so hoping speedilie to see you , till then and alwaies i rest . in sicknes and in health , thine vvhat mine , r.h. an yonger brother to his elder , falne vnhappilie on a little wealth , and suddenly growne fondly proud . good brother , as i am glad to heare of your health , so am i sorrie to heare of your ill cariage , it is tolde me by them that i can beleeue , y t your wealth which should make you gracious , makes you in a manner odious : why , it is wonderful that you can so suddenly metamorphose your mind frō wit to folly : it grieueth me to hear● your description of almost as ma●y as know you , it is saide you looke ouer the moone , walk as vpon stilts , speak as it were for charitie , and with a swelling conceite of your wealth , make your face like one of the foure windes : in your apparrell you are womannish , your ruffes set so in print , your bearde so starched , and your countenāce so set , that you are rather meet for a prologue before a comedy , then to giue example of ciuilitie : formalitie is a kinde of follie , when hee that walkes vpright like a rabbot , is like a boye that should saie grace : they saie you are seldome without a flower in your mouth , i would it were fitlie perfumed , to the desert of your follie : you weare your cloak alwaies abroad , that one may see your silken outside : and your garters beneath your knee are ready to weep for a rose : all these notes are taken of you , and with all , that to mainetain this pride you are as couetous as the deuill : for ▪ as i here , you are both an usurer and a broker : and haue more cunning tricks in your trade , then an honest heart coulde awaie withall : truly this is not wel : for your estate needs it not , your education doth teach it , let me therefore intreat you , to turn a new leafe : sing a newe song : be curteous , but not couetous : kind , but not proude : and haue a conscience in all your courses : for there must be an ende of all your matters ; and repentance wil be the best paiment of your ill taken accounts : beleeue it , for you shall finde it at last , i wish not too late : and so , out of the sincere loue of a true hart that holdes you as deere as his own life , rather desirous to tel you , what i find amisse in you , then to sooth you in what i finde grieuous in you , to his grace that maye amend you , with my praier for you , i leaue you . your true louing brother . r. b. to a faire proud t●t . faire mistresse , why should you turne that to a curse , which was giuen you for a blessing ? i meane your beautie , which should haue made you gracious , but hath filled you so full of pride , that you marre your colour with an ill countenance , and when you speak , you counterfaite such a kind of lisping , that you cannot bring out a wise word : your bodies are made so straight , and your fardingale so great , that in steed of a woman , you make an antick of your selfe : i am plaine , but tell you troath , i think you are best in your quoiting coat : for your tricking and your tyring takes awaie all your proportion : so that the painter and the tasler , haue put nature out of countenance : but since it is the fashion , for fools to weare a cockes-combe , let them weare feathers that list , i will not blow them awaie : but as a good friend let mee tell you , that tel you but for your good , be honest and be hangd'e , and let knauery goe to the diuel : stand unt leering in your door , nor deuise lies to make fooles , nor vse tricks to pick pockets , for in the end all will bee naught : for the poxe , or the gallowes , or the diuel , will be the reward of plaine leacherie , if in the waie you scape beggery : and therefore follow my counsaile , giue ouer betimes , before it giue ouer you : and since i haue turned my coate , turn your olde gowne , and we will ioie together , to goe both in a liuery : for say the word , and i am for thee : and so til i hear from thee , i commend me to thee . thine if thou vvilt , d.h. her answere . you wicked villaine , haste thou plaide the iewe so long , that thou art weary of thy selfe ? and now comest to mee for a companion ? soft snatch , your tricke is an ace out , and of all the cardes i loue not a knaue : my beautie is not for bleere eyes , nor shall pretended honestie cheat my follie : hast thou had three occupatiōs , and none thriue ? a pedler ? a parasite ? and a pander ? and now wouldest bee a cony-catcher ? syr , i haue no game for your ferit : and therfore hunt further : now for my leers and my lookes , and my tricks and my toyes ▪ if they fitte not your humour , i am not for you : but for the pore , and the gallows , and the diuell and the ale house , keep you from them and i will keepe mee from you : and if i thoughte i mighte trust thee , i could put thee into fooles paradice : but if thou art not afraid of sparrow blasting , come home and take a birdes-nest : which if it be better then a woodcock , thank the heauens for thy good fortune , and mee for my good will ; and so till i see thy liuerie , i leaue thee to thy selfe . thine , if i like . m.t. a kinde sister , to her louing brother . my deere brother , as you knowe our loue began almoste in our cradles , so i praie you let it continue to our graues , i haue had a bad husbande , and you no good wife , and yet with patience wee haue liued to see the straunge chaunges of times : but wee muste one daie walke after our friendes , and therefore in the mean time , let us make muche one of another : write vnto mee , howe you doe in bodie and minde , and when i shall bee so happie as to enioie youre good companie : for being alone , you may bee as a husbande and a brother to controll my seruants , and comforte my selfe : beleeue me , i long to see you : and in the meane time to heare from you , and therefore i praye you let no messenger passe without some fewe lines of your kinde loue , which are as deare to me as my life , this i praie you let me not fail off . and so with my heartie commendations and most ●inde loue , in my dailie praiers for thy health , i leaue thee to the almightie . thy very louing sister . a.n. his answere . sweete sister , i haue receiued your kinde letter , for which i returne you manie kinde thankes : my bodie i thanke god is in good healthe , but my mind somewhat out of temper , for i see three thinges that doe muche grieue mee , a foole riche , a wise man wicked , and an honest man poore for the firste , either prodigallie waste himselfe , or like a dogge in a benchehole , hoords vp his mon●e hee knowes not for whome : the second turnes witte to an euil course , that mighte compasse better matter : and the thirde , liues in griefe , that he cannot shewe the vertue of his condition . but , when i consider againe , that heere is no paradise , the aungells liue in heauen , and hell is too neere vnto the earthe , i am glad i can fall to praier , to shunne the trappes of the deceiptfull : and since i cannot goe from the course of fates , to take my fortune as patientlie as i can . you saie well , wee haue liued to see much , and yet must die when wee haue seene all : you are tidde of a trouble , and i well freed of a tormente : yet are there crosses enough , to trie the care of a good conscience : in which i doubte not youre wisedome , nor shall you of my will : but as patience is the salue of miserie , so is loue the ioye of nature : in which as wee are neerelie lincked , so let v● liue vnseparable : shortlie i hope to see you , and til then , and euer will loue you : the lorde of heauen blesse you , and in his good mercy keep you : so with my harts loue to you , to the lords tuition , i leaue you , your verie louing brtother , e. b. a young man to his first loue. sweete loue , since first i sawe you , i haue seene none like you , nor like anie , but onely you : my reason is drawne out of manie grounds , and all in your graces , for firste , youre beautie beeing such as exceedeth my commendation , your wit too high for my reason to reach , and youre demeanure so discreete , as driues mee onelie to woonder : beleeue my affection , to be vntouched with vntruthe , and requi●e my loue , with some token of your good liking : for beeing the firste starre that hath made me study astronomy , let me not liue in the clouds of your discomforte : least in a mist of misery , i fal to the lowest of fortune ; leauing therefore my life to your fauour , or my death to your frowne , i rest restlesse , til i may rest . yours onelie , and all . t. p her answere . if your heart were in your eyes , and your wordes were all truth , i should beleeue a strange tale of the great force of fāsie , but i must entreat your pardon to pawse vpon my iudgement of your opinion : i would i were as you writ me , though i did not requite you as you wish me : for though i would not be vnkinde , yet wil i not be vncarefull . astronomie is too high a studie for my capacitie , & the clouds are fittest dwellings for them that are so high minded , that the earth cannot hold thē : in briefe therefore , build no castles in the aire , least they happen to fall on your neck : distrust not your fortune where your affectiō is faithful , nor put your life to loues passion , least it trie your patience too much : howsoeuer it be , carry reason in al your courses , and your care will haue the more comfort : to which , i wishe you as much hope as a true hearte may deserue , and so not knowing your rest , wil trouble you no further , but rest as i haue reason . yours in good vvill . a.m. a trauailer beyond the sea , to his wife in england . deare wife , the miserie of my fortune is more then can eastlie be borne , and yet the most of grief is to be absent from thee , and my little ones : but as a denne to her chickens , be kind to them till i see thee , and praie for my successe as i do for thy health : from manie daungers , god hath deliuered me : and i hope wil after many storms , send mee a faire daie to doe me good , and a faire winde to bring me home : in the mean time i will haue patience , and entreat thee the like , for loue so long setled i know cannot loose his nature : and therefore not doubting thy constancie , i commend me to thy kindnesse kisse my babes for me , and kindly receiue for thy selfe and them such tokens as by this bearer i send thee , for thee and them : & thus hoping of thy health , as my hearts greatest happinesse in this world , in prayer for the same , and thee , and thine euermore , i rest : amsterdam , this . of august . . thy deare louing husband . t.m. sweet hart , let mee entreat thee to be as merry as thou cāst in spight of fortune and all her furie : for if thou hast but life to bring home , yet loue shal bid thee welcome , my praier and thy little ones is dailie for thee , we al long to see thee , & think it long to be so long without thee , but knowing thy intente for our good , we will haue patience til thy comming , and praye for the speed of it , with good successe of thy trauail : the posts hast is great and therefore i muste end , for thy kinde letters and tokens i thanke thee so mewhat by this bearer i haue sent thee , my notes in my letter , wil tel you what , with my hearts loue , which can holde nothing from you , but auoweth al i am and haue , readie for you : so with my babes kisses and my owne , in prayer for thy health and hearts-ease i commit thee to the almighty , london , this , of september , . thy verie louing wife . e.a. to his friend that was in loue , honest vvilkin , i cannot but mourne for thee , to see thee in such a taking , as i thought neuer to haue takē thee in . i heare sait thou art in loue , is it possible to be true , that the spirite of error could euer haue taken such possession of thy wit , to make a saint of an idoll , and loose thy selfe in a maze ? why ? first , the thinge loue , is another worlde then this , and hath little businesse with such creatures as thou keepest too : i am sorrie to heare how thou windest thy selfe , into such a net , that thou canst no waie get loose : fit vpon folly , leaue thy fāsy , least thou be sorry too late , & then no mā wil pitty there : what● haue both eies , and bee stark blinde ? ears , and hast hearde nothing ? a nose , and can smell nothing ? a witte and can perceiue nothing ? and a heart that can feele nothing , to put thee frō this new-nothing , which thou hast met with , called loue ? why ? let me tell thee what it is : simplie , i cannot tell thee : but what are the qualities of it , as i haue heard and read of it , i wil deliuer thee : it will cuckold age , and befoole youth : betray beautie , and wast wealth : dishonor vertue , and worke villanie : this kind of loue i meane , that makes thee dance trenchmore without a pipe : it will not let one sleepe , nor eat , nor drink , nor stād , nor sit in quiet : it will teach a foole to flatter , a knaue to lye , a wench to dance , and a scholler to be a poet , before he can hitte the right way of a kind verse , it will make a souldiour lazie , a courtier wanton , a lawyeridle , a merchant poore , and a poore man a begger : it will make a wise man a fool , and a fool quite out of his wits : it will make a man womanish , and a woman , apish : to be short , there is so much ill to be said of it , that he is happy who hath not to doe with it . if therefore thou be not too farre gone , come back againe , if thou ca●st lea●e thy studie , laie awaie thy booke , and think of other matter , thē the mouth of venus , least mars bee angry , or vulcan play the villane , when cupid shall be whipt for shooting awaie of his arrowes : in fine , giue ouer thy humor , for it is no bettter thē a fansie : and liue with me but a daie , & thou wilt bee in hate with it all night : for the desire is fleshly , and the delight is filthy : the sute is costlie , and the fruit of it but folly : leaue beauty to the painter , to helpe him in his arte : wit to the scholler , to helpe the weaknesse of his memorie , and welth to the merchant , to encrease his stock : cases to the lawyer , to helpe his pleading , honour to the souldier , to put forth his valour : and so let thy mistris be deuided among them , and when they are all together by the eares , come thou awaie to mee , and liue with me : and credit mee , thou wilte in the end thanke me● , for dealing thus truelie and plainlie with thee , in the meane time ; let me heare from thee , what i shall hope of thee : for as thou knowest , i loue thee , so in my loue haue i written to thee , what i knowe is good for thee , and what i wishe maye doe good with thee . and thus till i see thee , in heartie praier for thee , and like commendations to thee , to the lord of heauen i leaue thee . thine as thou knowest . l.e. her answere . good goose eate no more haye : what a noise haste thou made with keaking at nothing ? thou hast heard , thou knowest not what , and talkest thou knowest not howe : take a woodcocke in a spring , and touch not me with these termes : now for thy mourning , let it be for the losse of thy wit , for i haue no feare of had i wist : loue ( quoth he ) yes , neuer knew what it is , and yet speake so much of it : either you wrong it or your selfe , that you no better vnderstand it : for let me tell you , you are mistaken in it : it is the light of beautie , the blis of nature , the honour of reason , and the ioie of time : the cōfort of age , and the life of youth : it is the tongue of truth , the staye of wit , and the rule of vnderstanding : it is the bridle of wil , & the grace of sence : it makes a man kinde , and a woman constant : and while fools and apes , play bo-peep for a pudding , louers haue a life , that they would not leaue for a mountaine . now for mars and venus , they are studies for schole boyes , and hee that feareth vulcan , let him be whipt for cupid . to bee shorte , thou art strangelie out of tune , to write me such a peece of musique : for were i but in the waie , shal i turne back to thy whistle ? no , thou knowest not what it is , and therefore talk no more of it : for hadst thou but once kindly had a tast of it , thou wouldst die ere thou wouldst leaue it : beleeue it , i know it , and therfore for thy derision of my mistrisse , i wil take it as a dream , and be sorry , that awake thou hadst no more witte then to write it : but let all vnkindnesse passe , it may bee i wil shortly see thee : and then make thee glad to yeeld to me , that thou art in a foule error to wish me leaue my loue , to liue with thee ; but since i know thy kindnes , i will beare with thy weaknesse , and in the faith of an old friend , hearken to thee in an other matter : & so wishing thee no more to enuy so much against a matter of so excellent vertue , i will leaue thee for this time , and rest alwaies , thine as mine ovvne , r.p. to his onelie and all beloued , e. s. truelie sweet heart , i am so out of order with my selfe , with the extreamity of loue that i beare you , that my hart is euen at my mouth , to say sweet hart , when i think on you : and if i but hear your name , it makes me start as though i should see you , and when i looke on my handkerchiffe that you wrought me , i thank you , with couentry blew : oh how i lift vp mine eies to heauen , and saie to my selfe , oh there is a wench in the world : well goe to , but when ● see my iet ring that you sent me by your brother will , i doe so kisse it , as if you were euen within it . oh nell , t is not to be s●oken , y e affection that i beare thee : why i fereted all night for the rabbot i sent ●h●e , and haue been in the wood all day , to seek a fine birds nest for ●hee : my mother is m●king of a cheese-cake , and she hath promis●d ●t me for thee ; well , beleeue me ? loue thee , and my 〈◊〉 shooes come home on saterday , ●le see thee on sunda●e and we will drinke togeth●r that 's once , ●or indeede i to loue thee : why my heart is neuer from thee , for ouer and besides that . i think on thee al daie , i ●oe so dream on thee al night , that our folkes say in my sleep , i call thee sweee hart , & when i am awake and remember my dreame , i sigh and say nothing , but i would i wotte what , but t is no matter , it shall bee ▪ and that sooner then some thinke : for though the old trust my father , and olde ●ramme my mother will not come out with their crownes , i care not , i am all theire sonnes , and therefore i shall haue all the land● , and therefore hauing a good farme , wee shal make shifte for mony : and therefore sweet hart , for so i well dare call thee , i pray thee bee of good cheere : wash thy face , and put on the glou●s that i gaue thee : for we are full askte next sonday , & the sonday after you knowe what : for i haue your fathers good will , and you haue my mothers : and therefore : if buckle and thonge holde , we will load our packes together : i would haue said somewhat else to you , but it was out of my heade , and our schoolmaister was so busie with his boyes , that hee woulde scarce write thus much for mee . but farewell , and remember sonday . thine ovvne , from all the vvorlde . t. p. to her hearte of golde , and best beloued . nowne loue , and kinde soule , i thank thee for thy sweete letter , a thousand times , i warrant thee it hath bene reade , and reade ouer againe , oftner then i haue fingers and toes : euery nighte , i gette vp our man into my chamber , and there by my beddes side he sittes and reads it to mee : still , still , til i am almoste asl●epe , but when hee reades , so often sweet heart , and i loue thee , oh saie i , you doe lie , and hee sweares no : and then i saye , i thanke you t●● , no loue loste : for i am no changeling : and when hee comes to dream and wake , and wish , i will not tell you what i thinke yet , but one daye i will tell you more : in the meane time , bee content , and trust mee i haue a band in hand for thee , that shall be done afore the time : and let our friendes doe theire willes , we will not hang after theire humors : no , i am thine , and thou art mine , and that not for a daie , but for euer and euer : my mother hath stolne a whole peck of flower for a bryde-cake , and our man hath sworne , hee will steale mee a braue rose-marie bush : i haue spoken for ●le , that will make a catte speake : and the youth of our parish haue sworne to bring the blind fidler : well bee of good cheere , on sondaye i will bee at church , and if there bee any dauncing , i hope to haue about with you . and til then , and the sondaie after , and euery daie after that , god bee with you . written by our man , at my beddes side at midnighte , when the folkes were all asleepe . your true louing in heart , till death vs depart . e. s. an angry letter , by a young louer in the countrie , to his loue. m. n , margerie , the truth is , you doe not vse me well : what doe i get by you to loose my daies worke , and sit on a stile blowing my fingers in the colde , in hope to meete you a milking , and you send an other in your roome , and goe to market an other waie : well , if i bee not your sweete hearte , much good doe you with your choice : i hope my fathers sonne is worthie of your mothers daughter ; your pricking in a cloute is not so good as a plough : and for your portion , i can haue your betters : but t is no matter , hee is curste in his cradle , that trustes anie of your wordes , and therefore since t is as t is , let it be as t wil : i will not put at my hearte , that you hang at your heeles . well to be short , take it for a wa●●ing , for i am angrie : if you serue mee sō againe , you shall serue me so no more , that is once : and therefore either bee , as you shoulde bee , or bée as you list , for i will not disgeste more then i can , that is the truth : other folke see it as well as i , what a foole you make of mee , but t is no matter , i maye liue to be meete with you : but yet , if you will giue ouer your gadding , and bee rulde by your friendes counsaile , i can bee contente to forget al that is past , and to be as good friends as ere we were . and so hoping to heare better of you , then some folkes thinke of you , meaning to bee at your towne , the next market daye , if you will meet me at the rose , we will haue a cake , and a cup of ale , and maye happe bee merrie ere wee parte : and so farewell . your friend , as you vse mee ▪ b. d. barnaby , you are much too bl●me to fal out with your selfe , for wante of better companie : if you bee angrie , turne the buckle of youre girdle behinde you : for i knowe no bodie is in loue with you . what 's heere to doe with my fathers horse and youre mothers mare ? why , i wonder what you ayle , is the moone in the eclipse , that you are so out of temper ? nowe truth , t is pittie a foole cannot haue a little witte , but hee will spende it all in a fewe wordes : alas the daye , it will bee nighte by and by , and if you bee so peeuish to put pepper in the nose , if you canne s●●ese both waies , you are in no danger of death . well , to bee plaine , care for your selfe if you will : for in truth , i will take no charge of you : for if you will holde on your course , you maie walke whither you will , and no bodie looke after you : for my selfe , i will forgette your name , and proper person , i hope there is none so madde as to be in loue withall . in conclusion , come not to mee till i sende for you , nor look after mee , till i bidde you , i will drinke no bottle ale with such a bottle nose , nor desire to come to market to meete such a companion : and so glad to haue this occasion to try your patience , the foreman of fooles be your woodcocke father , and teach you better howe to vse your witte if you haue any : and so in as little loue as i can , sauing my charitie : in hartie good will , i leaue you as i found you : and so rest , your f●iend as you see , m. a. to her more friendly , then beleeued faithfull , m. tho. ievvell . a bitter sweete is like a phisicall potion , if i be so to your thoughts , i hope i shall purge your head of ill humours : and then faming fancie , that would deceiue plaine simplicitie , will abuse neither of vs : and if your flatterie were not grosse in my complexion , i should haue no suspect of your condition : with how farre it is from your protested truth , i leaue to the secret confession of your little affection : wordes followe thoughts at the heeles , and thoughts keepe the head ▪ not the heart : where the brains a little troubled , it puts the wit much out of temper : and therefore wishing you to leaue honoure to the noble , and seruice to the wealthy , giue me leaue to like of equality , and to settle my affection in discretion : which hating to disgrace the wel deseruing , cannot but dayly fauour y ● faithful : distrust is a kind of iealousie : which if i could loue , i should perhaps be acquainted with : but solitarinesse b●ing so sweete a life , why should i seek my hurt in a worse course : yet am i not borne for my selfe , and therefore will harken to reason , and yet no further then to know the worth of a iewei before i pay too deare for the wearing of it : and therefore let this suffice you , that no heauen being in this wo●lde , take heede of a ●ell of your owne makin● : and putting awaie the cloudes of idle humors , looke into the height of that loue , that by the direction of vertue , may bring you to honour : to which , if my helpe may auaile . i wil say amen to such prayers , as may bee made in a good mind : in which , hoping you will labour to rest in , i leaue you to your best rest : and so rest , your friend , as farre as i may not be mine ovvne enemie . s. p. finis . religions love in wisedomes worth, the truest beauty, best sets forth... [microform] [by] ni. br. ; simon passæus sculpsit, l. breton, nicholas, ?- ? approx. kb of xml-encoded text transcribed from -bit group-iv tiff page image. text creation partnership, ann arbor, mi ; oxford (uk) : - (eebo-tcp phase ). a stc . estc s ocm this keyboarded and encoded edition of the work described above is co-owned by the institutions providing financial support to the early english books online text creation partnership. this phase i text is available for reuse, according to the terms of creative commons . universal . the text can be copied, modified, distributed and performed, even for commercial purposes, all without asking permission. early english books online. (eebo-tcp ; phase , no. a ) transcribed from: (early english books online ; image set ) images scanned from microfilm: (early english books, - ; : ) religions love in wisedomes worth, the truest beauty, best sets forth... [microform] [by] ni. br. ; simon passæus sculpsit, l. breton, nicholas, ?- ? sheet ([ ] p.). are to be sould in popes head ally by ioh. sudbury & geo. humble, [london] : [ ] date of publication from stc ( nd ed.). title from first two lines of six-line poem beneath engr. port. of lucy russell, countess of bedford. reproduction of original in: harvard university. library. created by converting tcp files to tei p using tcp tei.xsl, tei @ oxford. re-processed by university of nebraska-lincoln and northwestern, with changes to facilitate morpho-syntactic tagging. gap elements of known extent have been transformed into placeholder characters or elements to simplify the filling in of gaps by user contributors. eebo-tcp is a partnership between the universities of michigan and oxford and the publisher proquest to create accurately transcribed and encoded texts based on the image sets published by proquest via their early english books online (eebo) database (http://eebo.chadwyck.com). the general aim of eebo-tcp is to encode one copy (usually the first edition) of every monographic english-language title published between and available in eebo. eebo-tcp aimed to produce large quantities of textual data within the usual project restraints of time and funding, and therefore chose to create diplomatic transcriptions (as opposed to critical editions) with light-touch, mainly structural encoding based on the text encoding initiative (http://www.tei-c.org). the eebo-tcp project was divided into two phases. the , texts created during phase of the project have been released into the public domain as of january . anyone can now take and use these texts for their own purposes, but we respectfully request that due credit and attribution is given to their original source. users should be aware of the process of creating the tcp texts, and therefore of any assumptions that can be made about the data. text selection was based on the new cambridge bibliography of english literature (ncbel). if an author (or for an anonymous work, the title) appears in ncbel, then their works are eligible for inclusion. selection was intended to range over a wide variety of subject areas, to reflect the true nature of the print record of the period. in general, first editions of a works in english were prioritized, although there are a number of works in other languages, notably latin and welsh, included and sometimes a second or later edition of a work was chosen if there was a compelling reason to do so. image sets were sent to external keying companies for transcription and basic encoding. quality assurance was then carried out by editorial teams in oxford and michigan. % (or pages, whichever is the greater) of each text was proofread for accuracy and those which did not meet qa standards were returned to the keyers to be redone. after proofreading, the encoding was enhanced and/or corrected and characters marked as illegible were corrected where possible up to a limit of instances per text. any remaining illegibles were encoded as <gap>s. understanding these processes should make clear that, while the overall quality of tcp data is very good, some errors will remain and some readable characters will be marked as illegible. users should bear in mind that in all likelihood such instances will never have been looked at by a tcp editor. the texts were encoded and linked to page images in accordance with level of the tei in libraries guidelines. copies of the texts have been issued variously as sgml (tcp schema; ascii text with mnemonic sdata character entities); displayable xml (tcp schema; characters represented either as utf- unicode or text strings within braces); or lossless xml (tei p , characters represented either as utf- unicode or tei g elements). keying and markup guidelines are available at the text creation partnership web site . eng bedford, lucy russell, -- countess of, d. . broadsides -- london (england) -- th century. - tcp assigned for keying and markup - spi global keyed and coded from proquest page images - john pas sampled and proofread - john pas text and markup reviewed and edited - pfs batch review (qc) and xml conversion portrait of lucy russell, countess of bedford nobilissima & prudent do●… lucia harin●… com bedfordi religions love , in wisedomes worth , the truest beauty , best setts forth : judicious witt , with learnings love , a gratious spirit , best approve . all these in one , this shadowe , showes what honor , with the substance goes . ni br. simon passaeus sculpsit , l. are to be sould in popes head ally by ioh sudbury & geo humble crossing of proverbs the second part. with, certaine briefe questions and answeres. by b.n. gent. crossing of proverbs. part breton, nicholas, ?- ? approx. kb of xml-encoded text transcribed from -bit group-iv tiff page images. text creation partnership, ann arbor, mi ; oxford (uk) : - (eebo-tcp phase ). a stc estc s this keyboarded and encoded edition of the work described above is co-owned by the institutions providing financial support to the early english books online text creation partnership. this phase i text is available for reuse, according to the terms of creative commons . universal . the text can be copied, modified, distributed and performed, even for commercial purposes, all without asking permission. early english books online. (eebo-tcp ; phase , no. a ) transcribed from: (early english books online ; image set ) images scanned from microfilm: (early english books, - ; : ) crossing of proverbs the second part. with, certaine briefe questions and answeres. by b.n. gent. crossing of proverbs. part breton, nicholas, ?- ? [ +] p. printed [by g. eld] for iohn wright, and are to be solde at his shop without newgate, at the signe of the bible, at london : . b.n. = nicholas breton. printer's name from stc. "certaine briefe questions and answeres" has caption title. signatures: a b⁶. some print show-through. reproduction of the original in the british library. created by converting tcp files to tei p using tcp tei.xsl, tei @ oxford. re-processed by university of nebraska-lincoln and northwestern, with changes to facilitate morpho-syntactic tagging. gap elements of known extent have been transformed into placeholder characters or elements to simplify the filling in of gaps by user contributors. eebo-tcp is a partnership between the universities of michigan and oxford and the publisher proquest to create accurately transcribed and encoded texts based on the image sets published by proquest via their early english books online (eebo) database (http://eebo.chadwyck.com). the general aim of eebo-tcp is to encode one copy (usually the first edition) of every monographic english-language title published between and available in eebo. eebo-tcp aimed to produce large quantities of textual data within the usual project restraints of time and funding, and therefore chose to create diplomatic transcriptions (as opposed to critical editions) with light-touch, mainly structural encoding based on the text encoding initiative (http://www.tei-c.org). the eebo-tcp project was divided into two phases. the , texts created during phase of the project have been released into the public domain as of january . anyone can now take and use these texts for their own purposes, but we respectfully request that due credit and attribution is given to their original source. users should be aware of the process of creating the tcp texts, and therefore of any assumptions that can be made about the data. text selection was based on the new cambridge bibliography of english literature (ncbel). if an author (or for an anonymous work, the title) appears in ncbel, then their works are eligible for inclusion. selection was intended to range over a wide variety of subject areas, to reflect the true nature of the print record of the period. in general, first editions of a works in english were prioritized, although there are a number of works in other languages, notably latin and welsh, included and sometimes a second or later edition of a work was chosen if there was a compelling reason to do so. image sets were sent to external keying companies for transcription and basic encoding. quality assurance was then carried out by editorial teams in oxford and michigan. % (or pages, whichever is the greater) of each text was proofread for accuracy and those which did not meet qa standards were returned to the keyers to be redone. after proofreading, the encoding was enhanced and/or corrected and characters marked as illegible were corrected where possible up to a limit of instances per text. any remaining illegibles were encoded as <gap>s. understanding these processes should make clear that, while the overall quality of tcp data is very good, some errors will remain and some readable characters will be marked as illegible. users should bear in mind that in all likelihood such instances will never have been looked at by a tcp editor. the texts were encoded and linked to page images in accordance with level of the tei in libraries guidelines. copies of the texts have been issued variously as sgml (tcp schema; ascii text with mnemonic sdata character entities); displayable xml (tcp schema; characters represented either as utf- unicode or text strings within braces); or lossless xml (tei p , characters represented either as utf- unicode or tei g elements). keying and markup guidelines are available at the text creation partnership web site . eng proverbs, english -- early works to . - tcp assigned for keying and markup - aptara keyed and coded from proquest page images - mona logarbo sampled and proofread - mona logarbo text and markup reviewed and edited - pfs batch review (qc) and xml conversion crossing of proverbs . the second part . with , certaine briefe questions and answeres . by b. n. gent. at london , printed for iohn wright , and are to be solde at his shop without newgate , at the signe of the bible . . the second part , of crossing of prouerbs prouerbs . every trades-man knowes his owne ware . cros. not if his female deceiue him . p. more hast the worse speed . c. not in the hast , but lacke of heede . p. hee that hath his eyes in his head wil looke about him . c. not so , he may be blindfolded and then he cannot . p. wanton kisses are the keyes of finne . c. not except the diuell keep the lockes . p. warre is the greatest dispoyling of a kingdome . c. not so , a plague if it continue , may be greater . p. giue , gaue is a good fellow . c. not so , hee is a churle that hath no charity . p. loue is the peace of the senses . c. not where it is ioined with ielousie . p. witty women are sweet companions . cros. not , but when they are pleased , or else they are froward . prou. crabbed minds are pleased with nothing . c. not so , for nothing can giue no pleasure . pro. kind hearts are soonest wrong'd . c. not if they be carefull . p. there is no tree but beareth fruit . cros. yes , the sic amour . pro. high waies are lawfull for trauaylers . c. not if they meet with theeues . p. the greatest sort of fish keep the bottome . c. not so , for small eeles keepe in the mudde . p. too much of any thing is good for nothing . c. not so , what is good , is good for somthing . p. wishers and woulders , are neuer good house-holders . c. not so , a man may both wish wel and doe well . p. taking of bribes is priuate theeuery . c. not so , for then there would be many hangd . p. the teares of age are lamentable . c. not if they drop from sore eyes . p. a merry companion is a wagon in the way . c. not so for if your iourney be long you may be weary for want of carriage . p. hee is a fond fisher that angles for a frogge . cros. not so , for hee may be a baite for a better fish . p. when theeues fall out , true men come by their goods . c. not so , theeues may be hang'd , and true men ne're the better . p. all offices are places of esteeme . c. not so , not the hang-mans . p. there is nothing so sure as death . c. yes , life to the faithfull . p. newes are like fish . c. not so , for then they would stinke when they are stale . p. the mistris eye makes the capon fatt . c. not so , it is the good cramming of them . p. marriage is honourable . c. not when it is dishonoured . pro. children are the comfort of their parents . c. not if they proue vngratious . p. no trust to a drie sticke . c. yes , that it will burne well . p. a light supper makes cleane sheets . c. not so , he that is loose in the hiltes , may make worke for the launderesse . p. hasty spirits neuer want woe . c. yes , when they are pleased . p. as the life is , so is the death . c. not so , for she that liued a whore , may dye a bawde . p. neate apparell graceth a man. c. not so , a neate man graceth his apparell . p. kindnesse deserues loue . c. not if it be common . p. poore vertue liues as dead . c. not in ihe eye of honour . p. couetuousnes corrupteth wealth . c. no , a noble minde is euer it selfe . p. a faire woman is the trouble of wisdome . c. not so , shee is the treasure of a true wit. p. hasty climbers haue sodaine falls . c. not if they sit fast . p. when the belly is full , the bones would be at rest . cros. no , it is the spirit , not the bones : for they haue no power of desire . p. try , and then trust . c. not so , for he that is kind to day , may be crosse to morrow . p. whensoeuer you see your friend , trust to your selfe . c. not so , when you cannot helpe your selfe without your friend . p. there is none so faithlesse as an hereticke . c. yes , an hypocrite . p. he is a fond chap-man that comes after the fayre . c. not so , he may hap to buy better cheap in the market . p. there is a time allowed for all things . c. no , not to doe euill . p. honour is the reward of vertue . c. no , but where it is rightly giuen . p. sweet meate must haue sowere sauce . c. not so , a good stomake needs it not . p. when sunday comes , it will be holy-day . c. not with carriers , for they trauell all the weeke . p. a coward is fearefull , without hyre . c. not so , for feare it selfe is full of hurt . p. pouerty is the purgatory of reason . c. not so , it is the tryall of patience . p. he is wise that is rich . c. no , he is rich that is wise . p. no misery to imprisonment . c. yes , an vnquiet wife . p. no comfort to liberty . cros. yes , a louing wife . p. the night is the time of rest for all creatures . c. not for gamesters , that play night and day . p. learning is the labour of the braine . c. not so , it is rather of the spirit . p. nothing so necessary for trauallers as languages . c. yes , money . finis . certaine briefe questions and answeres . question . what is the best kinde of gouernment ? answere . peace . q. what is most dangerous in a kingdome ? a. ciuill warre . q. what is most troublesome in a common-wealth ? a. sectes . q. what quarrell breeds the best war ? a. religion . q. what most displeaseth god ? a. idolatry . q. which is the best trauell , that euer was ? a. towards heauen . q. who was the best king that euer was ? a. dauid , for he was chosen to gods owne heart . q who was the greatest conqueror that euer was ? a. christ iesus , for he conquered sinne , death and hell . q. who was the greatest foole that euer was ? a. adam when he had lost paradise for an apple . q. who had the greatest fall that euer was ? a. lucifer , when hee fell from heauen to hell . q. who was the best wrestler that euer was ? a. iacob , when he wrestled with the angell . q. who was the wisest queene that euer was ? a. the queene of sheba , that came to salomon for wisdome . q. who was the foolishest king that euer was ? a. pharaoh , when he opposed himselfe against god. q. who was the arrantest traytor that euer was ? a. iudas , when hee betrayed his master christ iesus . q. what is the best learning in the world ? a. truth . q. what is the greatest wealth in the world ? a. content . q. what is the greatest ioy in the world ? a. a cleere conscience . q. what is the greatest vertue in the world ? a. patience . q. what is the greatest blessing to nature ? a. health . q. vvhat is the most griefe in the world ? a. want. q. which was the stoutest woman that euer was ? a. iudith , when shee cut off holofernes head . q. which was the first mad-man that we reade of ? a. saul , when he killed himselfe . q. who was the most vnnaturall that euer was ? a. caine , when he slew his brother abel . q. when was noah layd naked ? a. when he was drunke . q. when did lot commit incest ? a. when he was drunke . q. when was sampson ouerthrowne ? a. when he was a sleepe . q. when was salomon led to idolatry ? a. when he followed strange women . q. when began the curse on the iewes ? a. when they fell to idolatry . q. what state is the most quiet ? a. the meane . q. what actions are most honorable ? a. that are honest . q. what study is most profitable ? a. the law. q. what musique is sweet ? a. the voyce . q. where is the best beeing in the world , a. where a man likes best . q. what is the hinderance of content , a. variety . q. what is the substance of all earthly , creatues ? a. vanity . q. what is the comfort of a blind man ? a. that he shall see no vanities . q. what comforteth a deafe man ? a. that he shall heare no villanies . q. and what comforteth a lame man ? a. that he shall not be sent of hastye arands . q. and what of a dumbe man ? a. that he shall not be called to question for his tongue . q. what is the comfort of age ? a. that hee hath past the perils of his youth . q. what should be the care of youth ? a. to giue honour to his age . q. why doe women weepe more then men ? a. because they cannot haue their wils to gouerne . q. what is the easiest life in the world ? a. a parasites , to feede vpon euery mans trencher . q. what life is the most laboursome ? a. study , for it spends the spirit , and weakens the body . q. who is the best companion in the world ? a. a library , where a man talkes without offence . q. and where is the worst company ? a. in a gaole , where there are few gracious . q. what is the best art in the world ? a. to gather wealth without wickednesse . q. and which is the worst art that euer was ? a. the blacke art , for it brings the student to hell. q. how doth ease breed the gout ? a. by lack of motion of the members . q. what is the best meat in the world ? a. that which agreeth best with the stomack . q. and what the best drinke ? a. that that breedes the best blood . q. and what is the best excercise ? a. the moderate . q. what ware is cheapest ? a. that which is had for thankes . q. what country is most fruitfull ? a. where there is best ground . q. when is it best to take phisicke ? a. in time of sicknes . q. when is it best to make meales ? a. when the stomacke is empty . q. what sauce is the best ? a. hunger . q. what flesh is best ? a. that which is sweet . q. what fish is the best ? a. that which is new taken . q. which is the best lesson to thriue ? a. to haue much , to spend little , and to giue nothing . q. what is a plaister for all paines ? a. patience . q. and what is a remedy for all diseases ? a. death . q. what is a misers musicke ? a. chinking of money . q. what is the honour of a man ? a. to be his words maister . q. what is the true signe of a foole : a. to be euer laughing . q. what is good for the tooth-ache : a. pull it out . q. vvhat is good for the heart-ache : a. patience . q. vvhat is good for the itch : a. scratching . q. vvhich is the worst worme in the world : a. the worme of conscience . q. vvhat is most necessary in a common wealth ? a. money . q. vvhat most vnnecessary ? a. cardes p. fortune fauours fooles . c. not so , there are fooles enow , but there is no fortune . p. woemen are like waspes in their anger . c. not so , for waspes leaue their stings , but women neuer leaue their tonges behind them . p. virgins are angel-like creatures . c. not so , for then they would not bee so proud of their beauty . p. musicke is comfortable to the care . c. not when the braine is full of businesse . p. a good huswife is a iewell . c. not if she be a scold . p. good wine makes a merry heart , c. not when the conscience is wounded . p. the neerer the church , the further from god. c. not with the religious . p. good wine needs no bush . c. yes , for trauellers that know not the house . p. drunkennesse is counted good fellowship . c. not , but among bad fellowes . p. the sunne shines through all the world , c. no , not in a close chest . p. euery bird is knowne by his feather . c. no , good-man bird hath no feathers . p. , painted creatures are dead speakers . c. not so , for then many women would be silent . p. wise men are at peace with all the world , c. not with some women , for they will neuer be quiet . p. a bird in the hand is worth two in the bush . c. not if they be fast limed . p. money is a great master in a market . c. not so , hee is a slaue to a begger . p. money is a continuall traueller in the world . c. not so , for with some hee is close prisoner . p. euery child knowes his owne father . cross. not , but as his mother tels him . p. there is no paine like the gowt . c. yes , the tooth-ach . p. euery man knowes what is best for himselfe . c. no not mad-men . p. vsurers are alwaies good husbands . c. not so , they may be badde to their wiues . p. good ware makes quick markets . c. not so , t is the money makes the speed . p. of idlenesse comes naught but ignorance . c. yes , beggery . p. oppression makes the wise man mad . c. no wise men will be are oppressions . p. there is nothing stoln without hands . c. yes , a good name with an ill tongue . p. rich men are stewards for the poore . c. not so , when the poore mens pence fill their purses . p. abuses shew the corruption of time . c. no , it is the timers . p. a louse is a beggers companion . c. not when hee is in the head of a lord. p. beauty is a naturall blessing . c. not in a painted woman . p. early vp and ne're the neere . c. yes , he may haue a better stomacke to his dinner . p. he that is warn'd is halfe arm'd . c. not so , for words make no armour . p. a shrew profitable , is good for a man reasonable . c not so , the profit may bee good , but the shrew is nought . p. two may keepe counsaile , if the third be away . c. not if a woman be one . p. hee that is wise in his owne conceite , is a foole . c. not so , for hee that is wise is no foole . pro. the euening praiseth the day . cros. not so , t is he that notes it . p. faire words pacifie wrath . c. not in dogged spirits . p. ambition endangers life . c. not so , t is the actions that followes it . p. a winde instrument giues a sweete sound . c. not in the ease of the chollick downwards . p. the swelling of the belly signifies the dropsie . c. not in women with child . p. a bagpipe makes more noyse then musicke . c. not so , for t is all musicke though not of the best . p. there is no foole to the old foole . c. yes , the young foole is a foole too as well as he . p. euery bird hatcheth her owne egges . c. not so : the sparrow hatcheth the cuckoes . p. all creatures are drowsie after venerie . c. not so , the cocke crowes when hee hath trod his hen . p. nothing is swifter then the winde . c. yes thought , that is at heauen in an instant . p. nothing is more subtill then the aire . c. yes , the diuell . p. he that handleth thornes will pricke his fingers . c. not if his gloues be good . p. there is nothing brighter then the diamond . c. yes , the sunne . p. pouerty parts good company . c. not when rich men part with enuy . p. sicknes soakes the purse . c. no , t is the patient that is soak't , not the purse . p. hee that is borne to be drownd , shall neuer be hang'd . c. yes , pirats drowne hanging at wapping . p. sicknes is the cause of death . c. not so , for many dye that are not sicke . p. a couetous man is neuer liberall . c. yes , when hee giues all away at his death . p. t is merry when gossips meet . c. not if they fall out vpon the reckoning . p. there is no fire without smoake . c. yes in a flint . p. pearles are restoratiue . c. no , not the pearle in the eye . p. religion is the rule of life . c. not to an athiest . p. the law is costly . c. no , t is the lawyer . p. a short horse is soone curried , c. not if he be very foule . p. a good horse that neuer stumbled , c. no , there is no such horse . p. hard fare makes hungry stomackes . c. not among sicke folkes . p. many handes make quicke worke . c. not among the lazy . p. a young courtier an old begger . c. not if he be thrifty . p. a good horse riddes ground apace . c. not if the way be full of holes . p. a staffe is soone found to beat a dogge withall . c. not in a plaine where there is no wood . p. no extreame will hold long . c. yes , weakenesse in a consumption . p. euery thing is as it is taken . c. not so , many things may bee taken amisse . p. a foole is euer laughing . c. not when hee is beaten , for then hee cryes . p. scoldes and infants neuer lin bawling . c. yes when they are asleepe . pro. bounce quoth the gun . cros. not so , gunnes cannot speake . pro. bate me an ase quoth bolton . cros. no , i wil not bate him an ase : wherfore should i ? p. content is a kingdome in this world . c. not so ▪ for the world giues it not . p. mony makes friendes enemies . cros. not so , it is the euill vse of it . p. neerer is my skin then my shitt . c. not where the flesh is rawe : p. nothing breakes the heart more then thought . c. yes a bullet . p. loue will goe through stone walls . c. not til there be holes in them . p. one rotten sheepe will marre a whole flocke . c. not if the shepheard looke well to them . pro. ouer shooes , ouer bootes . c. not except wil ouer runne wit. p. lawyers are temporall physicians , in helping weake clyents c. not if their apothecaries bils bring their purses into a consumption . finis . the strange fortunes of two excellent princes in their liues and loues, to their equall ladies in all titles of true honour. breton, nicholas, ?- ? approx. kb of xml-encoded text transcribed from -bit group-iv tiff page images. text creation partnership, ann arbor, mi ; oxford (uk) : - (eebo-tcp phase ). a stc estc s this keyboarded and encoded edition of the work described above is co-owned by the institutions providing financial support to the early english books online text creation partnership. this phase i text is available for reuse, according to the terms of creative commons . universal . the text can be copied, modified, distributed and performed, even for commercial purposes, all without asking permission. early english books online. (eebo-tcp ; phase , no. a ) transcribed from: (early english books online ; image set ) images scanned from microfilm: (early english books, - ; : ) the strange fortunes of two excellent princes in their liues and loues, to their equall ladies in all titles of true honour. breton, nicholas, ?- ? [ ], , [ ] p. by p. short, for nicholas ling, imprinted at london : . dedication signed: n. breton. running title reads: the historie of two princes, fantiro and penillo. i , final leaf, is blank. reproduction of the original in the bodleian library. created by converting tcp files to tei p using tcp tei.xsl, tei @ oxford. re-processed by university of nebraska-lincoln and northwestern, with changes to facilitate morpho-syntactic tagging. gap elements of known extent have been transformed into placeholder characters or elements to simplify the filling in of gaps by user contributors. eebo-tcp is a partnership between the universities of michigan and oxford and the publisher proquest to create accurately transcribed and encoded texts based on the image sets published by proquest via their early english books online (eebo) database (http://eebo.chadwyck.com). the general aim of eebo-tcp is to encode one copy (usually the first edition) of every monographic english-language title 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edited - pfs batch review (qc) and xml conversion the strange fortvnes of two excellent princes : in their liues and loues , to their equall ladies in all the titles of true honour . imprinted at london by p. short , for nicholas ling. . to the woorshipfull my verie good friend the fauourer of all good actions , and nourisher of good spirits iohn linewray esquire , clerke of the deliueries and the deliuerance of all her maiesties ordenance , and other munition as well within and out of the tower of london , as all other her highnesse stores within the realme of england , health , happines and heauen . sir , vnthankefulnesse is so neare to vnhonestie , as to auoid the touch of both , i haue been often desirous of some good meane , to deserue some one of your many receiued fauours , which loath to burie in such obl●…ion , that i should be thought vnworthie the regard of so good a minde , i haue thought good to acquaint your kindnesse with such occurrents , as haue lately come to my hands , though they bee no matter of this state , yet were they such tracts in the fortunes of two princes , as being read with that discretion , which , in your good leasure , can iudge of the labour of wit , in the honour of vertue , i doubt not but that you will fauourablie patronage this first apparant proofe of my loue , till in some better occasion of employment , you maie haue a more sufficient triall of my affection . the substance of my historie being loue , the subiects princes , the nature honorable , the aduentures dangerous , the fortunes strange , and yet the ende happy : will suffice i hope , to perswade the wittie to reade , the wise to fauour , the learned to allow , the honest to commend , and your good mind to accept of : which being no more then i desire , nor lesse then i hope of , leauing my booke to your kind patience , with my selfe to your commandement i rest . yours , very much in assurance , n. breton . to the reader . courteous reader , for so i hope to find you , or else shall i bee sorie , to haue bestowed so good a tearme vpon you : writers in these dayes haue so manie humors to censure their laboures , that it is easier to runne mad with seeking to please euery body , then to be wise with displeasing of any : but since this is nothing to that which followeth , let me tell you , that if you will kindlie reade , that is friendlie offred you , and part with a little mony , for a matter of more worth ; it maie be you shall haue more contentment , then you looke for : in briefe you shall reade of much varietie of matter , the fortunes of princes , the true honour of ladies , the vertue of loue , and the life of honor , the subtlety of a knaue , and the rewarding of a villaine : the constancie of affection , and the ioie of comfort . but i feare if i goe a little further i shall tell my storie without booke : and therefore leauing you , through a little doore , to go into a great house , hoping of your kind patience , to take al wel , that is ment no worse ; and to speake as well of my labours , as my good will would be glad to deserue , i rest your friend , n. b. the historie of two princes , fantiro and penillo . in the ilandes of balino , neere vnto the citie of dolno , there liued a great duke named firento sanelli , a great lord i saie , for that he was great both in honor and possessions : he was wise , and therfore much honored ; honorable , and therefore much beloued ; with his wealth he was full of charity , and therfore enuied of none , but the courtous : hee was valiant , and therefore feared of the wicked : but couetous , and therfore followed with the kinde : and vertuous , and therfore blessed by the highest . this lord had to wife a swéete ladie , called merilla , a creature of much worth , in the best construction of commendation ; and if a woman might be like an angell , she might be saincted for her vertues : her modestie with his grauity , her pittie with his valour , her loue with his charity , her bountie with his wealth , and her zeale with his vertue , made such a coniunction in perfections , as that vnder the heauens , there were hardlie found such creatures on the earth . this blessed lord and ladie had issue male , onelie one sonne named penillo , and female one onlie daughter named merilla : the parents of these two children , liued till they sawe them both to followe their course in the best content of their affections : penillo was of the age of foure and twentie yeares , of stature tall , ruddie of colour , well complexioned , but not too faire ; his haire not blacke , but somewhat-inclining thereto , his countenance milde , but not effeminate , his proportion in no part imperfect , & for his minde , it was of an excellent temper : he was silent , but vpon good cause , and then not to learne what to speak ; resolute , vpon good aduisement , but not rash vpon anie aduenture : he was well read in histories , and well qualified in manie points , but especiallie in the varietie of languages , wherin he exceeded maine of his fathers court : he was stated for his wit , gentle in nature , kinde with discretion , bountifull in rewards , not vaine in affection , and constant in friendship ; in somme , he was amiable among ladies , affable among courtiers , sociable among souldiers , and honorable among all : such a one , as was a ioie to his parents , a spectable to his court , a comfort to his friendes , and an honour to his country . now for his sister , as shee was excéeding faire , so was shée admirably wise , yet with such modest kindnesse , that she was so honored for the one , that she could not but bee loued for the other : for euerie part of her proportion , let it suffice , that nature shewed her arte , in leauing nothing imperfect ; for her stature not tall , nor verie low , but in a swéete meane ; her countenance sober with such a swéetnesse , as rauished the loue of much discretion ; her spéech not much ; but vttered with such gouernment , as amazed the hearers , that could iudge of the worthinesse of commendation ; her affection chiefely carried vnto vertue , and her loue knowne but vnto one , of whome dependeth a great part of my historie , as hereafter you shall heare . but i will leaue further to talke either of her , or her louer in this place : and onelie entreat of another duke , who dwelt in the ilandes of cotasie , confining vpon the aforesaid ilandes of balino . this duke had to name ordillo , a man famous for much worth as well in wit as valour : who in all his warres against his enemies was neuer knowne to turne his backe , but with aduantage , vpon retire , gaue ouer no assault till he had entred the strengths , nor surceased his warres till he had the honour of the field : he was at home a lambe , and abroad a lyon , where wisedome with clemencie so gouerned the nature of his disposition , that his subiectes no lesse loued him , then his enemies did honnor him : in particular , to laie downe his commendation were but tedious , and therfore in somme let it suffice that he was a prince of that worth , that made him held worthie of his gouernment . this duke had to wife a gratious ladie , whose goodnes was such in the worlde , as made her soone fit for the heauens : for such was her delight in diuine contemplations , and so little her foie in anie earthlie substance , that languishing in the worlde with longing after heauen , shee liued not manie yeares with her louing lord on the earth , but the lorde of all loue tooke her vp into the heauens : yet before her departure from this life , she had by her lorde the duke , two blessed children , a sonne and a daughter ; her sonne , named fantiro , and her daughter sinilia . the young lord , a man of excellent partes , both for bodie , and mind , whose particular perfections , would requre a volume to describe in their true kindes , but for that by a little light , mai●… the whole daie be considered , let thus much suffice , that both for valour and vertue , he might well be called the souldiers dictionarie , 〈◊〉 the courtie●…s looking glasse : and for his sister , if i coulde as briefelie set downe her excellencie , i would not thinke it the least point of eloquence ; but for all those rare perfections that maie dignifie the name of an earthlie creature , i maie saie , shee was in the honour of reason , the wonder of nature . but least in my introduction into my historie , i 〈◊〉 more tedious then pleasing , i will leaue this duke ordillo with his blessed children for a while , and i will returne to the duke firento , of the ilands of balino , and his sonne penillo , one of the most gallant gentlemen in the world . this duke firento finding his sonne of so noble a spirite , a●… could not containe his content , within the confi●…es of his fathers countrey , but that as well by his delight in the reading of histories , his forwardnesse to the warres , his conuersa●…on among strangers , and especiallie such as professed armes , noting i say his disposition 〈◊〉 to the trauailing life , that he feared he should not long keepe him at home , vpon good ●…ration , how best to aduise him either for his staie , or trauaile to his liking , finding him one daie by chance all alone walking in ●… close arbour in his garden , commanding apart all his attendantes , tooke occasion in great kindnesse thus to deale with him . penillo , what fondnesse it were in mee , to flaster thee , with thy much worthinesse of my loue , i had rather thou shouldest conceiue , then i explaine , although i re●…oice therein more of my knowledge , then i would haue thee prowd of my content : but my déere sonne , let me tell thee , that as i thinke my selfe not a little happie in my hope of thy good , as well for my priuat comfort , as the profit of my whole countrey : so , if by the indiscretion of thy disposition , or by the crueltie of fortune , crossing alwaies the course of vertue , thou shouldest not onely deceiue my hope , but destroie my happines , to the sorrow of mine age , and cutting off my daies , thinke with thy selfe my deare sonne , if it may lie in thy power to preuent the worst , and performe the best , shouldst not thou find thine owne vnkindnes , in proouing so vnnaturall , as to grieue the soule of him that deerely loueth thee , and to be an occasion of his death , who vnder heauen was the originall of thy life ? be not appauled my son , speake freely i giue thee leaue ; if thou canst imagine the cause of my speech , and as thou best likest , without the least doubt of my displeasure , i praie thee giue me thy answere . the young lorde , little expecting this kind of gréeting with his good father , and neuer vnprouided to answere the darkest demand that might be made him , especiallie from his father , in whom he could not haue anie thought of the least dislike of him , with a staied humble countenance began thus to frame his replie . my gratious lord , as i reioice not a ●…title in the greatnes of your more naturall , then deserued loue , which looking onelie into your owne goodnesse , haue builded your hope of my happines , so if i could finde in my selfe the least thought of vnthankfolnesse , whereby i might iustly purchase your harde opinion , surely , i should thinke my selfe worthy of death , that shoulde liue , to giue offence vnto the fairest comfort of my life : but , as my conscience doth assure me of no such criminall conceit , so do i protest that i doe not a little marueile what should leade you into this manner of question : for as i cannot bee vnnaturall , so will i not feare you to be vnkinde , but humbly beseech you for the better accomplishing of your content , in some plainer method to acquaint me with your good meaning . the olde man loath to mooue griefe in his sonne , whose deserued loue he was fullie assured of , and yet willing to be satisfied of his true resolution , touching his humour of trauaile , with much adoe brake into this spéech with him . penillo , i haue of late noted in thee , as well by thy studie in the languages , as by thy conuersation among strangers , and thy loue to souldiers , that the aduenture of thy fortune abroad will be more pleasing to thee , then thy best contentment at home : but if i might by the aduise of my experience , perswade thée to the care of my knowledge , i should easily make thée finde the sweete of the old prouerbe , that home is home , be it neuer so homely : the rowling stone gatheresh no mosse , & that prospereth in one ground maie perish in another . aduentures are dangerous , the seas boistrous , and the warres perilous , and great is the difference betweene strange companions , and home friendes : what canst thou sée abroad , that is not here ? the same earth , and little different in nature either for heat or cold ; the same sunne shining there that shineth here ; men and women in the same shape that thou séest here ; in their vniuersities , the same kinde of sch●…lers , in their cities , marchantes , and men of trade and traffique as we haue in ours ; in their villages , such farmers and labourers ; in their tribunall seates , such iudges ; in their warres , such men of armes ; in their court such lords and ladies , and in all places such kinde of people as in some places of our dominion , thou maiest take notice of , if thou be circumspect : what shall i saie to perswade thée rather to staie at home , then stray abroad ? thou hast a father that loues thee more déerely , then any friend can doe ; a sister , whose vertue with her beautie , deserueth an honorable fortune , and which i thinke not thy least charge in conscience to haue a care , in as much as maie lie in thee to accomplish , thy mother holdes thee so deere as her life , thy friends make a iewell of thy kindnesse , thy followers in thine honour settle the hope of their fortune , and my subiectes in thy wisdome repose the happinesse of their whole state : all this and manie more particular causes of content , thou hast here at home , likelie euery daie to encrease , where abroade , how bitter wil be thy change , i feare to thinke , should sorrowe to heare , and shall not liue to dilgeste , though perhaps such maie bee the mercifull nature of the glorous height of the heauens highest grace , as maie fauour thy disposition , prosper thy aduentures , and blesse thee in all thy actions . but as it is ill to distrust god , so is it not good to tempt him : answere me therefore truly to that i demand of thee , whether thy desire be to trauaile , or not , & what are the reasons that perswade thy resolution , howsoeuer it be , y● shalt find in me that kindnes , that the condition of thy loue deserueth . the young prince caried no lesse in obedience to the loue of his father , then willing to aduenture his fortune , to atchieue the honor of his hope , in as good tearmes as he coulde , vppon the sodaine made his father this answere . if it maie become so vnworthie a son as my selfe , to so honourable a father as your maiestie , to stand vpon argumentes of controuersie , for the direction of his course of life ; crauing pardon for what soeuer i shall speake , that maie perhaps be vnpleasing to your expectation : i will not only deliuer you the truth of my intent , but the reasons that haue induced me into the determination of my resolution . i haue heard your maiestie often saie that nature begetteth no deformitie , but rather the true image of it selfe ; and as in outwarde proportion , so do i thinke in the qualitie of the spirit , the sonne may participate with the father ; and although tha●… vertue be the gift onelie of god , yet in the inclination and disposition of the mind , the sonne maie take somewhat of the fathers spirit . for proofe whereof , i haue often heard you saie that yo●… were your fathers sonne , such was your desire to see the world , for till he was maried he had no desire to siue at home , harde fare , colde lodging , bitter stormes , sharpe 〈◊〉 in a forreine soile , or in the ocean sea , were more pleasing to him , then the most daintie banquet , the softest bed , the calmest weather ; and the sweetest peace , that either his fathers court , his own chamber , or the most pleasant paradise that his whole countrie at home could yeeld him : and such were your delightes , rather to heare a trumpet in a fielde , then a lute in ●… chamber , and to see the assault of a forte , then the dauncing of a maske . your maiestie would euer preferre a trotting courser , before an ambling lootecloth , a peale of ordinance , before a ring of belies , and a bloudie sword before a painted looking glasse : in somme , if in alsuch courses of your conceit , you followed the inclination of my grandfather , will you think it strange in me to follow the steps of your affection ? haue you not allowed my reading of histories , and how many of any account are written onelie of home actions ? haue you not wisht me to make much of strangers ? and shall i not studie languages where with to entertaine them ? i must confesse there is no friend to a father , whose loue cannot be separated from the fruit of his own body . home dwelling is full of ease , but not of honour , which is rather purchased by aduentures , then by nature inherited : friends are kind , so maie strangers be full of courtesse , and he that looketh not into the world , wanteth much wherein to glorifie the lorde god. my sisters fortune i had rather leaue to the effect of your wisedome , then my weaknes : and knowing her discretion wil nothing feare the honor of her affection . my mothers tender care of me maie be more kind then commodious , for though i will not liue but to bee in all humblenes her childe , yet mus i haue a care for my countries good not to be a babie to my 〈◊〉 : for to reade of the noble aduentures of diuerse honourable 〈◊〉 rits , what perilles they passed , what conquests they made 〈◊〉 they inriched their countries , enlarged their kingdomes . ●…nanced their followers , increased their 〈◊〉 , and left 〈◊〉 to their houses ; shall i as one dull of witte not to vnderst 〈◊〉 what i réede , or fearefull of spirit to followe the pathes of 〈◊〉 passages , not like your sonne lie still at home , and blowe 〈◊〉 banquet , dance in a chamber , or tumble in a bed , where 〈◊〉 sléepe maie dull my sences , musike maie browne my spirite , 〈◊〉 su●…feiting maie kill my stomacke : farre ●…e it from your 〈◊〉 to shew so little of his fathers nature for dangers , they are the ●…als of the valiant ; for aduentures they are the honor of the resoluto , and for labours , they are the praises of the patient , 〈◊〉 where are these at home ? no , by traua●…le is gotten knowledge , and to answeare to some points of your propositions : 〈◊〉 the same sunne shineth in one place that shineth in another , but not at one and the same time ; men and women are of the same proportion , but not of the same disposition , which is a note of great regard ; the diet , apparell , deineanour , and inclination of euerie countrie is to be deserued , and the obseruations well taken maie fall out to be commodious , so i haue heard you say , my selfe haue read , and verely beléeue : by trauaile i shall learn who are our friendes or foes , and so either to estéeme them or beware of them : my friendes that you maie spare will followe me in my course , or allowe of my content , my seruantes will attend the issue of my fortune , and my countrey i hope shall be benefited by my trauaile . i intend no long voiage , nor anie at all without your liking , but if with your leaue i might haue my desire , i must confesse i would willinglie a little set foote abroad into the world , and for that there are , as i am certainlie informed , a great number of gallant young gentlemen , shortlie intending to attend the emperour in his warres against the turke , wherein , who performeth the true parts of valour , shall returne with the badge of deserued honour , i humbly beséech you , with as little charge as it shall please you , to furnish me to this piece of seruice , from whence i am assuredly perswaded , i shall neuer returne with discontentment . now hauing reuealed vnto your maiestie both the nature of my inclination , the grounde from whence it grew , and the reasons that haue there to induced me , i leaue to your fatherly loue to consider of my dutie , and your discréete consideration , to thinke of my stay or frauaile . the good old duke , finding that the colte of a courser would hardly be brought to the harrow , a lapwing would runne as soone as it was out of the shell , & a bird of his own fether would take after his owne slight , though it could not but grieue him , to haue him far out of his sight , yet knowing the quarrell good that he went to fight in , with the emperour against the turk , and that manie princes had sent their sonnes to gaine honor in that piece of seruice , after a few words of some vnwillingnesse to want the comfort of his presence , was not only contented to like well of his desire , but promised , with his blessing to furnish him for his voiage : and so , leauing him with his father the duke , going into his pallace to perswade the duchesse patience to his departure ; i will returne to the duke ordillo of the ilandes of . cotasi , of whom when i haue tolde you what happened of his son fantiro , i will returne againe vnto the duke firento , and the young prince . but touching the duke ordillo , you shall vnderstand , that one daie in the heate of sommer intending to take his pleasure in a forrest neere vnto the sea side , and hauing a stately redde déere so long in chase , as had almost spent all his whole crie of houndes , wearie with following the crie , and knowing that the young prince his sonne was of so strong a bodie , though but a childe in years , that he would bring him the newes of the death of the déere , with a soft pace breathing his horse , with a prettie traine of his attendantes , retired himselfe to his pallace in a parke neere vnto the forrest , where i will leaue him for a while expecting the returne of his sonne , and i will tell you what became of the fruit of his expectation . the young prince sole heire male vnto his father , and so little beloued by his vncle brother to the duke , and one of his priuie counsaile , that to aduance his owne children , he cared not what became of his brothers sonne , was by a villaine that hee had hired for the purpose , trained aside from the chase , somewhat neere vnto the sea , where hauing him alone , farre enough from companie , either to heare what hee said , or to sée what hee did , drewe out his sword , and with a terrible countenance framed for the purpose , after he had made him to lightdowne from his horse , vsed this spéech vnto him : howe now young master ? you dined well , but you had no good sauce to your meate , but i must make you such a dish of sauce to your supper , th●…ir all the cookes in your fathers court neuer sawe the like : for to make short worke with you , i must see what bloud is about your hart , and i must sende it to your vncle to his venison : nowe , if you can come and beare him companie , you shall tell me if it be not worth the tasting . the young prince fantiro , hauing in his heart no little spark of his fathers spirite , séeming nothing at all dismaied at his shreates , nor as it were , making ante fearfull account of death , throwing off his cloake , and vnbuttoning his doublet , with a s●…erne countenance , made him this answere : thou saucie rascall , what art thou ? a man ? a dogge ? or a deuill ? that darest to thinke so villanous a thought , or to vtter so impious a spéech , as to murther the innocent , or to luie a violent hand vpon the least haire of my head ? am not i sonne to thy master ? and master to thy selfe ? did i euer hurt thee ? naie , haue i not béen too bountifull in my good will , vnto so vngratefull a villaine ? looke about thee , séest thou not a god in the heauens ? and knowest thou not there is a deuill in hell ? that vpon the instant of thy villanie , standes not readie to receiue thee ? oh worst of all creatures , how canst thou looke towards the heauens ? and dost not hang downe thy head , to think of the villany of thy hart ? looke thou wretched slaue , my brest is open for thee , thinke i feare not death , for i knowe i shall not liue one minute past the houre that is appointed me ; and therfore doe thy worst : and for mine viscle , god forgiue him the vnnaturall villanie that hee hath shewed in this action . the intended murtherer , not a little amazed at the spirit of so young a bodie , vnwilling to returne to the court without performance of his promise , as well for the want of his promised rewarde , as for feare of his displeasure that had set him to worke , and yet loath to embrue his handes in the bloud of so swéete a creature , replied vnto him with these wordes : my lorde , the lorde of lordes knoweth how loath i am , to fall into the lapse of the diuell by this hellish action ; and therfore as wel to saue your life from the murtherous malice of your vncle , who will neuer leaue by all deuises to séeke your-bloud , as to saue mine owne assured to be lost , if i returne without his contentment : i beséech you giue eare to what i say , and i hope it shall be for both our good . in the next hauen néere adioining , liesh a shippe readie to put to sea towardes the citie of dolno , in the ilandes of balino , the merchant that hath fraight and victualed her is one mario duronte , a friend of mine , to whom i will put you as my sonne , entreating him to carrie you shither , and there to leaue you either-with some courtier or merchant that he is acquainted with for some terme of yeres , for that i would haue you to learne the languages ; now there , if your fortune be to doe well , i shall be glad of it , if otherwise , wo bee to me , though vnwillinglie to be the author of it . this spéech though it were no little griefe to him to leaue his fathers court , and to abandon his countrey in so poore a sort , and vpon so hard a fortune , yet willing of all ils to chuse the least , was contented rather to accept this little kindnesse , to be put seruant to an vnfit master , then to trust anie longer to the courtesie of so wicked a creature ; & therfore with great thankes , assuring him that god would regarde his pittie , and that himselfe would neuer forget his honestie , giuing him a purse of golde that hee had about him , kéeping verie fewe crownes for himselfe , tooke his waie toward the hauen , and by the way meeting with none that knewe him , passed vndescried vnto the shippe , where being aboord , and entertained into seruice with signor mario , they put to sea , the tide seruing fi●…lie for their purpose , leauing the villaine to returne to his wicked master with the newes of his nephew , whome i will leaue at the court , telling him in secret a deuised lie of the drowning of the young prince , and i will tell you what became of him , and his fortune . the winde seruing well to their wished shore , it was not long till mario doronte arriued , at the cittie of dolno , where he had not lien many daies , but hauing occasion to go to the court , tooke with him his young seruant rantifo , for so was the young prince nowe miscalled by the villaine that had intended his death : now being come to the court , and there well entertained by some not of the meanest sort , with whom he had to 〈◊〉 with in his businesse , crossing the court , there happened a noble man of the dukes chamber , to cast his eie vpon this young prince , the merchantes imagined prentise , whome calling to him , after a fewe wordes had with him , affecting verie much both his person and spirit , made such meanes to the merchant , that for a small summe of crownes , with promise of a greater friendship , he obtained him at his handes , and entertaining for his page , and finding in him such fine qualities , as did much deserue the encrease of his good liking of him , he helde him in such account , as was not commonlie séene nor by him expected , vpon so little knowledge : but the merchant after the dispatch of his businesse returned to his country , and the young prince now a page caried his seruice with such care , as was not a little regarded in the court , nor vnrewarded of his master ; who in few yeares , hauing perfected his forwardnesse in many good qualities , by maintaining his desires in all good instructions , with true commendations of his worthinesse , preferred him to the duke his master , who in a little time , tooke so due a regard of his seruice , that to the viewe of his whole court , hee made shew of his excéeding fauour . but i will leaue him for a while in the beginning of his fortune , in the court of his fathers enemie vnknowne to him , and himselfe vnknowne to the duke what he was , and i will returne to pinello , the young prince , sonne to feronte . the duke of dolno in the ilandes of balino , who hauing obtained leaue of his parents for his voiage into the emperors court , and so to attende him in his warres against the turke , had no sooner set foote aboord , but a sudden storme tooke him scarce out of sight of lande , and draue him for sauegard of his life , and all that were with him , to put in at a hauen within the ilandes of cotasi ; where the duke ordillo his fathers enemie was chiefe gouernour : who though he were in his debt for a summe of mony lent vnto his father , and therfore by lacke of paiment had purchased his displeasure , yet hauing heard of his sonnes arriuall , sent to entertaine him in such good sort , as befitted the honour of his person , who being met in great solemnitie , by diuers of his lordes , was after he had béene feasted by the gouernours of his chiefe cittie , with a great troupe of nobles attended vnto the court of the duke , of whome hee quicklte receiued such an vnexpected welcome , as in the roialty of his spirit , would haue remitted both all debt and displeasure : not to stande too long vpon néedlesse discourses , let it suffice that the dukes kindnesse , the nobles attendance , the ladies sweete fauours , and the welcome of the whole court , was such , as made him manie daies longer then he determined , to make aboade in that countrey : but aboue all , the gratious kind countenance of the dukes onely daughter , not a little affected by this gallant young prince , was not the least cause of his state , of whom since a great part of my storie dependeth , i will tell you , what i reade fell out betwixt them . this young princesse the onlie daughter of ordillo , not a little affecting the outward person , & inward vertue of this young prince , who was nothing behinde with her in great contentment with her much worthines of his good liking , tooke occasion one morning , séeing him walking out of his lodging into a garden , right against her chamber windowe to take a priuate waie through a gallerie downe into the same garden , where in a close walke néere vnto the gréene alley where the prince was walking vnséene of him a pretie while , fell into this talke with a gentlewoman an attendant of hers , whom she held in great account , and to whom she reuealed the secret of all her hart : oh delina quoth she ( for so was her name ) little doest thou know the cause of my ●…ate melancholie , but i dare trust thée with my life , and for that i know thou hast past through the labyrinth , that i am nowe in , i will hope the better of thy aduise for my comfort : since the comming of the prince penillo , into my fathers court , thou hast not séene me hartely merrie , for though i conceale much of my passion , yet will i somwhat ease my hart , with telling thée somewhat of my minde . some foure or fiue daies before the newes came to our court of the arriuall of this worthy prince , i had a dreame that held me all the time of my sléepe , the most part of a whole night : the remembrance whereof in the morning and euer since , hath troubled mee verie much : which as néere as i can remember i will tell thée . me thought i was going thorough a thick wood , where were a number of nettes and snares , layde in euerie pathe where i shoulde passe , yet me thought i passed thorough them so easily , as if they had beene of no strength ; till at last i came towarde a great water , where neere vnto the shore laie a great boate , and from the boate laie a long line , made all of golde & pearle , within the compasse whereof , treading yer i was aware , mee thought some thing gaue a snatche , wherewith the line whip●…e about my middle , and caried mee into the boate , with the sodaine fright whereof i awaked . now what saiest thou to this dreame ? delina , no lesse witty concetted of her dreame , then noting the cariage of her humor , made her this answere . madame if a blind body may catch a hare , i may happen to come somewhat néere the expasition of this night fansie . the wood you went in , is the court , the nettes , the eies and tongues of your sutors , that had no power to take sure holde of your affection ; now the great water maie be the sea , and the golden line , the young prince , that may cary you away from your father : for if i be not much deceiued , he hath you by the heart , whatsoeuer it was that helde you by the middle . unhappie wench , quoth the princesse , thou rouest too néere , that hittest the marke so right : but yet maiest thou bee deceiued in one point , thoughe not in some other ; i haue past the nettes , that is true ; and i am caught , it is not vntrue , but that he either wil , or shall carie me awaie , that i feare will not fall out : but god knoweth all , tò whose onelie will i leaue it , as farre may come as neere , foes maie be friends , and loue where he doth light doth more then all the world besides . his presence maie please the purest eie , and for his wit , i heard my father woonder at it , for his bountie , our court speaketh of it , and for his vertue , who doth not see it ? but for his loue , happy is shee that shall enidie it : for princesse wisedome , with honourable bountie , shewes a diuine spirite in an excellent nature , and of such a temper i hold him , and for such a one i loue him , and will euer honour him , though i neuer haue him . the young prince hearing this pretty parly betwixt the ladie of his loue , and her handmaid , with a voice lowde enoughe to be heard of them that were so neere , fell thus to talke to the aire : oh heauens , who can withstand the force of the fates ? was i going to the wars to gaine honor in the fielde , and am i driuen to seeke a peace , by being vanquished in a chamber ? did i go to fight with the great turke , and am i now afraide of a little christian ? is this the fruit of a storme at sea ? to come into this kind of calme at lande ? well what shoulde i talke to the trees that heare mee not ? or to the birdes that vnderstande me 〈◊〉 ? or to the aire that helpes mee not ? oh bilanta , blessed werte thou borne , if thy beautie haue beene the beginning of my happines ; and happie , if thy vertue ioine issue with my affection : for though our parentes be at iarre , we maie be at one , and what anger in them cannot yéeld vnto , loue maie effect in vs , an ende of heartburning in our patentes , and a beginning of quiet in our countries . but howe shall i hope of thy loue ? my fathers displeasure maie brééde a doubt of my loue ; besides she maie be affected otherwise then i know : where at the young princesse in her close walk replied no. what quothe the young prince , is there here such an eccho ? the ladie againe replied , oh . the young prince amazed at this eccho , went on with this speech : oh that i knew bilanta indeede would regard my loue ; she answeared loue : loue quoth the prince , but whome doeth she meane ? i would i knewe his name ; she answeared name : name quoth the prince , but who maie it be ? if it be one onelie , shee answeared onelie : onelie quoshe hee , onelie happie in déede , would so were pinello ; she made answere pinello : with that the prince putting the wordes of the eccho together , made vp this speech : oh loue , name onelie pinello . and musing a little vpon his conceit of this sound , looking aside , espied the young princesse , with her attendant walking out of the arbour into the garden , whome meeting with , at the ende of a crosse alley , he saluted with this gréeting . sweete princesse , when there bee two suns shining at one instant , it cannot be but faire weather : one in the skie , and an other on the earth , both which meete so sweetelie in this blessed péece of ground , that let him die in his bed , that will not walke in such a morning . the lady not fully perswaded of his affectiō , for al his playing with ecche , and yet hoping wel of his words , till his deedes fell out otherwise , with a modest smile made him this answeare . my lord , if your spéeches were not so high in the cloudes , that poore soules on the earth know not how to gesse of your meaning , i shoulde bee the better able to frame an answeare to your salutation ; but howsoeuer the sun shine in the heauens , the shadow of your imagination , if it were a substance of that worth , that might answeare a far lesse figure , then your fauour , would be loath that anie fowle weather shoulde hinder the happines of your faire walke : but i perceiue such morning astronomers can plaie prettilie with their owne humors . prettie lady ( quoth the prince ) the best plaie that i know , is at , be you pleasde , where hee that lightes vppon a good carde were vnwise if he woulde change : the princesse rouing vnhappilie at his conceit replied againe , and yet my lord , to be afraid of good fortune , is sometime cause of much losse : yea madame answered the prince , but fortune is so fantasticall , that there is no trust to be had in her ▪ and therfore i hold my opinion ; rather to kéepe a good choise , then to aduenture a bad change . i am no gamster answered the princesse , and therfore can speake but idlte of the sport , but they that are pleasde are happie , and they will not hold themselues so , are vnwise . the prince playing vpon this word pleasde , went forwarde with this speech : good madam , mate it then please you to be pleasde , with the seruice of my affection ? which no further then desart , will seeke the houour of your fauour . the ladie with a modest smile somewhat concealing her content , 〈◊〉 him this answere : my good lord , i am glad it pleaseth your greatnesse to be so merry with your poore friends : but such seruice , as your fauour , must be graced with greater honour then my vnworthinesse can accomplish . the prince not a little contented with her spéech , replied againe in these words : madam , to make a long haruest about a little corne , were but a weake piece of husbandrie ; and therfore not to hold you with a tedious discourse in plaine tearmes , you are the card that i meane , my plaie is no iest , your loue is the stake , that i would be glad if i could to win , you are the choise , that i haue made , and that i would bee loath to change : and therfore if a souldiers eloquence , maie haue fauour in your audience , let my heart and hand in your honour speake for my desart in your affection . the ladie not able to couer the fire , that was now past kindling , brake sodainlie into this answere . my lorde , to reape the corne ere it be ripe , maie prooue more haste then good spéede , and yet to let it grow till it shedde , were great losse to the farmer ; and therfore the taking of time is profitable to the prouident . i will not teach your honour what to doe , but if my loue be the prize of your pleasure , you cannot loose the hope of your patience , assuring my selfe , that the reach of your conceit , excéedeth not the roialtie of your spirit ; which in the regard of vertue deserueth nothing but honour : and for that the heart of a souldier , is frée from the tongue of a dissembler . i will rather beleeue the truth of valour , then giue eare to the falshood of a weaker spirit : but for that manie crosse fortunes , maie hinder the happinesse of the most honorable resolutions , let me intreat your patience to make triall of 〈◊〉 constanci●… , ere you make my vnworthinesse , mistresse of my contentment . the prince nothing disliking this good motion in her good minde , kissing her hande , made this kinde conclusion : faire princesse , the discretion of your good motion , i exceedingly like of ; for your credit to my truth , i cannot but thanke you , for the honour wherewith you entitle me , i returne it fully ▪ vpon you , for the nature of my loue , let your vertue discerne it , and for the faith of my affection , i vow you shall command it : but as you know i haue resolutely intended to attende the emperour in his warres against the turke , where if i gaine honor , the garlandd shall bee graced in your wearing ; if i die , let it suffice thy selfe to knowe the honour of my loue , with , whome howsoeuer be my fortune , i vow to leaue the faith of my affection : and so , thinking to procéede in their further conference , spying certaine ladies , and gentlewomen with their friends and attendants comming into the garden , they singled themselues one from another , hee retiring himselfe to his lodging , and she to her close arbour , where i leaue them for a while to meditate vpon their muses , and i will returne vnto 〈◊〉 late page vnto the duke feronte . fantiro sonne to the duke ordillo , preferred by the merchant before spoken of , vnto one of the duke ferontes court , and after by his lord and master vnto the duke himselfe , hauing so well caried himselfe in his seruice , that he was not onlie beloued of the duke his now lorde and master , but of all his whole court , and especiallie of senilla the onelie daughter of the prince , of whom he had often receiued such secret tokens of honorable fausurs , as except he would hide both his eies , he must néedes perceiue some part of her affection : but among al , this was not the least , that one daie among other , in the afternoone , the duke being disposed to haue some 〈◊〉 , and dancing in the presence , falling out in a daunce , that euery knight was to take his ladie , and euerie ladie her seruant , on whom she would bestowe her fauour ; in the presence of her father the duke she tooke fantiro by the hand and accompanied him in the measure , till the dauncing was wholie ended . which was noted of manie , especially of one , who hauing more wealth then honour , thought to buy loue with drosse , which ilfauoured dogge , vnworth●…e to bee called a man , yet attended with farre better then himselfe , séeking in what hee might to disgrace this vnknowne prince , came one daie by chance into a galleris néere adioining to the presence , where he found the yong princesse walking all alone , and vpon the sodaine standing as it were in a muse , looking vpon a picture of an ape playing with an owle , where smiling to her selfe which was the best shaped creature , shee sawe comming towardes her the onelie hobby horse of a man , that euer disgraced a coate of veluet : whome , rather for the fauour that he helde with her father , then for anie affection , that the had reason to carrie him , she for ill fashions sake thus saluted signor sperto , for so was hee called ( whether christened or no , i know not ) god giue you good morrow : the flouch of a slouen with a slauering smile , vpon a slubbered conceit , after manie good 〈◊〉 began to trouble her with this tattle . truely 〈◊〉 , i am glad it was my good happe , to méere so conuenient 〈◊〉 lie with your 〈◊〉 , as well for the honour that i wish you , a●… for the seruice i would be glad to doe you : for though a quince bee a tree of no straightnesse , yet it beareth a faire 〈◊〉 wholesome fruit , the fallow 〈◊〉 is rough , yet it beareth the best 〈◊〉 , and the ore hath but an ill hue , yet is there pure golde to be had in it , so maie it bee that in me you maie ūnde some cause of discontentment , 〈◊〉 you haue made triall of more then i will protest : but emploie me in your seruice , consider of my desart , and doe me iustice in your fauour : let your fathers loue be an ingression into my grace , and the endeuour of my dutie , the encrease of my good for tune : the 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 is commended for shining as well vpon the valleies as the mountaines , the sea is beloued as well for a pinnis as a proud ship , and is not the pearle in a shell , more worth then the oyle of a whale ? then thinke it not vnpossible , to find that spirit in me that you maie perhaps finde in a fairer faced ereature : a diamonde is the brighter for his foile , a faire horse , is the more beautifull , by the deformitie of a fowle iade , and how can you bee better graced , then in fauouring the disgratious ? for my loue , i will compare it with anie liuing ; and for my seruice i would it could expresse my louing . good madam pardon my boldnesse in acquainting you with my suit , which hath no life but in the onely fruit of your good fauour . the ladie so little liking the outward dogge , that shee had no patience to thinke of the inward deuill ; little studying for an answere , brake of a sodaine into this spéech : sir , for your kindenesse i thanke you , but for your paines i would be loath to trouble you : for though your eloquence be great , yet all is but a sound , and when the stringes are once slipt , the lute is but a piece of wood : the diamond is to be loued for his fire , not his fotle , a comelie horse with a iade , will make an ●…lfauoured coniunction , 〈◊〉 to grace the vngratious , is against the haire of a good wit. my fathers loue , and my liking maie differ vpon causes , and your seruice and my command not méete in anie occasion of emploiment : for the sunne shining on the valleies , it is a blessing of the heauens ; and for the pinnis sayling thorough the seas , it is by the bearing nature of the water , but for the pearle in the shell , indéede i must confesse it is farre better out , of it , then in it ; and to conclude , for the inwarde sharpenesse of your witte , if it were not in so grosse a person , i could perhaps take patience with my fauour , to make some emploiment of your seruice : but for that i would not féede you with vaine hopes , to hang vpon the skirtes of my faire spéeches , let 〈◊〉 suffice you not to abuse you , that i could bee content of ten to heare you , but neuer to see you . whereat the wicked wretch , like a galde horse kicking at the noise of a currie-combe , fret●…ing at his owne deformitie , where a squinte eie , a halfe nose , and a wrie mouth had no grace , in a great rage , 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 his cold entertainment went awaie with these wordes : well , if you like not that you see , you maie pull out your eies , and softlie muttering to himselfe , i will méete with you ere you be , aware , and crosse you in your most comfort , meaning with fantiro her loue , now in that court called rantifo . but i will leaue the wretch to his wicked inuentions , going from the ladie to the duke her father , and i will tell you a fewe wordes of the lady and her louer , whose good hap it was presentlie after the departure of this sweete gentleman , to come into the gallerie where his ladie and mistris was , verie solemnlie walking , but fearing that he had offended her fauour with pressing into her presence , begā to retire himselfe towards the doore , as not willing further to mo●…ue her patience ; which the ladie espying , and willing a little to embolden his dutie in her fauour , called him vnto her with these wordes : my good seruant , what meanes this too much good manner ? or shall i call it strangenesse ? or found you them not here that you looked for ? or are you displeased with them that you see ? truely i wil not hurt you , and to put you in further comfort , if you haue any suit to my father or affection to any friend of mine , assure your selfe i will not hinder you , though how much i will further you i will not tell you . the young gentleman , in this court vnknowne what hee was , and therefore carrying no greater title , not a little glad of this kinde gréeting , made her this humble answere : my gratious ladie and mistris , i feared nothing but your displeasure , nor ioie in anie thing vnder the heauens but your fauour : my suit to your father , is but his imploiment of my seruice , and for my affection to your friendes , it shall be wholie in the honour of your vertue : now therefore i humblie beséech you pardon but my truth , and regard my triall , which shall make me nothing my selfe more then i shall be happie in your seruice . oh seruant ( qd . the princesse ) i sée you study not for nothing , i beleue you read ouid , you would séeme to make such a metamorphosis of your self , of late a soldier altogither in the field ●… now a louer fall to courting in a chamber . rantifo not vnprouided of an 〈◊〉 replied in this manner : good madam , my affection is no fiction , what soeuer it maie please you to thinke of my studie , but when the honour of a souldier is the fauour of his mistris , giue me leaue to serue your father in the field , and honour you in the court : and though the meanenesse of my estate make the vnworthinesse of my fortune , yet thinke a star in his right place , maie hap to prooue to be a planet . the princesse of the sodaine began thus to replie , for starres 〈◊〉 planets , i leaue the proprietie of their places , to the studie of astronomers ; but if your minde be heauenlie , the highest prosper your humor : and , as she was going onwards with her spéech , vpon the sodaine she espied certaine ladies comming in to entre at her companie into the garden , wherewith leauing her praier to her seruants amen , with a fauourable glaunce she left him to his muses , & with the ladies that came to her , went downe into the garden ; where i will leaue her in the pleasant walkes to take the benefit of the sweete aire , and i will tell you , what did follow of fantiro , and his fortune . fantiro now called rantifo , no sooner had left his mistris , but with a concealed ●…oy gat him presently to the dukes chamber , where taking his place of attendance , espi●…d comming from the duke , signor sperto the swéete gentleman that i before spake of , who comming by rantifo , with a fleering laughter , as one that had plaied the iew with him behind his back , gaue him a wrie mouth good morrow ; which he taking verie kindl●…e , not yet knowing his cunning practise , returned him very humbly : but after his departure finding the dukes countenance , as it séemed to him vpon the sodaine somwhat altered , from his former kind of kindnesse , began so suspect , that iacke an apes was not without his trickes , and that his being with the duke had done him no good ; as hee did shortlie after perceiue : for within few daies after , it was his happe lying vnder a pale of the parke néere vnto the pallace , where the duke with this wicked horselea●…h was walking , to heare the talke that passed betwixt him and the duke , which was as followeth . my gratious lord ( quoth this vngratious lubber ) the many fauours where with your high●…es hath bound me vnto you , in al the sernice that i can deuise to 〈◊〉 you , will not suffer 〈◊〉 to conceale the least cause that i knowe 〈◊〉 bée an occa●… of your discontent , and in what i can humbl●…e to aduise your fauour in the preuenting of al that may endanger the iust weight of your displeasure . the duke better acquainted with his wit then his conscience , minding to make vse of the one , 〈◊〉 soeuer he should finde of the other , replied vnto him with th●…se words . good sperto , thy carefull regard of my content , i cannot but kindlie thinke of ; and thy prouidence in preuenting all occasion of my dislike , i will not let passe vnrewarded : and therefore i praie thee playnelie deliuer mee thy minde in euerie pointe of thy meaning . signor sperto , hauing studied vpon purpose , to pla●… she d●…laine in his kind ; began thus to vtter his 〈◊〉 . my gratious lord , for that you shall sée how indiffer entlie i will deale , in giuing reason his due , as i would bee no aduancer of pride , so woulde i not be anie backe friende to the honour of vert●… ▪ in the skie you see there is but one moone , which hath her light from the sun : now on this moone attendes a number of stars , but if anie one shoulde presume past his place to step within the circle of the moone , thinke you not the higher powers woulde not thrust him quite out of the heauens ? i am no astronomer ( quoth the duke ) but i thinke it were ●…it it should be so : but i praie thee trouble me not with figures , while i would haue thee more plainelie tell thy mind . then answeared signor sperto , maie it please your grace , by the skie ▪ i meane your court , the moone your daughter , and the sunne your selfe , from whome and the almightie , she taketh all the vertue of her honor ▪ now if any attendant in your courte shoulde presume further then your pleasure , to presse into the fauour of her affection , were he not worthie to be banished your court ? yes , and shall ( quothe the duke ) whatsoeuer he be without exception : then my gratious lord , said sperto , you know , you haue long fauoured , and by your fauour aduanced rantifo , a stranger in your countrie , and such a one as though i must confesse by his much worthe manie waies , deserueth no little honour ▪ yet if for your fauour ●…ustlie extended vnto him , he will presume to wrong your kindnes , in 〈◊〉 at your crowne , or robbing you of your chiefe comfort , i leane to your wisedome to iudge of his reward . the duke marking well euerie part of his spéech , and withall ●…ing to minde the open shewe of her fauour in taking out of rantifo from all the companie , both of friendes and strangers , to leade her in the meas●…re of her dance , thinking well both vppon the man and the matter , made him this answeare . signor sperto , i sée well thy watchfull care of my comforte , and do suspect no lesse then perhaps thou dost better perceiue , but to preuent all mishappe , and giue no cause of offence ; let vs ad●… what is to be done . the man hath serued faithfullie , and in manie good seruices hath deserued honourablie , our friendes in a manner all do loue him , i heare almost no man speake ill of him , and if our daughter affect him , shall we therefore hate him ? god 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 , vertue will haue honour in despight of fortune , and loue hath caused princes to fauour verie poore people , i speake not this either to pardon his presumption , or to fauour his procéeding , for i will deuise in what i can , to remoue him farre enough from my daughter , howsoeuer my selfe shall regard him . but let me haue thy aduise how so to worke it , that he maie rather be glad of our countenance , then mistrust our discontentment . signor sperto , fearing to be thought malicious , and yet not able to couer the ●…llanie of his humor , made this answeare to the duke . maie it please your highnesse , to consider of what m●…le 〈◊〉 out in ●…he euent of this fortune , if it wore not fore seen ▪ if your daughter shoulde ●…o disgrace your ●…hole court , as to cast her affection vppon a stranger , and leaning to looke vppon manie noble per 〈◊〉 , shoulde fall in liking with i knowe not whome , nor of how 〈◊〉 a parentage ; it cannot bee but a discomfort to your heart , so to see your ●…ewell , that you hould of the highest price in your crowne , to be set in so base golde , as maie perhaps proue but copper : and if it bee as pure as the purest , that he should proue honourable in birth , wise in conceite , valiant in 〈◊〉 , vertuous in disposition , and euery way worthie of as much honour , as the greatest of your fauour coulde af●…orde him ; yet what a heartburning woulde it bréede in your countrie , that a stranger should 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 of 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 , and carie awaie the garland of your duke 〈◊〉 ▪ yea , 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 not only all the actions of your noblest 〈◊〉 would lie as dead , or not spoken of , while the trumpe of ●…ame would ▪ sound onlie the honour of his fortune ; and so in processe of time , not onelie your court and countrie woulde bee disgraced ▪ 〈◊〉 agrieued , but your highnesse shoulde see a greatfall of your 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 , when by the fresh memorie of his fortune ▪ all former honoures woulde be forgotten ; but to preuent all misfortune . stay there a little ( quoth the duke ) and let mee tell 〈◊〉 a little of my minde : my daughter , is but a part of my selfe , that is now from my selfe ; in affecting the vertuon●… , i must commend her disposition , and in fauouring the honorable ▪ i cannot mislike her discretion ; and that he is honoured by me , hee maie the better be graced by her : now , if a stranger deserue w●…ll it maie giue an example to our court , 〈◊〉 to barre him his right , is a b●…ot in courtesie : shee maie like though not loue , and hee serue though for no such reward . moreouer , what he is we know not , and therefore let vs thinke the best , and such maie be his worth , as maie be worthie our regard . fame is not partiall 〈◊〉 sounding the honour of deserts ; and therfore who runneth 〈◊〉 , let him winne the bell , and weare the garland ▪ hee hath little grace in himselfe , that feareth the fortune of another , and the fresh memorie of one action bringeth in the honour of another : and for my selfe , while i liue , i will kéepe my sword , when i am gone let my sonne keepe my scepter . for rantifo , i finde so much good in him , that i cannot but loue him ; and yet not so well , but to prefer my daughter to a better fortune , and to content such of my court as maie be agrieued at him , let me heare thy aduise for the remooue of him both from our court , and countrey . signor sperto biting th●… lippe at th●…se speeches , and yet glad to heare this conclusion , made the duke this answere : maie it please your maiesty to think of y● embassage you meane to sen●… to the duke of the ilands of cotasi , touching the sum of 〈◊〉 , that hee hath long detained from you , and the disgratious answere that he latelie sent you : this gentleman your 〈◊〉 knoweth to ●…e 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 the 〈◊〉 , of a 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 it ▪ that will not 〈◊〉 ▪ 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 your 〈◊〉 , and one that will be glad to receiue such honour at your harmes : nowe if it maie please your highnesse ; his returne maie be at your pleasure , which not ●…ffecting ▪ your expectation , maie haue fauoure at your pleasure ▪ the duke ordillo , you know 〈◊〉 a man of a stou●… courage , and 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 such spirities méete , god knoweth ●…hat will fall out ▪ 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 be otherwise then well with him ▪ your maiestie maie at your pleasure reuenge : in the meane time , that your courte 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 maie take exceptions , at your either 〈◊〉 his ▪ good deseruing , nor disfauouring his worthie vertues ▪ that your daughter maie not suspect the least looking into her affection ▪ nor rantifo imagine his seruice in anie such nature suspected , but in being so graced maie holde himselfe wel pleased , i thinke your highnesse shall not doe amisse in this deuise . signor sperto ( quoth the duke ) i will not flatter thy witte , though i will loue thy counsaile , and follow thy aduise , which shall he knowne onlie to our selues : to morrow we will grace him in all we can , both in worde and countenance , so that hee shall mistrust nothing of our meaning , and forth with we will 〈◊〉 furnish him forth in this embassage : and so signor sperto i will bidde thee farewell , i will for a while be priuat heere in mine a●…our , i praie thée giue commandement to the porter , that no man come to trouble me , till i returne into my chamber . with which command , signor sperto taking his leaue left the duke ●…one in a close walke , vsing these few words to himselfe : oh the miserie of time , what doth this wicked world bring forth ▪ nothing but sinne and iniquitie : vertue more pittied then beloued , honour more enuied then accompanied , valour more commanded then rewarded , and charitie more vanished then embrased ▪ strangers should be relieued , vertue honored , honor 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 , and charitie beloued , but that good world 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 feared , or hated , vertue scorned ▪ honor disgraced , valour vnrewarded , and charitie vnséene . princes cannot be themselues , for the greatest powers haue not 〈◊〉 greatest peace , a 〈◊〉 will trouble a lyon , a louse an eagle , a mous●… an 〈◊〉 a 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 , 〈◊〉 ●…●…anker a man ▪ 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 be 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 she burst for her laboue , enoi●… is a 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 of the spirit 〈◊〉 spi●… all her venome against vertue . oh sp●…o , though the 〈◊〉 of thy deuise i will follow , for the quietof my court , ●…et mu●… i needes ●…aie . i finde thy 〈◊〉 against rantifo ▪ 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 reason is i knowe not , but that an 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 an eagle ; i know my daughter cannot affect the●… howsoeuer she fauour him , but would to god my so●…ne 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 ●…ome : and with that word vsing no more spéech ●…ose vp from the seate ; & r●…tired himselfe into his pallace , where i will 〈◊〉 him to determine of his embassage , and rantifo to 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 of the 〈◊〉 of his close enemie ; and i will returne againe to penillo , sonne to the duke feronte , whome i left in the courte of ordillo his fathers enemie , fast by the heart in loue wish his 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 young princesse bilanta . penillo the young prince 〈◊〉 to 〈◊〉 ●…he duke of balino , after a few daies of roiall entertainment in the court of ordillo , wish much contentment in the honourable secr●… kindnesse of his loue the princesse merilla , receiuing a fauour of her which he sware to weare in his 〈◊〉 , ●…en he was in the field against the enemie , lea●…ing ●…th 〈◊〉 a heart of golde , set full of diamondes , tooke his iourney towards the emperours court , and so with him towardes his wars against the turke , where in the face of the ●…hole armie , he wonne such honor by his valour , that the emperour to shew his ●…oue vn●…o him , embraced him in his armes ▪ calling him 〈◊〉 , and wishing that he were so happie as to haue a daughter 〈◊〉 such a prince . well to be short , such ●… so honorable was his 〈◊〉 with the emperour , as well in his wa●…re , as his court , that with his valour he wonne she loue of the emperour , and wi●…h his kindnesse , the good will of all his followers , in the predicamen●… of which happinesse , after his roiall entertainment 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 ●…he court as all other places of the emperours 〈◊〉 , ●…uing receiued from the emperour two rich iewels , 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 a iewell of great value , which the emperour himselfe 〈◊〉 out of his owne hatte ; the other a 〈◊〉 , the 〈◊〉 of 〈◊〉 there of 〈…〉 lately taken from the 〈…〉 in that seruice , with all humble thankfulnesse 〈…〉 making homewards with all the spéed he could , 〈…〉 , but that he would take the court of ordillo 〈…〉 ▪ where vnto his mistris he would first recount the 〈…〉 of his fortune ▪ 〈◊〉 sweete soule as one languishing for the lacke of her new loue did in his absence spende the most part of her time in praier for his prosperitie . but i will leaue further to te●… of their fortunes for a while , and i will re●… 〈◊〉 , now called rantifo , in the court of feroute the 〈…〉 of balino . 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 hauing set downe his determination for the sending awaie of rantifo in his embassage , according ●…nto the aduise of signor sperto , walking one date into his garden , certaine of his counsaile 〈◊〉 with him , among whome signor sperto cou●… not be spared , caused rantifo to bee called before 〈…〉 with a pleased seeming countenance , he vttered this spéech ; rantifo , the loue that i haue long borne shée , the faith that i ●…nd in thy seruice , and the much good , that i manie waies note in thee , haue made me desirous to aduance thee to that honour , that i know thou wilt deserue . i am determined to send to my vnkinde neighbour ordillo , the duke of the ilandes of cotasi , he hath béene long in my debt , and i thinke meanes to laugh me 〈◊〉 with my money : a million of crowns will maintaine a prettie armie , for a sodaine piece of seruice : and since he 〈◊〉 not 〈◊〉 , bu●… maketh delaies the excuse of his 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 i 〈◊〉 ●…ende thée to him , with this resolution , either to 〈◊〉 my money , or to 〈◊〉 him know my mind which in briefe shall ●…e this , that i will fet●… 〈◊〉 perforce , or set fire of his pallace : nowe ●…hough shou ar●… a stranger in our court , yet being beloued of o●… selues , if thou 〈◊〉 take it vpon thée , let vs see who dare 〈◊〉 at ●…ur 〈◊〉 . rantifo 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 to ly●…g vnder a p●…le , the deuise of this pl●…t in the parke , 〈◊〉 the duke and signor sperto , séeming not to know any thing thereof , and fearing the dukes displeasure , if he should refuse it , made him this humble answere : my gratious lord●… , though 〈◊〉 of your owne honour , proceede so much goodnesse , a●… 〈◊〉 so ●…xtende your fauour vpon so smal desert , as i cannot but blush to confesse 〈◊〉 let not the honour of your fauour towardes me , be a cause of your n●…bles ●…eartburning against me ●…for though my studie hath beene somewhat in the languages , yet hath my trauaile béene so little in 〈◊〉 so courses , as i rather feare ●…o d●…eiue your expectation , th●… i●… discharge the desire of my dutie : ●…et if it please you to i●…ose this charge vpon me , though it were with the losse of my 〈◊〉 i would thinke it well laied downe in your seruice . well ( quoth the duke ) let it suffice the●… , that my loue vnto thee shall put off all causes of discontentment , that ma●…e be in this seruice ; if i fauour thée , which of my court , that will not befriend thee ? and therefore prepare thy selfe for this iourney , for i will make choise of no other : and thus ending his speech rose vp from his seate , and walking into the garden m●…t with his daughter the princesse me●…illa , accompanied with diuers ladies and gentlemen of the court , whom saluting very gratiouslie he passed by them , and taking his daughter by the hand walking aside with her into an open gréene walke , fell into this talke with her . merilla , my loue to 〈◊〉 i knowe thou doubtest not , and my care of thy well doing is not the least charge of my loue , and the effect thereof not the least happinesse of my life : thy brother ▪ thou knowest is trauailed , god knoweth whither , 〈◊〉 ●…hen to returne , if god blesse him not the better : now if the perishe either in the seas , or the warres , what comfort haue i on the earth ? but in thee , and in thy well doing . thou ar●… now of yeares to make choise of thy happinesse in placing thy affection , and is there none in our court that can please the●… in that point●… make thy choise where thou wilt , i will leaue thee to thy selfe , and will not crosse thee in thy comfort ▪ onely be not base in thy affection , and thou shalt be grations in thy kindnesse . the ladie ( as it should seeme ) hauing had some priuat conference with her seruant rantifo , of whome she had some noti●… of her fathers talke with signor sperto , about the dispatch of him from the court , made him this humble answere : my gratious father , your carefull loue of ●…e doth so farre binde me to you , besides the duetie of nature , that if i should not be obedient to your will ▪ i should thinke ill of mine owne ; and to bee a discomfort to your kindnesse , i wish i had rather neuer béene borne ; for my brother , so long as you heare no ill newes , hope of the best of him : and for the placing of my affection , it shall be onelie ▪ gouerned by your fauour . but i am glad to heare you giue mee warning to beware of basenesse ; for signor sperto would haue perswaded me not long since , that i could not bee better graced then in gracing y● vngracious , with a world of ●…dle wordes spent to verie little purpose : for indéede father , his wit maie be full of cunning , but i feare he is like a false apple , rotten at the heart : for assure your selfe he is not ●…ound to you in loue , that séekes to robbe you of my seruice : but wheresoeuer it shall please your maiestie to command my content ; in the heauens and your honour shall be the direction of my affection : thus hauing a little quitted signor spertocs kindnesse , she ended her spéech . when the duke in some kinde of discontentment , to thinke of iacke an apes his moris ▪ dance , thus replied to his faire daughter : well merilla , regard euerie man in his kinde , and for that i finde him fit for some seruices , i will not suddenlie put him out of fauour , though i will thinke of him as i haue cause , and finde a time to vse him accordinglie : in the meane time laugh at his follie , & keepe thy affection for a better friend , i will a ●…le leaue thée here among thy kinde friendes , to sollace thy selfe in this garden : and i will walke a little about my parke , with some of my counfatle . so will i leaue him a while gone into the parke , till his returne againe , into the pallace , and i will tell you what fell out with the ladies in the garden . there were thrée young gallantes of the court that had determined to trie their wits to la●…e this ladie aboorde for her loue ; vpon this agreement betwixt them that he that woon her fauour shoulde commande the other as his seruantes , and so euer after should call them . whereupon finding now a conuenient time to trie the fortune of their aduentures , singling themselues one from the other ▪ one of them ●…hinking himself not the worst witted , began thus to salute her . fa●…re princesse how well to entitle your worthines i know not , but if my vnworthines may haue fauour in your patience , my seruice should bee made happie in your emploiment . the ladie not making anie shewe of disdaine , with a modest smile made him this answere . truth néedeth no eloquence ; for your kinde offer of your seruice , i wish you a better preferment , but if i should be so vaine as to trust you , wherein would you giue mee leaue to commande you ? the gentleman with this sweet seeming speech halfe perswaded of nothing lesse then her fauour , with all humblenes fell into protestations so far of his affection , that if he disobeied her command , or not fulfilled her request , let him die with his ill fortune , or bee disgraced in her fauour : whereupon with great thankes she made him this answeare . syr , for that finding the greatnes of your good wil , i would not bee thought vnkinde in my requit all , marke well what i saie vnto you . you shall neither drawe your purse for a penny , your sword against an enimy , nor your foote from this place , so that you shall be neither at cost , in feare , nor danger for me , and yet performe my request , and you shall bee assured of my fauour . the gentleman fearing that she had mocked him with some matter of small importance , made her this answere . madame though by the slightnes of this seruice , i feare the weaknes of my fortune , yet expresse your commandement , and consider of my desert : for be it hard or easie , i will either die or do it . then ( quoth the princesse ) without further talke , you see yonder is a diall vpon the wall of my fathers window : you see the shadow vpon the diall , stand here till you see the shadow moue , and then call me to the sight of it , i desire no more for your seruice . the poore gentleman there bound by his oth to performe his protestation , fell to stare out his e●…es , and nere the better for his looking : whome shee had no sooner left in that poore taking , but she was set vpon by the second , whome after a great deale of idle talke to little purpose , shee tooke vp in this manner . if i should thinke that you could not dissemble , i should thinke you lacked wit , and if i shoulde trust you without triall , you might condemne me of follie , but if in regard of your protestations i should make proofe of your affection , might i presume of your performance , in making proofe of your sufficiencie . the poore man as proude of his hope , as his vnhappy friend , would refuse nothing , make no exceptions , but command and it was doone , or let it cost him his life : whereupon to abridge the tediousnes of their discourse , the put him to this péece of seruice . sir ( quoth shee ) you see this apple-tree before you , i praie you watch the ripening of them , the heate of the sun i heare will change their colour , and fill them full of redde streakes , i praie you when you see them begin to change coloure call me , that i maie see it , and i will require no more seruice for the assurance of my fauour . the poore gentleman sworne to his taske , tooke him to his worke ; where losse of his labour could get him nothing but repentance : but in that gazing maze he had not stood long , but the thirde followed his fellowes , whome after much néedles talke , shée put likewise to this seruice . sir ( quoth shée ) i am easilie perswaded that vpon easie pointes you woulde performe an easie péece of seruice , but had i neede of your helpe in any matter of difficultie , i maie perhaps faile of your performaunce : hee poore man as well deceiued as the rest , in the pride of his opinion , making the worlde but a walke , the seaes but a brooke , and wonders but trifles , in respect of that which he would do for her , receiued this commandement for his emploiment . sir ( quoth shée ) you see here this tufte of grasse , watch the shooting of any one of them , and call me that i maie see the growing of them : and it is all the seruice , that i meane to put you to for all the fauour that i can afforde you . the gentleman forced either to falsifie his fayth , or to pr●…u●… the third foole , tooke him to the ground where he sate downe in vaine , to see that was not possible . but while they were thus standing either in muses or mazes returned the duke into the garden , where marueyling to beholde those gallantes in those tunes , hauing heard the cause told his daughter , it would be some disgrace to her greatnes to offer such discourtesies , as to charge her seruantes with impossibilities ▪ yet smiling at their follies , desiring her to rolease them , which she soone granted : he called rantifo vnto him not far off walking with a gentleman of his chamber ; to whome being come before him , being disposed to be merrie with him , tolde him of his danghters handling of her sutors : but ( quoth he ) let me intreate thee not to make report of this qualitie in her , least it bee a hurt to her great happinesse , when such as maie be worthie her fauour , maie take dislike at her vnkindnesse . rantifo not a little pleased to sée her so put off her gallant suitors , and yet much discomforted in conceit of his departure , told the duke , that such trials of her wit , would encrease the titles of her honour ; and for himselfe , he would not wish to liue , but to honour the roialtie of his house : which the duke séeming to take verie well at his handdes , after a fewe ordinarie courte words , leauing his daughter with her friends and attendants , in the garden , retired himselfe into his chamber and so into his closet : where i will leaue him for a while , at his study , and his danghter in the garden faine into some talke with her seruant , wherof i will speake hereafter , and i will returne to tell you what followed of penillo and his fortune . in this time of penillo his being vpon the sea , comming from the emperours court , he met with a shippe going for balino the chiefe cittie of his countrey , and in the shippe found one mario doronte , the merchant that first brought ouer rantifo , the duke ordilloes sonne into that countrey , of whom , making the shippe a while to attend him , after that hee had enquired of him of the health of the duke ordillo , and his faire daughter the princesse his mistris , writing a few humble lines to his father , with a token of kindnesse to his sister , giuing somewhat to the sa●…lers , & like wise to mario doronte making himselfe towards the ilandes of cotasi , left them to the heauens blessing . this mario doronte being by misfortunes at sea decayed , and hauing some summes of money due vnto him , in the ilances of balino , with his wife and two children , determining to leaue his owne countrey , and so take his habitation in some of the cities of balino , put to sea in the shippe then going for the chiefe citie in the ilandes : not to stand long vpon néedlesse pointes , the winde and tide serning well , within a few daies they arriued at the iland , in a hauen néere vnto the cittie dolno , néere vnto the court of the duke feronte . where they had not lodged manie daies , but the decaied merchant hauing occasion to make petition to the duke , for meanes to come by his mony of his cxeditours , taking his wife and children with him , as well for comfort of their companies , as to mooue pitty in the duke the more for their sakes , met at the court gate with rantifo going abroad into the parke with his mistris the young princesse ; who looking well vpon the olde man , and his little familie , after a fewe questions of his fortune , and the cause of his comming thither , tooke his petition , with promise not onely to deliuer it to her father , but in what her power coulde doe with him , to effect the spéede of his suite ; and in the meane time for his reliefe gaue him a purse with two hundreth crownes . rantifo not a little commending this gratious bounty in the young princesse , calling to minde the crueltie of his owne fortune , and noting the miserie of his ; not willing to make himselfe knowne vnto him , gaue him yet these wordes to comfort him : father , if i were not suddainly to depart hence into the iland from whence you came , i would assure thée , much of my friendship , but i will entreat this ladie in mine absence to followe and effect your comfort : which she willinglie promised , and after happilie effected . but ere i go anie further with the discourse of their fortunes , i will leaue them for a while , and returne to penillo , the duke feronte his sonne . this gallant young prince was no sooner landed at the coast of the ilandes , but with great rosaltie hee was attended , and with great loie welcomed to the court , where , how his nustris reiosced let the hearts of true louers conceius , for i can not expresse : but let it suffice that , though both their contents met in one coniunction , yet fortune the sworne enemie to all felicitie , fell now to deuise crosses to their comforts : for not long had he béene there making merie with his faire mistris , but the duke his father hauing by the decaied merchant receiued a letter of his sonnes making toward those ilands , whither he was forthwith to send rantifo vpon a discontentiue message , wrote a letter in all post to his sanne for his spéedie returne into his countrey : vpon the sight whereof , not a little agrieued to leaue the court , where he was so kindlie entertained , and especially his faire mistris the young princesse of whom he was so déerely beloued , and yet preferring his fathers fauour before his owne pleasure , concealing anie cause of discontent , with thankes to the duke for all his roiall kindnesse , and secretlie assuring the young princesse of his kinde , and constant affection towardes her , tooke his leaue of the whole court , and returned home to his country . but i wil leaue him vpon his tourny homewards for a while , and returne againe to rantifo , who was sent embassadour to his owne father . rantifo taking leaue of the duke his master , and the faire princesse his mistris , was now put to sea , for the ilandes of cotasi , leauing the decaied merchants suit to the fauour of his afore said mistris : but ere i tell you anie further of the merchant , and his suit , i will tell you what became of rantifo , and his fortune . rantifo being now come to the ilandes , and so to the court of ordillo , at his first comming was honourably entertained , but after the deliuerie of his message , not so kindlie welcome , yet whether for feare of a further mischiefe , or hope of vnlooked for kindnes , all discontentment was concealed , and he brought vnto the duke , who setting his eie well vpon him , began in himselfe to finde some what in his aspect that did so much content him , that his embassage did not so dislike him , but his presence did much more please him : wherupon he gaue commandement to haue him well lodged and to his place in all duties entertained . but rantifo after that he had deliuered his embassage , being answered that the duke desired time to determine of his answere , writ home to his master of the dukes answere to his demand , and vpon answere that he should stay the limits of his delaie , he tooke his lodging as néere as he could to the court , where he might sée out of his window the ladie bilanta his sister the young princesse , walking in the garden of a ladie that had a house neere adsoyning to the court , whose doore opening into the garden of the house where he was lodged , he tooke occasion one faire euening to stand in the doore where she passed by , and noting a kinde of gratious glaunce toward him , he adventured to sa●…ute her with this kind of gréeting : swéete aire , sweete flowers , and so swéete a creature , is not this a paradise if there be anie on this earth ? indéede my lord , answered the princesse , a swéete spirit in a sweete nature , can finde sweete humour , but i praie you what hath mooued you to this sweete kinde of salutation ? her vnknowne brother , not minding yet to be knowne , replied againe , madame , your selfe is the grace of all the good that i speake of : and if you would let me flatter you with particulars i would tell you as much as you alreadie knowe ; but if the worde of a stranger maie go currant in your court , will you vouthsafe my seruice the fauour of your entertainment ? the ladie smiling at his plaine kinde of loue making , and yet loath to put him to silence with a sulle in kinde of answere , tolde him , that men of his place had their wits otherwise emploied , then in trying the weak humours of weomen ▪ yet quesh she , my lorde , if i were worthie such a seruant , i would not doe dishonour to a stranger ; but is it possible that your lordship can spende thus much breath , but to passe awaie idle time ? truely madam , answered the embassadour , though i desire not to bee thought a wanton , yet i assure you for my vnfained affection to your worthinesse , since the first houre that i saw you i haue not left to thinke of you , and am so glad here to sée you , that wherein my seruice mate purchase your content , it shall not be slacke in your commandement . my lorde answered the princesse , cupid hath but a blinde sight , and hot affections are soone quenched , but if your word and thought agrée , you maie in time be quited in your kindnes . when as the lord embassadour was about to replie vnto her spéech , a messenger came suddenlie vnto her from the duke her father , presentlie to come to him , whereupon with humble thankes for her kinde fauour they brake off their talke for that time , she going to the duke , and he backe againe into his lodging , where i will ●…raue them for a while , and returne againe to tell you what fell out in the court of feronte the duke of the ila●…ds of balino . the young princesse gladde that this decaied merchant had such a suite to her father , tolde him that if vpon ●…he dispatch of his petition , and receipt of his money , hee would returne into his country , and conuaie her ouer with him as a seruant to his wife , she would effect such expedition as should be fullie to his content : the poore man hauing receiued such bountifull reliefe at her handes , as bound him much to her seruice , putting all feare aside of what hurt might befall him , if it were descried , promised her to doe his best in all the seruice hee could deuise her : whereupon to be briefe , she became a suter to her father for the merchant , and by her humble importuning his comfort , gat his grant dispatched , which no sooner was effected , but with all the spéede that might be , carrying crownes enough to defray all charges , in the apparell of a prentise , that the merchant had got for the purpose , finding a shippe ready to put to sea for that countrey , stole awaie in a night tide , and with a merrie gale soone gat to the shore that they made for . but nowe will i leaue to talke further of them , for a while , and i will tell you a fewe wordes of the occurrents in the court of feronte the duke of the ilands of balino . the young prince being now returned home , and with great ioie receiued of the whole court , the duke in no little maruell that his daughter was so long absent , sent vnto her lodging to knowe the cause of her staie , but the messenger returning with no bodie there , and now fearing that his strange embassadour had stolne awaie his faire daughter , caused present search to be made for her in all his prouince ; but hearing of no word of her , grew into such a rage , as not able to haue patience to heare his sonne touching the roialtie of his entertainment , sware presentlie to leuie an armie , and in regard of his indignitie to bee reuenged of the whole countrey : and with this resolution went forward . but i will leaue him in his choler nowe bent to nothing but reuenge , and i will tell you a few wordes of the merchant and his companie . the decaied merchant nowe by the meanes of the young princesse hauing made a happie voiage , comming on shore with his familie , and this new page or rather prentise , mette by great happe with the lord embassadour that was sent from the duke feronte , in a discōtentiue message , walking with the ladie princesse his sister , and an attendant or two of hers onelie going forth of a castle of the duke her fathers néere that place , onlie to take a little pleasure in séeing the comming in of the shippes : and doing reuerence to the whole troupe the young prineesse called the merchant vnto her with these wordes . alas good mario , how doest thou , how hast thou sped with thy businesse : what ? didst thou carrie thy wife and children with thee , how daredst thou to aduenture them ? truely i am glad thou art come home safe againe with them , i knowe thou arte poore , and for my selfe thou knowest i am yet not my selfe , but if i liue i will doe thée and thy kinde wife some good , for i haue knowne yée both of a childe , and haue had manie a prettie iewel of yee , for which , i hope one daie to requite thee : thine honesty will be pittied , and shall not bee forgotten , my remembrance maie doe thee good ; and for that i know not how thou art furnished for money holde thee , take this purse at my handes a h●…dreth crownes will doe thée no hurt , though not the good i wish thée . but what prettie boy is that thou hast with thée ? the merchant with teares of thankfull kindnesse receiuing her bounty , tolde her that it was a prettie youth of the ilands of 〈◊〉 , 〈◊〉 hauing a desire to sée that country came with him in the 〈◊〉 , desiring him to put him to some good master ; at which wo●…s , ●…he embassador looking stedfastly vpon him , & remembring his ●…stris , asked of the merchant if he would bestow him vpon him . the merchant knowing the pages minde , was verie well content with his demande , and asking the page if hee woulde make choise of him for his master , séemed verie willing to agr●… thereto , when the ladie no lesse firing her eie vpon the p●…ge then the embassadour , and no lesse affecting him then hee did , with a modest countenance made this speech vnto him . my lord , you know your aboade in this countrie is not certaine , and this prettie wagge comming hither , either to se●…●…he countrie , or to learne the languages , if he should returne with you , he might be little benefitted by his trauaile ; but if it 〈◊〉 please you to bestowe your good will on me for him , i will ta●…e that regarde of him , that he shall not repent him of his seruice . madame ( quoth the embassadour ) if i should deny you so smal a request , hauing so great an interest in my seruice , you might well mistrust me in a matter of more importance , if i shoulde faile you in this . the page vnknowne to anie but the merchant and his familie , who had sworne secrecy in her behalfe , hauing no time to meditate what to doo , and seeing her seruaunt the embassadour , now as it were in loue with an other ladie , was content to accept the ladies kind offer , and so leauing the merchant well recompensed for all his kindnesse ; attended them to the dukes castle : where i will leaue the embassadoure after leaue taken of his mistris the young princesse his sister , yet vnknowne , going to his lodging , and i will tell you a little of the ladie and her new page , as great a person as her selfe . the princesse looking of tentimes vppon her page , and finding in his feature a great resemblance of her loue her brother , willed a tailer to be sent for , whome shee commanded against the next morning , to bring her a péece of white satten , of which should be made a sute of apparrell for the page , and so commanding the boie to attende her vnto her chamber , shee called for a lute , which , hearing of him vpon demand of his qualities , that hee had some little skill in , willed him to make her a little musick , which both in his touch , and voice , she liked so well , that she began excéedinglie to fauour him : but after musick donne she willed the boie to walke into the garden , and there gather such flowers , or such fruites , as best might like him , and in the morning she would put him out of his prentice su●…e , which hee willinglie did , and hauing gathered a handfull of roses , & plucking off an apple called a pome●…roie ; hee returned in to his mistris the princesse lodging , who at a windowe noting his solemne kind of walking , and the fruit that he gathered , after his comming vp called him into her chamber . but first let me tell you a little of the pages spéech that he had to himselfe in the garden , per he went vp . oh poore merilla , what a misery art thou falne into ? left thy countrie , thy father , thy friendes , and all thy home fortune , to followe a stranger , who hath betraied thy affection , and abused thy fauour : women are said to haue their willes wauer as the wind : but oh false rantifo , no sooner come to the sea , but thy loue is gone into an other worlde ; rantifo , no thou art fantiro , the dukes sonne , whatsoeuer be shy conceit to conceale it from thy father , and bilanta is thy sister , howsoeuer thou hast made her thy mistris . but alas , what will become of thée ? when thy mistris shall know thée to be thy selfe , how will shee vse thée ? if i reueale what i am , can she other then disdaine th●…e ? our parents being scarce friends , if thou reuealest the cause of thy comming , will shée not laugh at thy foslie , & make it knowne to the worlde ? if she do not , it is more of the heauens blessing , then thy merite , and of her good nature , then thy wit. saie that now shee doth somewhat like of thee , shee maie bee then out of loue with thee : and yet it maie be that for her loue to her brother she maie be kind to me , and at my humble entreatie , conceale my follie from the worlde : well , i will hope the best , till i sée the worst ▪ and so determining to make her selfe knowne to her mistris , she went vp into her lodging , where being come to the princesse she fell againe to her musike , wherein she did so please the princesse , that she thought euerie houre a yéere till she had some priuate conferance with him , for which she stated not long ; fo●… after that she had commanded all her attendants out of the chamber but the page , willing him to laie downe his lute , 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 aboore with him in this maner . my prettie wag , if thy 〈◊〉 should haue occasion to employ thee in a secret paece of seruice , wouldest thou so late it vp in thy bosome , that no man shoulde perceiue it ? madame ( quoth the page ) for my secre●…e , i holde it not the least part of mine honesty , and therefore make you no doubt of it , but if my sufficiencie answeare not your expect●…on , i beseech you let mee entreate your pardon , assuring your honour that i shall hate my selfe in slacking my dutie in your seruice : but good madame be not angrie if my good will bee not fortunate ; for my heart i protest , you haue bound it to you , in the faith of much affection . the ladie not a little pleased with this spéech gaue him this hind answeare . thy affection is the best part of the seruice that i will desire at thy handes , for to tell ●…hee trueth , i neuer same the face , but one that i liked so well , or could thinke to loue but thine , and for him , hee was a noble personage , son and heire to the duke feronte of the ilandes of balino , who is latelie gone home , and i feare will neuer come againe ; such heartburning is growne betwixt our parentes , vppon the paiment of a little monte , vngodlie kind of drosse , the cause of much mischiefe in the world ; therefore i must haue patience with my passion , for euer hoping of comfort at his hands : but for his sake whose feature me thinkes i beholde in thy face , i did first affect thee , and do nowe for his , and thine owne sake i must confesse entirelie loue thée : be wise therefore i charge thée , for in reuealing my loue it maie endanger thy life , & in concealing thy comfort , thou shalt finde the honour of thy fortune . the page with a great sigh at his brothers absence , but more agrieued at the discord of the two dukes , with her eies readie to shedde teares , made her this humble answere : good madam , shall i humblie begge this fauour at your hands , that you will vouchsafe to keepe secret , what i will commit vnto the onelie care of your honourable kindnes , wherein you maie either saue my life , or procure my death ? sweete boie , quoth the princesse , let me not liue , but i will doe more for thy loue then i will speake of : and for my secresie , suspect nothing that maie hurt thee , and speake freelie , wherin i maie do thee good , thinke i cannot vse thee vnkindlie . then good madam , answered the princesse , i will tell you a strange yet true tale : the embassadour that seemeth to bee your louer , is your brother , sonne to the duke your father , his name is fantiro , sought to be slaine by a murtherer hired there to by your vncle lately dead , but to saue his life sought by the malice of your vngodly vncle , was deliuered vnto the decated merchant mario , who brought him as a page to our court , i meane the court of feronte , the duke of balino my father ; whose daughter i am brought ouer in this habit that you sée , onlie to come to the sight of your brother my onlie beloued lord on this earth . your brother for my loue , was by a wretch in our court wrought hither to this embassage , but such was his cariage in our court , as from his first setling foote into fauour , he dailie encreased it , by his much well deseruing ; so that there was no man of good spirit , but loued him , and were sorrie to part with him , and for my affection to him , let my trauaile witnesse my truth : nowe for the loue that in nature you beare your brother , for the kindnes that you maie finde requited in my brother , for the honor that you beare vnto loue , and for the loue that you beare vnto honour ; let me humblie beseech you to conceale my follie , and in what you may to be a friend to my affection . the princesse with a modest blush smiling at her discourse , made her this kinde and gratious answere : sister , for so will i loue thee and estéeme thee , as i cannot be happy in any thing vnder heauen , but in thy brothers loue , which i holde as déere as my life , so if my brother doe not in all honourable seruice either requite or deserue this thy kindnesse , i protest to renounce him for my brother , and detest him as mine enemie : be therefore of good chéere , an●… feare no euill : thy fortune shall be mine , my bedde , my table , my purse , yea and my heart shall be all at thy disposing to doe thee good . and thus will i leaue them togither in their kinde talke , and i will tell you a little of the duke feronte , and his sonne . the duke feronte , in no little rage to thinke of the losse of his daughter , notwithstanding that he had heard his sonnes report of his roiall entertainment , followed on his determination , for his intended warre against the duke ordillo , where his embassadour was too well to returne , and his faire daughter was taken loues prisoner , and therefore calling his sonne before him vsed these wordes vnto him : penillo , i haue made thee acquainted with my resolution for my reuenge of y● wrong , that i haue receiued of ordillo ; out of whose countrey , i will fetch my fond daughter thy vnhappie sister , either dead or aliue , and therefore prepare thy selfe to put off all conceit of his kindnes , and gaine the encrease of my loue , by the honour that thou shalt get vpon mine enemie . the young prince , sorie to haue such cause to carrie armes against the father of his faire mistris , and yet vnwilling to be disobedient to his father , though it were the aduenture of his death , did humblie frame him this answere : my gratious father , i would be loath to disswade you from your setled resolution , but yet let me tell you , that although loue hath in my sister wrought a follie , shall the malice of a wicked spirit so poison your eare , that such a furie possesse your heart , that no sparke of patience can haue place in your conceit ? it will bee thought to the greatest part of your court , yea and almost to your whole countrey , that signor sperto hath béene the kindler of all this fire , and the bréeder of all these warres : i wonder not a little that your grace coulde endure to heare of his presumption , in making loue to my sister ; who i thinke bee rather runne into another countrey to trie the fortune of her affection , then to liue at home to abide the vnfitting suite of so ilfauoured a creature : whom , but that he hath the name of a man , if i did not the better know him , i should surelie take for a monster . but if i maie begge so much fauour of your grace , as to grant me my humble suite , i beséech you beginne iustice at home , and i hope we shall prosper the better abroad : let sperto in regard of his malicious practise against a stranger , and presumption in troubling the patience of your daughter , be openlie called before you , reprehended for his follie , and banished your court for his offence , and i doubt not but your maiestie shall sée the venome of his vile nature droppe out in his right kinde , my sister honorablie returned to your good fauour , and your warres turne to such a peace , as all that loue you shall be glad of . i speake not this like the prince of pigmeies that should be affraid of cranes , but that i will attend you in your warres , where i hope an honourable triumph will be better then a bloudie conquest : but fall what will , i will not liue but to bee obedient to your loue : and therefore will be readie , when it shall please you to attende you . the duke not a little noting the good counsaile of his discréet sonne , willing his son to be in readines , against a daie shortlie after appointed him , caused sig. sperto forthwith to be brought before him , to whome with a sterne countenance he vsed this spéech : sperto , i haue long giuen eare to thine vnsuspected subtiltie , but of late hauing sounded the reach of thy conceit , i will laie open thy cunning : in the time of rantifoes being in our courte , thou couldest neuer cease to ring in mine eares some couse of dislike in him , which i tooke well at thy handes , in regarde of thy imagined care of my good ; but nowe i finde the ground of thy vngratious working grewe from the malicious feare in thee , of his fauour from my faire daughter , whom thy vnworthie selfe wouldst haue bewitched with wicked eloquence , let me tell thée , for that i haue in some occasions of importāce , made good vse of thy seruice , thou shall not be vnregarded , for i will make thee receiuer of my customes : but for thy saucines with my swéete daughter , driuen out of our countrey by thy dogged meanes , i will out of hande , haue thee made an ●…unuch ; and so commanding one of his surgeons , to take him to his charge , to dismember him of his implements , fell in hande presentlie with his counsaile , to go forwardes with his resolution for his warres : while sperto with the conceit of his miserie , crauing leaue of the surgeon to spare him till the next morning , when his griefe being put a little ouer , he should with the more strength endure his torment , rather desirous to go to hell quicklie , then to hope for heauen with repentance , with a paire of his owne garters hangde himselfe in his owne chamber . but leauing thus the wicked wretch to his wofull end , and the furious duke in his inerorable anger , procéeding onwards with his warres : i will tell you a fewe wordes of the two ladies merilla and bilanta , the imagined page that i left tog●…ther in their chamber within a castle of the duke ordillo . the ladie bilanta , after she had secretlie conferred with the ladie merilla , touching both their loues , minding to make her selfe merrie with a prettie conceit , after that they had past a night or two in priuat talke togither how to bring all matters about to their best contentment , sent for the embassadour her brother , in all kindnesse spéedelie to come to her ; who no sooner receiued the message , but laying all businesse apart , came to his sister , whom he then called mistris , little thinking indeed to haue found his true beloued , and louing mistris so neere . but being come into her lodging and well entred into her chamber , commanding apart all her attendantes , shee thus fell into talke with him . seruant , though perhaps it maie séeme immodestie in a uirgin of my sort to giue such entertainment to a stranger of what sort soeuer he maie be , as i am perswaded your honourable kindnesse will deserue ; yet let me entreat you one fauour to tell me without dissembling , if i am the first obiect of your déerest affection , or whether you neuer haue had anie mistris that you haue helde anie especiall account of , and hath worthilie had the promise of your loue ? truely madame answered her brother , as hee thought vnknowne to her , i must confesse i had a mistris whom i so deerely loued , and so duelie serued , that had i anie possible hope to enioie the fruit of her fauour , i shoulde hate my selfe in the loue of anie other , but shee being so farre from the comfort of all such conceit , i thinke it no dishonour to my loue , to doe seruice to the vertue that i finde in you : for if i coulde be so vile as to thinke you a base thought death bee the rewarde of my desire , and to presume further in the best nature of honour , then maie stande with your good fauour , might condemne mee of follie , and perhaps ouerthrowe my fortune , but in such good termes to doe you seruice as maie please you to accept , i thinke it a duetie in chiualrie : but for my mistris i protest had you euer seene and knowne her , you would haue thought as much good of her as i do , and wish her as much happinesse as i want . the ladie smiling at this answere , would néedes know her name , and whence she was : who tolde her that she was the onlie daughter of his master the duke feronte , her name was merilla , and she was the likest vnto the page that she lately had from the merchant , that euer she sawe : well ( quoth the lady ) no longer my lord embassadour , but déere brother , i am glad to sée thee heere , for thou art my brother , and that shall my father knowe ere long : thy mistris is more worthie of honour , then our whole countrey and thy life can giue her : and with that worde , page quoth she to the ladie merilla , i praie thée take thy lute and play and sing thy wish : which she being in the chamber vnséene by meanes of a curtein of crimsin damaske drawn betwixt them , tooke her lute and plaied a note to a dittie , which she sung as followeth . the song . i would thou wert not faire , or i were wise : i would thou hadst no face , or i no eies : i would thou wert not wise , or i not fond , or thou not free , or i not so in bond . but thou art faire , and i cannot be wise : thy sunlike face , hath blinded both mine eies ; thou canst not be but wise , nor i but fond , nor thou but free , nor i but still in bond . yet am i wise to thinke that thou art faire , mine eies , their purenesse in thy face repaire ; nor am i fond , that doe thy wisedome see : nor yet in bond , because that thou art free . then in thy beautie onely make me wise , and in thy face , the graces guide mine eies : and in thy wisedome onely see me fond : and in thy freedome keepe me still in bond . so shalt thou still be faire , and i be wise : thy face shine still vpon my cleered eies : thy wisedome onely see how i am fond : thy freedome onely keepe me still in bond . so would i thou wert faire , and i were wise : so would thou hadst thy face , and i mine eies : so would i thou wert wise , and i were fond : and thou wert free , and i were still in bond . the song was no sooner ended but fantiro ( for so wil i henceforth giue him his right name ) oftentimes changing coloure , as one in many passions at the hearing both of her voice , which was so like his mistris the ladie princesse merilla , as might be ; and remembring the dittie to be of his owne compiling , and that in secret he had giuen it vnto her when hee first perceiued her fauour , alter he had commended her voice , as he was about to speake somewhat of his passion , his sister vppon the sodeine caused the curtein to bee drawne , when hee might see in a riche suite of her apparrell , the imagined page ; but in deede his mistris standing by a windowe , with her face towards him : when his sister seeing him stande as one amazed , vsed this spéech vnto him . why , how now brother ? doth thy heart faile thee ? how dost thou like this sight ? thou hast i knowe often heard that a girle will turne to a man , and is it then vnpossible , that a boie maie as well turne to a woman ? what ailest thou , dost thou feare thou seest a shadowe and not the true body of thy mistris ? or hast thou beene false vnto her in thy faith ? and therefore art feareful of the heauens displeasure to plague thee , with some worse spirit , then thine own ? for shame go to her , bid her welcome , it is thy mistris , i do not dissemble , be thankfull for her kindnesse , and deserue her loue . the young prince ashamed anie longer to stande in his maze , séeing his mistris in little better tune , to behold her seruant , ●… assured louer so strange vnto her , as if he either had not , or would not haue known her , went vnto her with these words . madame , thinke it not strange to see me in this perpleritie of minde , that i am in , so much is my vnworthines of this , and manie your honourable fauoures , but especiallie this triall of your affection hath so bounde mee to your seruice , as if the aduenture of my life maie make proofe of my loue , let me die like a villaine , if i do not honour your vertue . the sweet lady with modest kindnes as much as she could concealing the greatnes of her io●…e , as well in beholding her loue , as hearing his vndoubted true protestations , made him this sweete replie . my deare loue , for so dare i heere tearme you , when i had no knowledge of that title of honour , that now i heare and am glad to vnderstand dulie belongeth to you , my loue was in the same nature that now it is : your vertue wonne my affection , and your kindnesse continued my content , your noble cariage assured me of your constancie , & al togither haue brought mee hither to receiue my comforte , not caring to loose the loue of father , brother , & friend , honour , wealth , ease , & all other worldes happines , that balino could haue procured me , to aduenture the seaes , in the poore habite of a prentise , in the seruice of a poore decayed merchant , to come into a strange countrie , to abide what fortune soeuer might befall me , onelie to acquaint your kindnes with my loue . nowe if your greatnesse haue not altered your goodnesse , nor my immodesty haue withdrawne your affection , thanke your honourable sister for her kindenes towardes mee , and bee your selfe , your selfe vnto me . the young prince with as much adoo as could be to abstaine from teares of kindnes , to thinke of this seldome seene faythfull affection in so faire a creature , made her this comfortable replie . sweet princesse , in whome nature vnder the heauens hath shewed the pride of her perfections : how shoulde i liue to counteruaile the least part of this your exceeding honorable f●…uour . had i ten such dukedomes , i would lay them al at ●…our feete , and were i the greatest prince on the earth , i would 〈◊〉 gladde to bee your seruant : but as in regarde of your first affection , i am bounde to honour you with my seruice : so for 〈◊〉 your last honour , my loue i vow shall euer serue you : 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 laie by all thought of strangers : this land is youres , my father i know will reioyce in you , my selfe vnder heauen , will haue no ●…oie but you : for i protest without dissembling my 〈◊〉 ioie is wholie in you . and thus will i leaue these louers with the other ladie in this their secret hinde conference , 〈◊〉 i will tell you , what followed of mario the decayed merchant . this mario the merchant , hearing newes in the citty , that the duke feronte was comming from balino , with a great armie against the duke ordillo and his country , thought good no longer to conceale the embassadoure his sonne from him , and therefore comming to the court , and hauing obtained meanes to haue some priuate conference with the duke , in fewe wordes deliuered the discourse of all that i before haue recited , both of his escape from the intended murther of his malicious uncle , of his carrying him ouer , of his preferment in court by him , and of the cause of his comming thither in ambassage : all which recounted truly as it was , with the comming ouer of the ladie merilla in the attire of a prentise , for the loue of his son fantiro , so pleased the duke , that he not onelie kindly gaue him thankes , but richly rewarded him for his good newes , and rosaltie considered all his honest , and kinde dealing : and presentlie caused his sonne the ambassadour to be sent for , whom he welcomed with such a soie , as such a father might such a son . who hauing recounted all his fortune , his father the duke caused his sister the young princesse to be sent for , to whom he not onlie gaue thankes for her carefull , and kinde vsage of the young princesse merilla , but charged her vpon his blessing to continue all kindnesse , that might giue her knowledge of the ●…oifull loue that shee should finde both in himselfe , his court , and his whole countrey : and that for a fewe daies shee should seeme to conceale it from her , that he knewe of her being in his court , till he had made preparation euerie waie fit for the entertainment of her presence . and thus will i leaue the ladies passing their time together in priuate conference of their thiefest comfortes , and i will returne to the duke feronte nowe hauing gotten his forces togither , marching with his whole armie towardes the sea , minding to make for cotasi , where nothing should content him but a conquest . the duke resolued vpon his determination , either to leaue his bloud , or take his reuenge , dispatching awaie a post with letters to his embassadour for the defiance of his termed enemie the duke , and proclamation of warre with him and his whole countrey , calling his sonne vnto him , vpon a rocke on the sea side in the middest of his armie made this speech vnto his people . the long iniurie that i haue borne at the handes of my vnfriendlie neighbour ordillo , besides the debt that hee oweth me , and neuer intendeth to paie me , togither with my extreme griefe for the losse of my onely daughter , that onelie through a fonde affection carried i know not how ; to a stranger i know not whom , co●…ueied away by a banbrout , or decaied merchant , if i maie better terme him into that vngratious piece of ground where ordillo hath his gouernment : these i safe with manie other iust causes of discontentment conceiued against y● proude prince and his stubborne people , haue caused me to put on the resolution either of death or reuenge , which shall no waie ende but in conquest or submission ; as manie therefore as either regarde our loue , or haue anie hope of our fauour , let them with willing heartes followe the honour of my resolution , protesting that whatsoeuer he bee , that shall in the least shewe of feare turne his backe vnto the enemie , if hee were as déere to me as mine owne sonne , he shall die in the place where i finde him : but hee that shall with the fortune of his forwardnesse , bring me the duke or his soune either dead or aliue , i will so regard and reward him , that he shall leaue honour to his posteritie : the winde serueth well for our passage , and we shall finde them perhaps vnprouided for our comming , so the easier will be our victorie and the shorter our warres , if not the sharper our fight , the greater will be our honor , and since feare is the badge of villanie , let vs auoide the shame of such condition and as manie as loue either our crowne or countrey , holde vp their handes with me : who then in the whole campe , that had a hand , but he would holde it vp ? well to grow towardes an ende , as the prince said , so said the people : the duke set foote aboord , and all the armie followed him : the winde serued , the sa●…les were hoised , and the anchors weied , and awaie they went where i will leaue them for a while , and returne againe to ordillo the duke of cotasi and his sonne , feronte his embassadour . the post hauing béen with the embassadour as he thought , but now rather an enemie then a friend , if this quarrell should go forwarde , perceiuing the intent of the duke his late master , rather chusing to be an vnkinde seruant , then an vnnaturall sonne , wrote vnto him , that the case was altered , hee had nowe chosen an other master , whose loue hee knewe was such vnto him , that seruing him faithfullie , woulde not vse him vnkindlie : his embassage was deliuered , and nowe this must bee his answere , as in kindnesse hee might command much , so by the contrarie as little ; his comming was more expected then feared , and his welcome should be as he deserued : and for himselfe , if his fortune were to his hope , he should find a kinder seruant , then he had done a master : with these and such like conclusions , dispatched awaie . the young prince , presentlie went to his father the duke ordillo , with whom and his counsaile conferring vpon the seruice speedelie to bee had care of , taking order by vertue of his commission , to leuie a great armie , as well to encounter the enemie , as in diuerse places of strength to stand for defence , if anie occasion should be offered , being secure for anie feare , or doubt to be ouertaken , hearing by a pinnis , that being at sea deseried the fléete so farre , as by meanes of crosse windes , and ill weather , they could not in fiue daies come néere the shore of their countrey , after he had a little reposed himselfe , after his trauaile , considering the great discomfort that his mistris the young princesse might take vpon the rumour of these warres , making all the meanes hee could to haue it kept from her hearing , tooke a conuenient time to go to his sister , with whome his mistris as yet remained . but as such kinde of persons most inquisitiue of newes are not without their intelligencers , so fell it out , that the post was scarce at the court , but his message was knowne to the young ladies , ●…hose priuate conference vpon the same , before fantiroes comming to them , was as followeth . merilla considering the manie sorrowes that were now like to fall vpon her , the assurance of her fathers displeasure , the doubt of her brothers loue , and the feare of the young prince her seruantes death in the seruice , was euen so appauled , that ( following the humours of women ) first to sigh for a little griefe of disobedience in nature , then enfolding her armes , as lamenting the doubted losse of her brothers loue , and last of all , wéeping with feare to loose the comfort of all her worldes hope , in her déere beloued and kinde louing lorde , in the misfortune of the warres , was by the young princesse her seruants sister comforted with these wordes . sister , so will i nowe terme thee , for so doe i holde thee , and so doe i hope to haue thee , and so will i euer loue shee ; take not too much griefe at anything , that either feare or doubt may put into thy head , let this comfort thee , that thou art not alone in thy miserie : if thou hast left a father , thou hast found a friend , and if thou hast lost a brother , thou hast found a sister , choler and melancholie gouernes the spirits of the aged , but kindnesse and mirth should be the humours of our yeares : nature biddes you loue your father , so you maie though you do not liue with him ; but loue biddes you liue with your friende , which you can not if you be from him ; and let me tell you , that a●… well as i séem●… to beare it out , i am stoong at the heart as well as you . i loue your brother as deerely as i can deuise , but for his affection , i had little time to hope of , and too little time to en●…oie . nowe my father i loue , as you doe yours , but your brother i cannot loue as you doe mine , for i cannot enioie his presence , as you doe my brothers : you feare the fortune of the warres , and i both fortune and the wars . i would my case were yours or as yours , that fortune would do her worst , so i had but my loue to looke on : be therefore content , put off this mourning , this warre maie bréede a blessed peace , for when the princes are both in the field , my wits shal faile me , but i wil plot such a piece of seruice , as hath neuer been heard of before , and i beleeue once executed , will not be forgotten in hast . the other young princesse much comforted to haue such a companion in her crosses , and that the heauens did fauour her affection , or else fortune would not haue bin so kind to her in her aduentures , taking a little hart of grace , loath to die with conceit , wtout greater cause then she yet had , for though her head was much troubled with imaginations , yet nothing came so néere her heart , but a looke of her loue would put it quite out of place , yet with a little kinde of heau●…nesse made her this answere . good madame , if the miseries were far greater that i endure , then i hope they euer will be , yet of such force are the perswasions that you haue vsed vn●…o me , that i should beare them with such patience , that i should forget much of the paine : but yet so manie are the thoughtes of griefe in my head , that but for the comfort of your honourable kindnesse , would doe me but a little good in my heart : i must confesse loue is the life of the heart , but what is the daie that comes but like lightening ? little better then darke night . you cannot mourne so much for the lacke of your hope , as i for the losse of my happinesse ; your loue maie bee forcible for the time , but it is not of so long continuance as mine , and for that the eie sees not , the heart grieues not ; you feare the fortune of the warres , and i wishe for nothing but peace . but sister , since you will haue it so , and i would it were so , euerie waie that you wishe , till the warres bee determined i can be at no quiet , for if my brother die , you loose your loue , if your brother perish , what ioie haue i in the world ? if fortune fauour my father , my comfort will be little with my affection , and if your father haue the fielde , downe goes the honour of my house : so that i can no waie sée how it can go so well , but wofull will bee the issue of what fortune soeuer befall : but good madam , if there be anie humour in your heade , that maie giue comfort to my heart , i beséech you acquaint me with some little sparke of your conceit . i will quoth merilla her sworne sister : and as she was beginning to vtter some part of her minde , her brother fantiro the young prince came in , who with a kinde congee , lacking no grace to entertaine time with such gratious creatures , finding them in alike tunes for their humours , some what too néere maidens melancholie , hoping to remooue it with a corpus habeas , fell aboord with them in this manner : ladies all , faire fortunes befall you , what fowle weather doe you dreame of , that makes you droope so in your countenance ? i hope sister , you are not affraid of sparrow-blasting , and for my swéete mistris , i would i knew the cause of her discontent , i would soone procure her comfort . the ladie with a merrie goe sorrie not yet hauing fullie acquainted him with her loue to penillo , the duke feronte his sonne , nowe comming in armes against her father , made him this answere : brother , my sister and i am both sicke of one disease , i would we might both alike haue remedies : but these wicked warres haue put vs both in such a flight , that till they be at a point , we are not like to be at rest : her brother as déere to me , as she to you , i haue no cause to hope euer to enfoie , so manie are my perswasions thereto , you are not yet possessed though beloued , and maie bee lost though neuer enioied , so our crosse carding gets nothing but sorrowe , our heads are so full of doubts , and our heartes so full of feares , i speake for my sister as my selfe . well answered fantiro , for my mistris let her be comforted with this , that my life i mate léese , but shee my loue neuer ; and for your feares and doubtes , they are incident to your natures , and therefore you maie the better awaie with them . but déere mistris , quoth he , turning to merilla , bee not dismaied at anie thing , feare nothing , the praiers of a uirgine are excéedinglie effectiue , i am perswaded , if anie liue in the fielde , the lot would fall to me and your brother : for our loues and your praiers cannot but prosper togither . and for my loue thus much will i saie to satisfie all conceit of your imagination , that so honourable is the nature of my affection , and so gratious the honor of your vertue , that i should hate my selfe , if i should offend you ; but in doing you seruice , shall bee my resolued happines . time giues me not leaue to solemnize the rights of our desires , & therefore will i attend the issue of my fortune ▪ to performe the care of my duetie , ere with the hasting of my happines , i maie displease the honour of your patience : 〈◊〉 meane time , assuring my selfe , that my sister will be to you as a second selfe , i will leaue you to her kinde companie 〈◊〉 you maie heare further of my wished comfort . his mistris the young princesse not a little pleased with this spéech of his . wherein taking her chiefe notes in the assurance of his neuer dying loue , the prosperitie of the uirgines praiers , & the patience of his affection to attend the issue of his fortune , with a heart as full of greefe , as her eies wéeping 〈◊〉 could conceale , made him this short answeare . my deere loue , in the midst of extremities hope is the comfort of the 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 ▪ and though i see no perswasion of comfort in the issue of these warres ; yet will i not despaire of the blessing of a peace ▪ let my life march with thy loue , and my praiers with thy act●…s , and if the fates be not too frowarde , i will hope the best of thy fortune : and for your patience , it is a proofe of your constanci●… ; and for your care in committing me to your sister , it is the true witnesse of kindnesse in your selfe . what shall i saie ? if wee were not women , we shoulde haue hearts like men ; but as we are , giue vs leaue to shew our weakenes , till we be comforted with your happines : and for that i know , your carefull experience is not a little comforte to your father , in this action , i will entreat you if it maie be , not to thinke of me , till i maie come to you , which in the warres is vnfit , and in peace is yet vnlikely . his sister withall came in with her fiue pennie-mo●…ice in this manner . brother , though you cannot bee out of loue , yet now you are in hand with other matters , trouble not your selfe with thinking of vs , till neede be : forget not your selfe , and we will not forgette you ; followe your businesse , let vs alone with your humoures : the powers of heauens bring all to a good ende . the young prince with a thankfull amen to their prayer , tooke his leaue of them both and returned to the court , where i will leaue him with his father , preparing for his armie , and the two ladies in their chamber , parting stakes in conceites , and i will returne to feronte the duke of balino , and his son penillo , who with a great armie were in sight of lande , but for some politique occasions to take the benefite of time , did anker all nighte in the road before the harbour ; at which time the young prince desi●…ous , by some resolute aduenture , to gayne some especiall honour , humbly be sought the duke his father , that hee would vouchsafe him leaue , to haue the leading of the uanguarde , the first daie of seruice , and the first night to haue the selting of the watch : both which in regarde , as well of his earnest suit , as for the skill that he sawe in him , and the honour that he had gotten in the emperours wars against the turke , was granted him . but after a counsayle helde by the duke himselfe , his sonne , and all his honourable followers , for the pitching of his campe , and determination of his seruice , taking some little repose , till the first breaking of the morning ; as soone as they had light to serue their turns for landing , they made all the hast they coulde a shore : where i will leaue them for a while pitching their tents , and prouiding for their wars , and i will tell you a worde or two of the two ladies , that i left in their chamber . bilanta hauing receaued newes that the enemie ▪ was landed , and that the dukes both in their tentes , there was like to be a battell out of hand ; began thus to talk to her sister princesse . sister did not i tell thee that i would plaie a mad part ▪ wilt thou do as i do ? venture our liues for our loues ? if we shal be sisters let vs ioine handes , and heartes to take part alike in our fortunes : i will not stirre a foote from thee : what sayest thou ? the ladie amazed at her manner of spéech , and yet know ing the nature of her loue , made her this answeare : saie and it is done ; for i am no more then you will haue mee , if i fayle in my loue , let me fall with my life : i will make no exception knowing the honour of your discretion , but stand vpon this resolution , our fa●…stes of one feather , let our loues ●…lie togither ▪ what you do i will do , if i die for it i care not . then quoth bilanta , ten to one , but penillo will be the formost man in the fiel●… , and perhaps to striue for honour , maie step vpon a stone of dan ger , where if his foote slippe ; hee maie happen bee taken vp ●…er he rise . my father and my brother are i am sure in their tent ▪ before whom euerie man must come that will seeke preser●… in this péece of seruice . now let vs plaie the gallantes 〈◊〉 armour , and furnishe our selues with armour , sworde , and pike , and let vs with our burgonettes close couering our faces , as strangers vnknowne , make suit to the duke my father and my brother , to haue leaue before the battel , to do some p●…e of seruice in his honour : and saie that we are young knightes that will not be knowne till our actions be performed , but that we come from two ladies ( i meane our selues ) who were sent by them , with this chaine of pear●…e to gratifie the duke , and this iewell my brother , the better to obtaine leaue for the e●…cution of our attempte . nowe if we get leaue as i doubt not it maie be , we shall be happier then we looke for . good sister ( quoth merilla ) agreed , i am for you : if i 〈◊〉 aduenture the danger of the seaes , to follow my friend , shall i feare anie course in the companie of my kinde sister ? no , beside me life , or death , i will take part with you in your fortune . then sister ( quoth merilla ) wee two will arme our selues like to gallant young souldiers , and being vnknowne when our uanguards are put down , we will go to the duke my fathers tent , where ten to one , wee shall finde my brother with him , to them will wee present our selues , by a friend that i haue made for the purpose , who shall not anie waie reueale vs , but make report , that wee are two strange knightes , that for our honoures haue auowed to feare no dangers , nor slippe any occasion of aduenture : and hearing of late , of this larum of the arriuall of the duke feronte , and his armie , will vpon him or some of his chiefe generals performe some such resolute piece of seruice , as maie well approoue more loue , then we will protest both to his maiestie and his countrey , which performed , wee will then reueale our selues , our names and conditions , onely we will entreat but this fauour , that we maie alone without further companie haue leaue to march this night towardes the enemie , vpon whome we hope to gaine such honour , as maie be to the dukes content , and the benefite to his whole countrey ; and the better to procure this fauour , i will carrie this chaine of pearle , that with a letter to the effect of this suite i will carrie , as written from me to my brother , which with this chaine of pearle shall be giuen him as from mee : nowe if we obtaine our suite wee will to the fielde , and through the darke , trie our fortune . it giues me in my mind , the young prince your brother will be some what gallant vpon the spleene , and steppe further then he is aware of : which if he doe , and we light vpon him , it maie bee it will make a short warre : howsoeuer it bee i am resolued , if we be taken prisoners , wee shall receiue no great hurt , and if we die , our sorrowes are at an ende . the princesse merilla smiling at her inuention , and hauing past her promise to followe her in her enterprise , was as good as her worde , went with her into a priuate chamber with her sister bilanta , where they fell to conferre with a secret friende , for the better effecting of their intent , where i will leaue them like amazones , fitting their armours , to plaie the par●…es of madde people , and i will tell you a word or two of the duke ordillo , and his sonne fantiro . the duke making preparation for the next daie to answere the enemie both horse and foote , and after good order taken for euerie thing according to his desire , calling his sonne vnto him , with certaine of his lordes , and principall men of armes , vsed this roiall speech vnto him : my good friendes and followers , the matter that we haue now in hande , is of no little moment , when the liues of our selues , wiues and children , our libertie , our landes and goods , and our honour , and reputation for euer in this worlde , standeth vpon the issue of one daies seruice , wherein the triumphant shall bee blessed , and the vanquished in a manner vtterlie confounded : our enemie is angrie , and f●…erce , now it becommeth vs to be patient and valiant : for nothing more daunteth furie , then the banishment of feare , which in a fielde is commonlie the cause of the ouerthrow : rashnes maie be hurtfull , but cowardise is the shame of reason let vs therefore put on resolution , to be readie vpon the first summon , to answere the enemie : ours is the better quarrell , hee would haue that he hath no néede of , and we cannot spare that he will commande ; now our pouertie hath made his pride to swell to such a height , as i hope will come down : for if euerie one be of my minde , he shall haue a sharper breakfast , then he had a supper : which if hee disgest not the better , maie happe sticke in his stomacke till his heart ake : our strengthes are well fortified , but shall we looke on him a farre off ? and be afraid to take him by the hand ? no , i am olde , and first to thee my sonne i speake , & so to all my friends , i will neuer returne to my court , without great contentment to my countrey : and he that loueth me or himselfe let him laie downe his life with me in this seruice : i will leade you , follow me that will , and let him die quoth his sonne , that will not : to which praier was such a generall amen , that with the cheerefulnesse of euerie one , it séemed they rather thought of a banquet then a battaile . but not long they were in this resolute consultation , but the two ladies , before spoken of nowe armed at all pointes like souldiers , were brought before the duke and his sonne , who after the reading of the letter , and deliuerie of the chaine of pearle , with much adoe obtained 〈◊〉 ●…t suite , without the companie of anie more then themselues ; to trie their fortune in gaining honour vpon the enemie , who leauing the duke with his sonne in their tentes , in the dim night marched towardes the enemie , and vpon the sodaine fearing to be descried by some soo●…te , ambus●…aded themselues , in such sort , that they would be sure of their purpose , ere they would put their honours in aduenture , where they had not long rested , till they mette with the happinesse of their whole hope : but i will leaue them there close waiting for their fortune , and tell you a fewe wordes of penillo the young prince , sonne to the duke feronte . this roiall spirited youth , euer spurring for the best fortune , and hauing that night obtained of the duke his father , the charge of the watch for that night , and the leading of the vanguarde the next morning ; looking rounde about him , and seeing no cause of feare or doubt of enemie , the moone though dimlie shining , yet giuing so much light , as might deserie a lesse shadow then a souldiers , with his trun●…enin his hand , and his rapier at his side , walking as it were carelesse of all fortune , thinking none within the hearing , tell thus to talke to himselfe : oh poore penillo , the most vnfortunate man liuing , to come with honour from the seruice vpon the turke , and nowe to make a quarrell , with alas too weake a christian , what shall i doe ? i must followe my father , to fall out with my friende : ordillo vsed me like himselfe , and shall i be vngratefull , in the greatest vnkindnesse ? but bilanta my loue , what will she thinke of my faith , to she we such fruites of my affection ? oh i am not my selfe , that cannot be hers , and yet in my heart i am hers , howe harde soeuer be my happe : but i must not be vnnaturall , and i would not be vnkinde : what is to be done ? oh heauens doe that which i cannot deuise , loue is diuine , and as the stature is of my affection , so let me prosper in my fortune . which word was scarcelie out , when the two vnknowne souldiers laied hold of him , and carried him prisoner to the duke ordillo : before whom 〈◊〉 they had brought him , the duke had them for rewarde of their seruice , aske anie thing whatsoeuer his court or countrey could affoorde them , with protestation vpon the sword of honour , not to denie , nor to delaie them : but before the dem●… of the souldiers for their promised rewarde , passed these fewe words betwixt the two princes . fantiro the yoong prince seeing the sonne of his enimie prisoner , the more to abate as he thought , the pride of his spirit , entertained him with this welcome . your fortune is like your quarrell , no better then i wish , and as it beginneth , so i hope will bee the ende : disgrace at the first , thinke what will bee the last . well ( quoth penillo ) i am nowe not my selfe , had not fortune thus throwne me into thy handes , thou wouldest neuer haue dared to haue vttered one of these wordes ; and had i my libertie , i would make thee shake for this presumption . who , ●…e ( quoth the prince fantiro ? ) thou art deceyued , thou shalt see howe little account i make of thy too great minde , go take thy libertie ; see what thy second fortune can do vppon mee . but hadst thou me at this aduantage , what wouldest thou do to me ? use thee●… ( quoth the prince ) nowe prisoner , as thou dost mee , giue thee thy libertie for charitie . at which wordes the young prince fantiro smiling at the greatnesse of so roiall a spirite , with better wordes perswaded him to patience . when the two ladies taking off their burgonets , descrying themselues to the great admiration of the duke , the young prince , and the prisoner , and all the beholders neere them , demaunded their rewardes in this manner . merilla by her tra●…e through the seaes ▪ losse of her fathers loue , her brother , friendes , and countrie , desired to haue for her rewarde the young prince fantiro , whome the duke with no little gladnes was content to yee●… vnto . bilanta in the aduenture of her life , in y● atchieuing of this honor , pleaded a blessing of the heauens for the enioying of her loue , which was the prisoner . the other young prince , whoseeing his fortune no worse then to fall into such faire hands , was nothing vnwilling to haue the dukes worde performed . but i will leaue them awhile determining of the euent of these fortunes , and i will speake a little of the duke feronte and his passions . nowe the morning following the duke expecting his sons comming to his tent , to take the charge of the vanguarde for that daye in the seruice intended , but neyther seeing , nor hearing of him soo long that he grewe into some feare , least some mishap or other was come vnto him , fell at last into this speech with himself . oh feronte , vnder what planet wert thou born ? or what offence hast thou committed against the heauens , to haue these heauie fortunes befall thee , in thy aged yéeres , thy onelie daughter as full of vertue , as honour could wish , to bee stolne from thy court , by a stranger , and perhaps thine enimie : thy sonne more deare to thee then thy selfe , hauing wonne honour in the seruice of the emperour , to loose it in the gouerment of a meane prince : naie more dost thou not rather doubt of his deathe , then hope of his life , hauing no notice what maye become of him . oh too much valour i feare hath made thee too forwarde : is it possible that thou liuest , if thou hast lighted into the hands of thine enimies ? no , thy spirite is so great , that it will not let thée yéelde but to death ; and if thou dost liue howe canst thou hope of anie thing , but 〈◊〉 ▪ knowing the condition of my comming ? well , all thinges are at the heauens disposing , to whome i will referre the hope of my comfort : i●… thou liuest sonne , i will redeeme thée ; and if thou diest , i will follow thée . and thus in extreame passion , determyning the aduenture of his owne life , to take reuenge of his sons fortun●… , vpon the sodaine can●…e a herauld of armes from ordillo the duke , with this ambassage vnto him , that if it woulde please him to remit all iniuries , and to accept the submission of much loue ; the intended warre should turne to a continuall peace : he shoulde haue the demande of his desire , and more contentment then he could expect . this message in the midst of his manie griefes , so pacified his wrath , that he ●…ad y● herauld tell his master , that his words were currant weight with him , and that if he would in person meete him betweene both the campes , he should see what comfortable effect his kindnes had wrought with him : with which wordes , and a bountifull rewarde for his good message , hee returned to the duke his master , who vpon the receit of the message , came presentlie out of his tent , & met with y● duke feronte , according to appointment , to whome after akind of humble greeting , he recounted all that happened of both their children , and that in regard of the debt that he confessed due vnto him , he would if with his fauour hee might endowe his daughter with his whole dukedome , which discourse , and profer so pleased his much appawled mind , that causing al the children to be brought togither on either side , in steede of sharpe intended war , made so blessed a peace , that the houses vnited in mariage , liued euer after in much loue , & the souldiers al commanded to laie by their armes , after much feasting , and manie triumphes returned home with no little ioie . finis . the court and country, or a briefe discourse dialogue-wise set downe betweene a courtier and a country-man contayning the manner and condition of their liues, with many delectable and pithy sayings worthy obseruation. also, necessary notes for a courtier. vvritten by n.b. gent. breton, nicholas, ?- ? approx. kb of xml-encoded text transcribed from -bit group-iv tiff page images. text creation partnership, ann arbor, mi ; oxford (uk) : - (eebo-tcp phase ). a stc estc s this keyboarded and encoded edition of the work described above is co-owned by the institutions providing financial support to the early english books online text creation partnership. this phase i text is available for reuse, according to the terms of creative commons . universal . the text can be copied, modified, distributed and performed, even for commercial purposes, all without asking permission. early english books online. (eebo-tcp ; phase , no. a ) transcribed from: (early english books online ; image set ) images scanned from microfilm: (early english books, - ; : , : ) the court and country, or a briefe discourse dialogue-wise set downe betweene a courtier and a country-man contayning the manner and condition of their liues, with many delectable and pithy sayings worthy obseruation. also, necessary notes for a courtier. vvritten by n.b. gent. breton, nicholas, ?- ? [ ] p. by g. eld for iohn wright, and are to be sold at his shop at the signe of the bible without newgate, printed at london : . n.b. = nicholas breton. signatures: a⁴ (-a , +e ) b-e⁴ (-e ). the title page is a cancel, with two woodcuts, printed as e . variant: also having the cancellandum title, lacking the woodcuts. running title reads: the courtier and the country-man. identified as stc on umi microfilm reel . reproductions of the originals in the folger shakespeare library and the henry e. huntington library and art gallery. appears at reel (folger shakespeare library copy) and at reel (henry e. huntington library and art gallery copy). created by converting tcp files to tei p using tcp tei.xsl, tei @ oxford. re-processed by university of nebraska-lincoln and northwestern, with changes to facilitate morpho-syntactic tagging. gap elements of known extent have been transformed into placeholder characters or elements to simplify the filling in of gaps by user contributors. eebo-tcp 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of each text was proofread for accuracy and those which did not meet qa standards were returned to the keyers to be redone. after proofreading, the encoding was enhanced and/or corrected and characters marked as illegible were corrected where possible up to a limit of instances per text. any remaining illegibles were encoded as <gap>s. understanding these processes should make clear that, while the overall quality of tcp data is very good, some errors will remain and some readable characters will be marked as illegible. users should bear in mind that in all likelihood such instances will never have been looked at by a tcp editor. the texts were encoded and linked to page images in accordance with level of the tei in libraries guidelines. copies of the texts have been issued variously as sgml (tcp schema; ascii text with mnemonic sdata character entities); displayable xml (tcp schema; characters represented either as utf- unicode or text strings within braces); or lossless xml (tei p , characters represented either as utf- unicode or tei g elements). keying and markup guidelines are available at the text creation partnership web site . eng courts and courtiers -- early works to . country life -- england -- early works to . england -- social life and customs -- early works to . - tcp assigned for keying and markup - apex covantage keyed and coded from proquest page images - david karczynski sampled and proofread - david karczynski text and markup reviewed and edited - pfs batch review (qc) and xml conversion the court and country , or a briefe discourse dialogue-wise set downe betweene a courtier and a country-man : contayning the manner and condition of their liues , with many delectable and pithy sayings worthy obseruation . also , necessary notes for a covrtier . written by n. b. gent. the country-man . the courtier . london , printed by g. e ld for iohn wright , and are to be sold at his shop at the signe of the bible without newgate . . to the worshipfull and worthy knight , the fauourer of all good vertues and studies , sir stephen poll , of blackmoore in essex ; and to his worthy lady , health , honour , and eternall happinesse . worthy knight , being well acquainted with your true knowledge of the honour of the court , and the pleasure of the countrey : your iudiciall obseruation in your trauels abroad , and your sweet retyred life at home : finding my seruice indebted to many of your vndeserued bountifull fauours , and willing , in some fruites of my labour , to shewe the thankfulnesse of my loue , i haue aduentured to present your patience with a short discourse , in the manner of a dialogue , betweene a courtier and a countriman , touching the liues of either : what matter of worth is in it i will leaue to your discretion to consider of , with my bounden seruice to the honour of your commaund , hoping that either heere or in the country it will be a pretty passage of idle time , with some matter of mirth to remoue melancholy . and so in prayer for your health , and your good ladies , to whom , with your selfe , dedicating this short dialogue , i rest yours , humbly deuoted to be commanded nich. breton . to the reader . among many passages that i haue met with in the world , it was my hap of late to light on a kinde controuerfie betweene two kinsmen , a courtier and a countryman , who meeting together vpon a time , fell to perswading one another from their courses of life ; the courtier would faine haue drawne the country-man to the court , and the countryman the courtier to the country . the reasons for their delights , and loue to their manner of liues , i haue set downe as i found them ; but whatsoeuer they alledged for their contentments , it seemed they were resolued vpon their courses , for in the end they left where they begunne , euery man to his owne humour , and so brake off . now what profit or pleasure may arise by the reading of them , i referre to their discretion that can best make vse of them . matter of state is not here medled with ; scurrillity heere is none : no taxing of any person , nor offence iustly to any whosoeuer : but passages of witte , without the malice of any euill minde . and in summe , matter of good substance , and mirth enough to driue away a great deale of melancholy : and so leauing it to your patience to read , and to your pleasure to esteeme of as you see cause : both to courtiers and countrimen that are kinde and honest men , i rest , to wish content in the course of a happy life , and so remaine your well wishing countryman n. b. the covrtier and the covntryman . covrtier . cousin , well met ; i see you are still for the country , your habite , your countenance , your footing , and your carriage doe all plainly shew you are no changeling , but euery day alike , one , and the same . covntry-man , i am so indéede , and wish that you were so too ; for then should you not be so great an eye-sore to your friends , nor such an enemy to your selfe : for , i feare the place you liue in is more costly then profitable ; where , for one that goes vp the weather , a number goe downe the winde , and perhaps the place not so truly full of delight as the passage through a meaner compasse . covrt . oh cousin , you cannot but confesse that blinde men can iudge no coulours , and you that liue plodding to purchase a pudding , cannot but distast any meat that may compare with it , though in many degrées of goodnes it excéede it : for , should i tell you truly what i know of it , you would soon after your opinion to a point of better iudgment . oh , the gallant life of the court , where so many are the choices of contentment , as if on earth it were the paradise of the world , the maiesty of the soueraigne , the wisdome of the councell , the honour of the lords , the beauty of the ladies , the care of the officers , the courtsey of the gentlemen , the diuine seruice in the morning and euening , the witty , learned , noble , and pleasant discourses all day , the variety of wits , with the depth of iudgments , the dainty fare , sweetly dressed and neatly serued , the delicate wines and rare fruites , with excellent musique and admirable voyces , maskes and playes dauncing and riding ; deuersity of games , delightfull to the gamsters purposes ; and riddles , questions and answers ; poems , histories , and strange inuentions of witt , to startle the braine of a good vnderstanding : rich apparell , precious iewells , fine proportions , and high spirits , princely coaches , stately horses , royall buildings and rare architecture , sweete creatures and ciuill behauiour : and in the course of loue such carriage of content , as so luls the spirit in the lap of pleasure , that if i should talke of the praise of it all day , i should be short of the worth of it at night . covnt . and there withall you wak't : or else you are like a musitian that onely playes vpon one string : but , touch the basse , with the treble , the meane , with the counter tenor , and then see how the strings will agree together , and whether the voyces doe not rather faine then sing plaine , for feare the ditty may disgrace the note , and so the musicke be not worth the hearing : but if all be as you say , yet take the euening with the morning , and all the weeke with the holy-day , the sower with the sweet , and the cost with the pleasure , and tell me then if once in seauen yeares , when your state is weakened and your land wasted , your woods vntimberd , your pastures vnstored , and your houses decayed ; then tell me whether you find the prouerbe true , of the courtier young and old : though sometime a bell-weether may bee fat , when many a better sheepe cannot hit on so good a feeding . but since you speake so scornefully of the country life , if you were or could be so happy as to apprehend the true content in the course of it , you would shake the head , and sigh from the heart to be so long from the knowledg of it , and neuer be at rest till you were gotten to it . oh , the swéete of the country life , in which are so many and so true varieties of pleasures as kéeps the spirit euer waking , and the senses euer working for the full content of the whole creature , in so ▪ much that if there may be a similie of heauen vpon earth , it is onely in the precinct of the country passage , where both nature and reason behold and enuy that satiety of pleasure that is not easily to be expressed . and to answer directly to some of your points of praise , let me tell you , though we sée not our soueraigne euery day , yet we pray for him euery hower ; and holding ourselues vnworthy of his presence , are glad when we may get a sight of his maiesty . now , for councellors of state , we reuerence their persons , and pray for their liues in their labours for our peace . and for your lords , we haue land-lords that agree best with our mindes , whom vsing with due reuerence , paying them their rent , and now and then for some small remembrances wée can haue friendly talke withall , and learne good lessons of them for many things to be look't into : and vpon the bench at a quarter sesions , when they giue a charge , heare them speake so wisely , that it would doe ones heart good to heare them : and sometime in the holydayes , when they keepe good houses , make many a good meales meat with them . and in the time of the yeare when the haruest is in , goe a hunting , and hauking , coursing and fishing with them : and sometime to continue good neighbour-hood , méete , and make matches for shooting and bowling with them , when wee exercise the body in plaine dealing , and not the braine in subtle deuice . now for your ladies , wee haue pretty wenches , that , though they be not proud , yet they thinke their penny good siluer , and if they be faire it is naturall , and hauing their mothers wit they will doe well enough for their fathers vnderstanding . and for your gentlemen , wee haue good yeomen that vse more , courtesey or at least kindnesse then curiosity , more friendship then complements , and more truth then eloquence : and perhaps i may tell you , i thinke we haue more ancient and true gentlemen that hold the plough in the field , then you haue in great places that waite with a trencher at a table ; and i haue heard my father say , that i beleeue to bee true , that a true gentleman will bee better knowne by his inside then his outside , for ( as he said ) a true gentleman will be like himselfe , sober , but not proud ; liberall , and yet thrifty ; wise , but not full of words ; and better seene in the law , then be too busie with the lawes ; one that feares god , will be true to his king , and well knowes how to liue in the world , and whatsoeuer god sends , hath the grace to be content with it , loues his wife and his children , is carefull for his family , is a friend to his neighbour , and no enemy to himselfe : and this ( said my father ) is indéed the true gentleman ; and for his qualities , if he can speake well , and ride well , and shoote well , and bowle well , wee desire no more of him : but for kissing of the hand , as if hee were licking of his fingers , bending downe the head , as if his neck were out of ioynt ; or scratching by the foote , as if he were a corne-cutter ; or leering aside , like a wench after her swéete-heart ; or winking with one eye , as though hee were leuying at a woodcocke ; and such apish tricks , as came out of the land of petito , where a monkey and a baboone make an vrchin generation : and for telling of tales of the aduenturous knight & the strang lady ; and for writing in rime , or talking in prose , with more tongues then téeth in his head , and with that which he brought from beyond the seas , which he cannot be rid of at home , for swearing and brauing , scoffing and stabbing , with such trickes of the diuels teaching , we allow none of that learning . now , if you haue any such where you liue i know not , i hope with vs there are none of them , but i am sure , if they come amongst vs , wee desire to be rid of them . we haue good husbands and honest widdowes , pure virgins and chast bachelors , learned church men , and ciuill townes men , holesome fare , full dishes , white bread , and hearty drinke , cleane platters and faire linnen , good company , friendly talke , plaine musique , and a merry song : and so when god is praysed and the people pleased , i thinke there is no course where a man may be better contented . now , if it bee true ( but hope it is not ) that i haue heard , that in some such places as you liue in : in the world , a great way hence beyond the sea , there be certaine people that haue brasen faces , serpents tongues , and eagles clawes , that will intrude into companies , and perswade wickednes , and flatter follies , and catch hold of whatsoeuer they can light on for the seruice of lewdnes , eyther money , lands , or leases , or apparell , and euer cramming , and yet euer crauing : they are carriers of letters betweene lust and wantonnesse , tellers of old wiues tales , and singers of wenching ballads ; sweare and forsweare , drinke and gull , laugh , and be fat , and for a little pleasure on earth goe to the diuell for euer : now , these in the old time ( but now a dayes i hope are out of vse ) were called parasites and panders , ieasters , or iuglers , much of the nature of gypsies , cunning as the diuell to diue into a pocket , or to picke out the bottome of a purse ; but i hope they are all dead , or at least you haue few of them about you : if you haue , i know not what vse you can make of them , but i i am sure we cannot away with them among vs. i haue heard moreouer that you haue among you certain eues-droppers , that are tale carriers , that come among the rooles of knaues : but for our howses in the cnuntry , they are so far one from another , that if we catch any of them about vs , wée should carry him before the constable for a théefe . but now leauing to speake more of these things : for pleasures , beléeue it , we will put you downe a world of steppes ; for , first of all we rise with the larke and goe to bed with the lambe , so that we haue the breake of the day and the brightnes of the sunne to chéere our spirits in our going to our labours , which many of you barre your selues of , by making day of the night and night of the day , by sleeping after wearines vpon the labour of wantonnes , if not of wickednes , as they which worke all day to bring the diuel into hell at night , and labour all night for damnation in the morning : such i haue heard of beyond sea , i pray god you haue none about you : but for vs in the country , i assure you wee can abide no such doings : now for the delight of our eyes , wee haue the may-painting of the earth , with diuers flowers of dainty colours and delicate sweets , we haue the berryes , the cherries , the pease and the beanes , the plums and the codlings , in the month of iune : in iuly , the peares and the apples , the wheat , the rye , the barly and the oates , the beauty of the wide fields , and the labours with delight and mirth , and merry cheare at the comming home of the haruest cart : we haue againe in our woods , the birds singing ; in the pastures the cowe lowing , the eue bleating , & the foale neighing , which with profit and pleasure makes vs better musique then an idle note and a worse ditty , though i highly doe commend musique , when it is in a right key . againe , we haue young rabbets that in a sunny morning sit washing of their faces , while as i haue heard beyond the seas there are certaine old conies , that in their beds sit painting of their faces : wee haue besides tumblers for our conies , and greyhounds for our courses , hounds for our chases . haukes of all kinde for the field , and the riuer , and the wood : so that what can reason conceiue , that nature can desire ? but for the delight of both the country doth afford vs. furthermore , at our meetings on the holydayes betwéene our lads and the wenches , such true mirth at honest meetings , such dauncing on the greene , in the market house , or about the may-poole , where the young folkes smiling kisse at euery turning , and the old folkes checking with laughing at their children , when dauncing for the garland , playing at stooleball for a tansie and a banquet of cords and creame , with a cup of old napyy ale , matter of small charge , with a little reward of the piper , after casting of sheepes eyes , and faith and troth for a bargaine , clapping of hands , are seales to the truth of hearts , when a payre of gloues & a handkerchiffe , are as good as the best obligation , with a cappe and a courtsey , hie ye home maides to milking , and so merrily goes the day away . againe , we haue hay in the barne , horses in the stable , oxen in the stall , sheepe in the pen hogges in the stie , corne in the garner , cheese in the loft , milke in the dairy , creame in the pot , butter in the dish , ale in the tub , and aqua vitae in the bottle béefe in the brine , brawne in the sowce , and bacon in the roofe , hearbs in the garden , and water at our doores , whole cloths to our backes , and some money in our cophers , and hauing all this , if we serue god withall , what in gods name can we desire to haue more ? now , for some of you , a man may take you many times in the nature of blind-men , that you can scarcely see a penny in your purse , and your lands growne so light , that you beare them all on your backes , and your houses so empty that in the cold of winter all the smoake goeth out at one chimney , when , if brag were not a good dogge , i know not how hee would hold vp his taile : oh , the fine excuses of wit , or rather folly , late businesse ouer night makes you kéepe your beds in the morning , when indeed it is for lacke of meate to dinner , and perhaps no great banquet at supper , when a crust and an orenge , a sallad and a cup of sack makes a feast for a brauo : then after all , a strech , and a●yaune , and a pipe of tobacco , weare bootes for want of shooes , or else that the garters and the roses are at pawne . now these are no courtiers , but hangers on vpon those that sometimes in great places haue an humor to fatten fleas . now for vs in the country , wee runne no such courses , but are content with that we haue , and keepe somwhat for a rainy day : loue neither to borrow nor lend , but kéepe the stake still vpright , spend as we may spare , and looke to the maine at the yeares end : our meetings are for mirth , and not mischiefe : and for quarrells we haue none , except the oyle of the malt worke vp into the head and so distemper the braine , that the tongue runne out of order , when a fit of fisticuffes will soone make an end of all matters ; so that wee haue pleasure with profit , mirth without madnesse , and loue without dissembling , when the peace of conscience is an inward paradise . now if you can shew any better cards for the maintayning of your oppinion , i pray you heartily let me heare it . covrt . oh cousin , i am sorry to see your simplicity , what a deale of adoe you haue made about nothing ? but i sée the prouerbe holds true in you , he that liues alwayes at home sees nothing but the same , and your education being but according to your disposition , somewhat of the meanest manner of good fashion , your witte rather being all in coppy-hold then in capite , and your learning but to spell and put together , it were hard for you that neuer studied astronomy to speake of the nature of the starres ; and therefore i can the better beare with your humour , because it is more naturall then artificiall , yet could i wish you would not so clownifie your wit , as to bury your vnderstanding all vnder a clod of earth : what ? is man but as a beast , bred like a fore-horse , to goe alwayes right on , and rather draw in a cart , then trot in a better compasse ? fie vpon basenesse , it is the badge of a begger : no , let me tell you , if you were or could be acquainted with the life of a courtier , you would finde such bewitching obiects to the eyes , and rauishing delights of the heart , that you would hold the world as a wildernes to the palace of a prince , and life but as a death that hath no tast of court comforts . oh cousin , wee haue learning in such reuerence , wisdome in such admiration , vertue in such honour , valour in such estéeme , truth in such loue , and loue in so rare account , that there doth almost nothing passe in perfection , y t is not followed , with great obseruation , wher the fauour of a prince maks a begger a petty king , the countenance of a lord makes a clowne a gentleman , and the looke of a lady makes a groome a gay fellow . oh cousin , aduancement and contentment are the fruites of court seruice , and the steps of hope to the state of honour : furthermore , for knowledge , we haue the due confideration of occurrents , the disciphering of characters , enditing of letters , hearing of orations , deliuering of messages , congratulating of princes , and the forme of ambassages , all which are such delights of the spirit , as makes a shadow of that man , that hath not a mind from the multitude to looke into the nature of the spirits honour . furthermore , we haue in court officers of care , orders of discretion , eyes of brightnesse , eares of clearenesse , hearts of purenesse , brainesof wisdome tongues of truth , mindes of noblenesse , and spirits of goodnesse , which though they bee not in all , yet are they examples for all , and in the worthiest of all . oh cousin , to heare a king or prince speake like a prophet , a queene like an angell , a councellor like an oracle , a lord like a councellor , a lady like a quéene , a preacher like an apostle , and a courtier like a preacher : and then to note the maiesty of the greatest , the reuerence of the wisest , the honour of the worthiest , and the loue of the best , to receiue grace from the one , instruction from the other ; fauour from one , countenance from another ; honour from one , and bouuty from an other ; kindnes from one , and comfort from another , where , for the good all , loue goeth through all , where exercises of wix are but tryals of vnderstanding , and the properties of spéech are the proofes of iudgment : where peace is the practise of power , iustice the grace of wisdome , and mercy the glory of iustice : where time is fitted to his vse , and reason is the gouernour of nature , where priuiledges are protections for the vnwilling offendant , and sanctuaries are the fafety of the vnhappily distressed : where the name of want hath no note , basenesse no regard , wantonnesse no grace , nor wickednesse entertainement , except the diuell like an angell of light come vnséene to the world : where the qualities of vertue are the grace of honour , and the breath of wisdome is the beauty of greatnesse , where art hath rewarde of labour seruice the regard of duty , nature the affect of reason , and reason the respect of iudgement : where idlenesse is hated , foolishnes derided , wilfulnesse restrayned , and wickednesse vanished : where wits refined , braines setled , bodies purged , and spirits purified make a consort of such creatures as come neere vnto heauenly natures . beléeue me cousin , there is no comparison betweene the court and the country for the sweete of conceit in an vnderstanding spirit , which can truely apprehend the true natures both of pleasures and profit : alas , let the cowe lowe after her calfe , and the eue bleat after her lambe , the asse bray , the owle sing , and the dog barke ; what musique is in this medley ? let ignorance be an enemy to wit , and experience be the mistris of fooles , the stockes stand at the constables doore , and the gallowes stand hard by the high way , what is all this to matter of worth ? to see laddes lift vp leaden héeles , and wenches leare after their lubbers ; to see old folkes play the fooles to laugh at the birds of their owne breed , and the young colts wighie at their parting with their fillies , when madge must home to milking , and simon must goe serue the beasts : what conceite is in all these courses ? but to trouble a good spirit with spending time in idlenes . oh cousin , if thou wert once well entred into the life of a courtier , thou wouldst neuer more be in loue with the country , but vse it as a cleane shirt , sometime for a refreshing , though it be farre courser for wearing , and little cleaner then that which you put off . i could say more that might easily perswade you to change your opinion , and alter your affection from the country to the court ; but i hope this shall suffice , if not , i pray you let me heare you speake to some purpose . covntry . say , quoth you , let me tell you , that all that you hauesaid , or i thinke you can say , doth , nor will worke any more with my witte to incline my humour to your will , then a pill that lyeth in the stomake , and more offends nature , then purgeth humour : for , where there is no corruption phisicke hath nothing to worke vpon , except by the trouble of nature , to bring health into sicknes : doe you thinke so much of your strength as to remoue a mil-stone with your little finger ; or are you so perswaded of your wit , that with a word of your mouth you can take away the strength of vnderstanding ? no such matter , no hast but good : i pray you giue me leaue a little , and if i speake not to your purpose , i will speake to mine owne : and i will say as one dante , an italian poet once said in an obscure booke of his , vnderstand me that can , i vnderstand my selfe : and though my country booke be written in a rough hand , yet i can read it and picke such matter out of it as shall serue the turne for my instruction . what is here to do in perswading you know not what ? to talke you care not how ? is this court eloquence ? is not the clownyfying of wit the fooltfying of vnderstanding ? home spunne cloth is not worth the wearing , water is a cold drinke , and simplenesse is but basenesse , and a clowne is but a rich begger . now truly cousin , you are quite out ; for , let me tell you that good words and good déeds are the best tryals of good minds , and make the best passages among the best people : and so much for this matter . now to answer your prouerbs , and as i can remember , most points of your discourses : first , let me tell you , that i hold it better to see something of mine owne at home , then trauell so farre that i see nothing of mine owne abroad , for i haue heard that roling stones gather no mosse : and for my education , if it hath béene simple , and my disposition not subtle , if i be not fashioned according to the world , i shall bee the fitter for heauen : and for my wit , to deale truely with you , i had rather hold it in a coppy of a good tenure , then by the title of an idle braine , to kéepe a fooles head in frée-hold . now for my learning , i hold it better to spell and put together , then to spoile and put asunder : but there are some that in their child-hood are so long in their horne booke , that doe what they can , they will smell of the baby till they cannot sée to read . now we in the country beginne and goe forward with our reading in this manner , christs crosse be my speed , and the holy ghost : for feare the diuell should be in the letters of the alphabet , as hee is too often when hee teacheth od fellowes play tricks with their creditors , who in stead of payments , write iov. and so scoffe many an honest man out of his goods . and againe , when he teacheth trauellors that haue taken a surfet in the low-countries to set downe h and o. to expresse the nature of their griefe , and to ieast out the time with b and r. or to bite mens good names with those letters to auoyde actions of slander , and when they write you r. and they b. oh fine knackes of more wit then honesty : but i hope there are none of these among you . but i haue heard my father say , that when he was young , hee saw many such in such places as you liue in , but it was a great way hence beyond the salt water . now for astronomy , i thinke it be fallen from the height that it was in former time , for starres were wont to bee in the heauens , now gallants hang them vpon their héeles , so bright in their spurres as if they were all young phaetons , that would ride phoebus horses , while the folly of pride should sit in the chaire of ruine : but let them sit fast when they are vp , least they breake their neckes in their falls . now for your nature and art , i thinke better of a naturall art , then an artificiall nature . and for your fore-horse pace right on , i hope he is better then a resty iade that will not stir out of the stable , or a kicking curtall that will sette his ryder beside the saddle : and better draw soundly in a cart then be lamed in a coach , or be sicke in a foote-cloth : & better a true trot then a fidling amble : but let these humors passe . now for your bewitching obiects , i doubt they will make abiects of subiects , and therefore i loue no such diuelish deuises , when womens eyes will bewitch mens hearts , and the breath of tongues will poison a mans wits . and for your rauishing delights , it is a word that i well vnderstand not , or at least , as i haue heard , this rauishing is a word that signifieth robbing of wenches of the inner lining of their linnen against their wills , and if it be so , it is a perilous delight that brings a man to the gallowes , if not to the diuell for a little fit of pleasure : but if there be any better sence in it , i would be glad to vnderstand it , though at this time i care not to be troubled with it . now for princes pallaces , they are too high buildings for our brickes , plaine people are content with cottages , and had rather pay tributes to their maintenance , then haue them too much in our view , for blinding of our eies with their golden brightnes . now for life and death , hee that liues at quiet and will not be contented , may change for the worse and repent it , when he cannot helpe it . oh cousin , i haue heard my father say , that it is better to sit fast , then to rise and fall , and a great wise man that know the world to a hayre , would say , that the meane was sure : better be in the middle roome , then either in the garret or the sellor : and an other of an excellent worlds wit , that ranne the ring with him in the walke of the world , would say , that honour was but ancient riches , and in high places , where frownes are deadly , and fauours are vncertaine , there was more feare of the one , then hope of the other ; and a laborious weekes wages well payde was better then a yeares hope in paper : and therefore , hee that would leaue possessions for promises , and assurances for hope , were more full of wit then vnderstanding , and of conceipt then iudgement , for though there is no seruice to the king , nor no fishing to the sea , yet there are so many suitors for rewards , and so many beaters of the water , that delayes may be cold comforts of long hopes to the one , and the other angle all day and catch a gudgion at night : and therefore , though the world be like a well with two buckets , that when one falleth another riseth , yet the fall is much swifter then the rysing , and good reason , because the one goes downe empty and the other comes vp laden . but to be plaine , i haue so long beene vsed to a quiet life , that i would not leaue it for a world . now for your notes of worth that you haue set downe in your court commendations ; i allow that all may bee true , and they that thriue in it may thinke well of it , and hold it a kind of heauen vpon earth : but for my selfe , i remember certaine notes that i read in a booke of my fathers owne writing that shall goe with me to my graue ; there were not many but in my mind to good purpose : as first for greatnes , my minde to me a kingdome is : so that the quiet of the minde is a greater matter then perhaps many great men possesse : then for wealth , godlines is great riches to him that is contēt with that hee hath , which many great men somtime perhaps haue lesse then meaner people . then for a good rule of life ; feare god , and obay the king : which perhaps some doe not so well in the court as the country . then for the course of the law , loue god aboue all , and thy neighbour as thy selfe : which if you doe in the court as wee doe in the country , enuy would worke no hatred , nor malice mischiefe ; but loue in all persons would make a pallace , a paradise , which in the best is more euident , then in the meanest apprehended : but god , whose loue is the life of all , bréed such loue in the liues of all , that peace may euer liue among all . now for learning , what your néede is thereof i know not , but with vs , this is all we goe to schoole for : to read common prayers at church , and set downe common prises at markets , write a letter , and make a bond , set downe the day of our births , our marriage day , and make our wills when we are sicke , for the disposing of our goods when we are dead : these are the chiefe matters that we meddle with , and we find enough to trouble our heads withall ; for if the fathers knowe their owne children , wiues their owne husbands from other men , maydens keepe their by your leaues from subtle batchelors ; farmers know their cattle by the heads , and sheepheards know their sheepe by the brand , what more learning haue we need of , but that experienee will teach vs without booke ? we can learne to plough and harrow , sow and reape , plant and prune , thrash and fanne , winnow and grinde , brue and bake , and all without booke , and these are our chiefe businesse in the country : except we be iury-men to hang a théefe , or speake truth in a mans right , which conscience & experience wil teach vs with a little learning , then what should we study for , except it were to talke with the man in the moone about the course of the starres ? no , astronomy is too high a reach for our reason : we will rather sit vnder a shady tree in the sunne to take the benefit of the cold ayre , then lye and stare vpon the starres to mark their walke in the heauens , while wee loose our wits in the cloudes : and yet we reuerence learning as well in the parson of our parish , as our schoolemaster , but chiefely , in our iustices of peace , for vnder god and the king they beare great sway in the country : but for great learning , in great matters , and in great places , wee leaue it to great men : if wee liue within the compasse of the law , serue god and obey our king , and as good subiects ought to doe , in our duties and our prayers dayly remember him , what néede we more learning ? now for wisdome , i heard our parson in our church read it in the holy booke of god , that the wisdome of the world is but foolishnes before god : and why then should a man séeke to befoole himselfe before god , with more wit then is necessary for the knowledge of the world , the wise man must dye as well as the foole , and when all are the sonnes of adam , wee haue a faire warning to bee too busie with tasting of the tree of too much knowledge : i haue read in the booke of the best wisdome , that the feare of god is the beginning of wisdome , and surely , he that begins his lesson there may continue his learneng the better , and come to bee a good scholler at last . salomon , the wisest man that euer was , said , that all was vanity and vexation of the spirit : and why then should a man vex his spirit with séeking to be as wise as a woodcocke , in beating his braines to get the possession of vanity ? and yet i must confesse , that least vanity turne to villanie , it is good that the authority of wisdome haue power to bridle the folly of selfe will : but for the great wisdome of councellors of state , iudges of lawes , gouernours of citties , generals of armies , or such great people in such great places , they go so farre beyond our wits , that wee had rather be obedient to their wills , then enter into the depth of their discretions , and content our selues with that wisdome which is most necessary for vs , to loue god aboue all , & our neighbours as our selues , to rise with the day raies , and goe to bed with a candle , to eate when we are hungry , drinke when wee are thirsty , trauell when we are lusty , and rest when we are weary : feare god , be true to the crowne , keepe the lawes , pay scot and lot , bréed no quarrels , doe no wrongs , and labour all we may to haue peace , both with god and man , speake truth and shame the diuell , pitch and pay , say and hold , trye and trust , belieue no lies , tell no newes ; deceiue not an enemy , nor abuse a friend , make much of a little and more as it may increase : these are the points of wisdome that we runne the course of our card by . now for valour , it is seene best in the best quarrells , and saint paul said , that hee had fought the good fight , to fight for the preseruation of a state , the person of a king or prince , to keepe my house from thieues , my children from dogs , and my family from famine , and my faith from fainting in the word of god , this hold we the good fight , and the true valour : not to stand vpon puntos , not to endure a lye without death , challenge for a frowne , and kill for a fowle word , aduenture all for nothing , or perhaps worse then nothing , loose lands , goods , life and soule and all in a murther or a bloody bargaine , to please a punke , and to be counted a captain of the diuels army , or a gallant of the damned crew , except some few howers before his end , while the worme of conscience bites him at the heart , a sparke of grace enter into his soule , and make him at the gallowes make a repentant rehearsall of a lewd life , and leaue a fayre example at his death to all behoulders , perhaps with these good words at his departing , all yee that heere bee take example to be hang'd by me . oh braue valour that makes many a weeping eye , when my mother for my sonne and my sister for my brother , or my wife for my husband , or my father for my daughter , or mine vncle for mine aunt sit and howle like dogs to see the workes of the diuel , in the wicked of the world . such kinde of valour i haue heard my father say that he hath mark't in some places where he hath trauel'd , i know not where , a great way hence when he was young , where he found among a hellish company of accursed spirits , they were called valliant fellowes , that durst say any thing , doe any thing , or be any thing , till they were worse then nothing ; durst quarrell with any man , abuse any man , strike any man , kill any man , and care for no man , durst prate , lye , sweare and forsweare , scoffe and swagger , drinke and dice , drab and stab , durst be hang'd and damn'd for a horrible fit of a franticke humour , and this was their valour : i pray god there be none such among yee where you keepe , i am sure there keepe none such among vs. now for truth , i hope there are more true hearts in the country then there are tongues in the city in many places , yea , and in greater places then i will speake of , but where they be god blesse them , and where they are not , god send them , and that is all that i say to them : but for ought i sée there is so much falshood in the world that i feare there is littletruth on the earth : and in great places where protestations are without performances , and excuses are better then lies ; where is either truth of loue or loue of truth ? but a little i thinke , i would there were more : but with vs , truth is so beloued , that a lyer is held little better then a theefe , and it is a lesson we learne our little children , speake truth , tell truth , take heed you lie not , the diuell is the father of lies , and little better be his children , deale truly with all men , let your tongues and your hearts goe together , christ is truth , in his holy name be true , euer tell truth and shame the diuell , be true to god in your beliefe and obedience to his word , bee true to your king in the loyalty of your hearts , bee true to your wiues in the honesty of your bodies , and bee true to your friends in performing your promises : this is the loue we haue to truth , if you haue it so , it is a good blessing of god and makes a happy people . and for loue , if it bee in the world , i thinke it is in the country , for where enuy , pride , and malice , and iealousie makes buzzes in mens braines , what loue can bee in their hearts , howsoeuer it slip from their tongues ? no , no ; our turtles euer flie together ; our swannes euer swimme together , and our louers liue and die together . now if such loue be among you , it is worthy to be much made of ; but if you like to day and loath to morrow , if you fawne to day and frowne to morrow ; if all your loue bee to laugh and lye downe , or to hope of gaine or reward ; that is none of our loue : wee loue all goodnes and onely for goodnes : first god , then our selues , then our wiues and children , then our family , and then our friends : and so hath loue his course in our liues : and therefore if there be any obseruation in affection , i pray you , let it bee rather in the country then in any place , where faith is not so fast but fancy can alter loue vpon a little humour of dislike . now for your fauour , when one begger growes rich by it , how many rich grow beggers through the hope of fortune : and therefore in my minde , better be lord ouer a little of a mans owne , then to follow a lord for the bare name of a gentleman , and better with a little to bee counted a good man , then with gaping after gudgions to be thought , i know not what : truly cousin , i thinke euery thing is best in his owne nature , as one is bred so let him bée : for as a courtier cannot hold the plough , but he wil be soone séene to be no work-man , so a country-man cannot court it , but hee will shewe in somewhat from whence he comes . and for a ladies looke , i thinke wee haue wenches in the country that haue as faire eyes as finer creatures , who when they list to looke kindly , will make many glad though few gay fellowes . and for apparell , plaine russet is our wearing , while pied coats among vs we account players or fooles , except they be better men then the best of our parish , except our landlord . now for preferment and aduancement , they be encouragements , to some spirits that are borne vnder the climing climate , but for mine owne part i loue not to play the flye with a candle , for feare of burning my wings but will leaue the ladder of honour to him that best knowes how to clim be , and to sit fast when he is vp . now for your occurrents , what are they ? but newes , sometime true and sometime false , which when they come to vs they are commonly more costly then comfortable , and therefore wee desire not to trouble our selues . now for disciphering of characters , i haue heard my father say in the old time , that they were accounted little better then coniurations , in which were written the names of diuels that the colledge of hel vsed to coniure vp in the world , and belong'd onely to the study of sorcerers , witches , wisards , and such wicked wretches , as not caring for the plaine word of god , goe with scratehes of the diuels clawes into hell : but how true it is god knoweth : but that this is true euery man knoweth that it was a deuise of the diuell at the first , to put into the head of a deceiuing heart that hauing no true nor plaine meaning in conscience , would write so , that no man should vnderstand him but himselfe , or like himselfe , and onely to hoodwinke the world for looking into his wickednesse : but what is the end of all wily beguily ? seeking to deceiue other , deceiu'd himselfe most of all : now letters of darkenes deuised by the diuell for the followers of his designes in the courses of his deceipt : honest men in the country loue to meddle with no such matters , but so far as may be to gods glory and the good of a state , to find out the plots , and to preuent the mischiefe of a villanie , being done in gods holy name and by his grace , i hold it a fine quality to discipher a character , and lay open a knaue : but for vs in the country , wee loue no such braine-labours as may bring our wits into such a wood , that we know not how to get out of it . now for enditing of letters : alas , what neede wee much adoe about a little matter ? if we can write , wee commonly begin and end much after one manner : trusting in god you are in good health , with all our friends : and so to the matter , either to borrow , or to pay , or to know the prise of your cattell , or for a merry meeting , or i thanke you for my good cheere . and so with my hearty commendations , i commit you to god. from my house such a day . your louing friend to his power . and then seale vp the paper , and write on the outside : to my louing cousin , neighbour , or friend , at his house in such a place , with speed , if the time require , and so no more adoe : except it bee a loue letter , and then a fewe idle words of sweete heart , i commend me vnto you , and haue beene as good as my promise , and haue sent you a paire of gloues by meg your brothers best beloued , and vpon friday ( god willing ) i will meete you at the market , and wee will be merry , and talke further of the matter , and if you be as i am , say and hold , i know my portion , and when yours is put to it wee shall liue the better : and so , keeping your handkerchiffe neere my heart : till i see you , i rest yours during life in true loue w. t. now for your stiles of honour and worship to this lord and that lady on the outside , and a deale of humility and ceremony on the inside , me thinkes it is a wearying of the minde before you come to the matter : and as i remember a great wise man that would dispatch many matters in little time , would thus euer read letters , in the beginning two words for the stile , and other two at the end for the conclusion , so noting the treble aboue , and the base beneath , he would soone in the middest find the substance of the musique : and to tell truth , few words and plaine , and to the purpose , is better for our vnderstanding , then to goe about with words to tell a long tale to little end . now if wo cannot write , we haue the clerke of the church , or the schoolemaster of the towne to helpe vs , who for our plaine matters will serue our turnes wel enough , and therefore what neede wee trouble our heads with enditing of letters ? now , for orations , they are fittest for schollers to allure an audience to attendance : but for vs , wée haue more vse of our hands to worke for our liuings , then of our eares to heare the sound of a little breath , yet i allow it among you in such places , as you liue in : but where truth is the best eloquence , we make but two words to a bargaine , and therefore for your long discourses , we desire not to be wearied with them , but will leaue them to you that haue more vse of them , and haue time to hearken to them . now for your messages , alas , cannot we giue a cap and make a legge to our betters , and deliuer our minds in few words , without we learne to looke downe as though we were seeking of a rabbets nest , or that we had committed some such fault that we were ashamed to shew our faces , or make a long congie as though we were making preparation to a galliard , when if a foote slip we may haue a disgrace in the fall ; and if a word be misplaced , it is halfe a marring to all the matter : and therefore for messages , our matters being not great , small instructiōs wil serue our turnes for the deliuery of our minds . now for congratulating of princes , god blesse them , they are too great men for vs , more then to pray for them ; and their matters too high for our reason to reach after : it is enough for vs to giue a cake for a pudding , and a pint of wine for a pottle of beere : and when wee kill hogs to send our children to our neighbours with these messages , my father and my mother haue sent you a pudding and a chine , and desires you when you kill your hogges you will send him as good againe . now for great folkes , they haue such great choyce of presents , and of such great charge , and such great care in the deliuery of them , that ( lord haue mercy vpon vs ) wee in the country cannot tell what to say vnto them , but , god blesse them that haue them , and much good may they doe them . now for ambassages and ambassadors , wee know not what the word meanes , and therefore little care to be troubled with the men ; for when we heare of any man that comes from a strange country , wee say , i pray god he comes for good , and then hee is the better welcome : tush , talke to vs of a basket or a basket-maker , and not of an ambassador nor ambassages ; but make your selues , that best know the meaning of them , the best vse you can of them ; for vs , wee care not to looke after them , more then to pray for them , that as they doe , or as they meane , so god blesse them . now for your officers , their charge is so great , that wee desire not their places , for we hold a priuate quiet better then a publike trouble ; and a cleane conscience worth a world of wealth : now for your orders , perhaps your need of them is great , where disorders may be grieuous : for vs in the country , we haue few , but in the churches for our seates , and at our méetings for our places , where , when maister iustice , and the high constables are set , honest men , like good fellows will sit togeither ; except at a sessions , or an assise wee bée called vpon a iury , then as it pleaseth the clerk of the peace , set one afore another : and therefore for orders what néede we trouble our selues with other then we are vsd vnto ? i remember i haue heard my father tell of a world of orders hee had seene in diuers places , where he had traueld , where right good gentlemen , that had followed great lords and ladies had enough to doe to study orders in their seruice : a trencher must not be laid , nor a napkin folded out of order ; a dish set downe out of order , a capon carued , nor a rabbet vnlaced out of order ; a goose broken vp , nor a pasty cut vp out of order ; a glasse filled , nor a cup vncouered nor deliuered out of order ; you must not stand , speake , nor looke out of order : which were such a busines for vs to goe about , that we should be all out of time ere we should get into any good order : but in that there is difference of places , and euery one must haue their due , it is méets for good manners to kéepe the rules of good orders : but how much more at rest are we in the country that are not troubled with these duties ? now for your eyes of brightnesse , i feare you are not troubled with too many of them ; late sitting vp , long watching , and night busines , as writings , readings , casting vp of accounts , long watchings , and such like other busines ; besides gaming , playing at cards , tables , and dice , or such sports as spend time , are all dangerous for weake sights , and make a world of sore eies : but as you said , some of the best sort are wiser in their actions , and more temperate in their motions , and therefore keep their sights in more perfection ; which may be examples to others , if they haue the grace to follow them : but for our eies , if we do not hurt them with a stripe of a twig in the wood , a flyo in the ayre , or a mote in the sunne , our eyes are as bright as christall , so that we can se the least thing that may doe vs good ; and if we can sée the sunne in the morning and the moone an night , see our cattell in our pastures , our sheepe in the common , our corne in the fields , our houses in repaire , and our money in our purses , our meate on our tables , and our wines with our children , and looke vp to heauen , and giue god thankes for all , wee seeke no better sight . now for the cleannes of your hands , i feare that now and then some of ye haue your hands so troubled with an itch , that you must haue them nointed with the oyle of gold , before you can fall to any good worke : and some of yes , that though your wits haue good inuentions , yet you cannot write without a golden pen , which indéede , best fits a sine hand . but for vs in the country , when we haue washed our hands , after no foule worke , nor handling any vnwholesome thing , wee néede no little forks to make hay with our mouths , to throw our meat into them . now for the purenes of your hearts ; except kings , quéenes and princes , and such great persons , make no comparison with country people , where yea and nay are our words of truth ; faith and troth are our bonds of loue , plaine dealing , passages of honesty ; and kinde thankes continues good neighbour-hood : a lyer is hated , a scoffer scorned , a spend-thrift derided , and a miser not beloued : a swaggerer imprisoned , a drunkard punished , and a iugler whipped , and a théefe hanged , for our hearts will harbour no such guests : and for loue , two eyes and one heart , two hands and one body , two louers and one loue ties a knot of such truth as nought but death can vndoe . now for braines of wisdome , i thinke hee is wiser that keepes his owne , and spends no more then néeds , then hee that spends much in hope of a little , and yet may hay loose that too at last . now for tongues of truth , let me tell you , fayre words make fooles faine , and court holy-water will scarce wash a foule shirt cleane , except it come from such a fountaine , as euery man must not dip his finger in : but cousin , when hearts and hands goe together , words and déeds goe together ; these are the tongues that will not faulter in their tales , but tell truth in the face of the wide world ; and therefore excepting the best that may bee examples to the rest , i thinke , if truth be any where , she is in the country . now for the noblenesse of minds ; it fitteth the persons in their places : but for vs in the country , wee had rather haue old nobles in our purses , then a bare name of noble without nobles : the reason may be that we doe not know the nature of noblenes so well as wee doe of nobles , and therefore wee heare onely so much of the cost of it , that we haue no heart to looke after it ; but where it is truly we honour it , and say , god blesse them that haue it ; and if they be worthy of it well may they keepe it , and that is all that i say to it . now to spirits of goodnes , alas , there is not one in the world ; christ iesus our sauiour said so , there is none good but god : and if there be any on the earth , i thinke a good beliefe and a good life doth best expresse the nature of it . to conclude with vertue , in which you lay vp all the treasures of life , i doubt not it is in the best , i would it were so in all with you , but bee it where it pleaseth god to send it once , i verily belieue it to bee as truly in the country as in places of higher compasse : and by your leaue , let me tell you of a riddle of my fathers one writing , touching that rare and pretious iewell . there is a secret few doe knowe , and doth in speciall places grow , a rich mans praise , a poore mans wealth , a weake mans strength , a sicke mans health ; a ladyes beauty , a lords blisse , a matchlesse iewell where it is : and makes where it is truely seene , a gracious king , and glorious queene . and this said he , is vertue , which though he vnderstood in the court , yet he made vse of it in the country . now therefore good cousin , be content with your humour , and let me alone with mine , i thinke i haue answered all your positions : and let me tell you , whatsoeuer you say , i verily belieue that ere you die , i shall finde you rather in the roole of peace in the country , then in the tryall of patience in the court , except the heauens highest grace , and vnder heauen our earths highest honour , make you happier in their fauours then the whole world else can make you . and now , what say you further vnto mee . covrt . i say this to you , kind cousin , that your fathers lessons haue made you better learned then i looked for , but yet let me tell you , had you seene but one of our showes in our triumphs heard one of our songs on our solemne dayes , and tasted one of our dishes , in our solemne feasts , you would neuer looke more on a may-game , listen more to a louzy ballad , nor euer be in loue with béefe and pudding . covnt . oh cousin stay the bells , i thinke you are deceiued , for it may be that at one of these showes , i might sée the fruites of my labours and my poore neighbours , flong away in gaudes and feathers ; and perhaps haue a proud humour , wish to be as wise as they that were no wiser then they should bée : and therefore i thinke , better tarry at home then trauell abroad to no better purpose . now for songs , a plaine ditty well expressed , is better with vs , then a fine conceit , as faigned in the voyce as the matter . now for your dishes of meat . i will tell you , i heard my father once report it for a truth , that a great man who liued where you liue , sent him for a great dainty a porpose pye or two cold : which taking very thankfully , and causing the messenger to stay dinner with him , he cut one of them vp , and very nicely taking out a péece of it , gaue it to my mother , which she no sooner had in her mouth , but it had like to haue marred all with her stomacke , but shee quickly conueyed it all vnder boord , which my father séeing , said , why how now wife ? what ? doe you loue no good meate ? yes ( quoth she ) but i pray you tast of it your selfe : which he no sooner did , but he made as much hast out of his mouth with it as she did , then did the children likewise the same , and the seruants being by , their master offred ech one a péece of it , no sooner tasted of it , but they did so spit and spatter , as if they had béene poysoned ; then he gaue a péece to his dogge , which smelt to it , and left it : by and by after came in a miller and his dogge , to whom my father inlike manner offered a péece , but neither man nor dog would eate of it : wherevpon my father heartily laughing , with thankes to his great lord for his kinde token , sent one of them backe againe to him with this message , commend me , i pray you , to my good lord , and tell him i heartily thanke his honour , and tell him , if either my selfe , or my wife , or my children , or my seruants , or my dog , or the miller , or his dogge , would haue eaten of it , i would neuer haue sent one bit backe againe to him of it : but it may bée that it is more wholesome then toothsome , and hee may make a better friend with it : so , paying the messenger for his paines , sent him away with his message , which was no sooner deliuered , but his lord heartily laughed at it : this was one of your fine dishes . another , a great lady sent him , which was a little barrell of cauiary , which was no sooner opened and taued , but quickly made vp againe , was sent backe with this message . commend me to my good lady , and thanke her honour , and tell her we haue blacke sope enough already ; but if it be any better thing , i beseech her ladyship to bestow it vpon a better friend , that can better tell how to vse it . now if such be your fine dishes , i pray you let me alone with my country fare . and now , what say you else vnto mée . covrt . i say this , that nature is no votcher , and there is no washing of a blacke moore , except it bée from a little durty sweat : the oxe will weare no socks , howsoeuer his feete carry their sauour : and diogenes would bee a dog , though alexander would giue him a kingdome : and therefore though you are my kinsman , i sée it is more in name then in nature : thy breath smels all of garlike , and thy meat tasts all of mammaday pudding , which breaking at both ends , the stuffing runnes about the pot : and since i sée thou art like a milstone that will not easily bee stirred , i will leaue thee to thy folly till i finde thée in a better humour , for i sée the musique of thy minde hangeth all vpon the base string . farewell . covnt . nay soft a while , let me not be in your debt , for an ill word or two : i see truth is no lyer ; all in the court are not courtiers , nor euery man that hath witte is not truly wise ; for then no man would spend breath to no purpose : an oxes foot may bee sweeter then a cods head , when sockes may bee but saueguards for bare tooes in broken stockings : garlike hath béene in more grace then tobacco , and is yet in the country , with them that loue meate better then smoake . diogenes is dead , and alexander is in his graue ; and better bee a manish dogge then a dogged man : and if your good will be to your good words , you are more like a stranger then a kinseman . and for my pudding , i belieue it will proue better then a tobacco pipe : so , rather desirous to be a milstone , not to stirre at euery motion , then a feather in a weather-cocke , to turne with euery gayle of winde , i will pray for your better wit , then you haue showne in a selfe wild humour , and so till i finde you in more patience and lesse passion , i will leaue you till wee méete againe , hoping that you will bee as i am , and will be a friend , to forget all ill humours , and ready to requite all kindnesses . covrtier , so will i , and so , farewell . thus they parted for that time , but what fell out at their next meeting ; as you like of this , you shall heare more hereafter . finis . necessary notes for a courtier question . what is a courtier ? answer . an attendant vpon maiesty , a companion of nobility , a friend to vertue , and a hope of honour . quest . what things are chiefely to be required in a courtier ? a. two. q. what are they ? a. a good body , and a good minde . q. how are they to be vsed ? a. in humillity and ciuillity . q. to whom ? a. the first vnto god , the second to man. q. what are the proofes of a good mind ? a. loue of goodnesse , and feare of greatnesse . q. what are the tokens of a good body ? a. ability and agility . q. what preserues a good minde in goodnesse ? a. prayer and charity . q. and what keeps the body in strength ? a. continence and exercise . q. what is the chiefe grace of a courtier ? a. the feare of god , and the fauour of a king. q. what is the honour of a courtier ? a. the loue of vertue . q. what is the wealth of a courtier ? a. the loue a king. q. what is the charge of a courtier ? a. truth in religion , care in his seruice , loue to his master , and secrecy in his trust . q. what is the care of a courtier ? a. to deserue well , to keepe well , to liue well , and to dye well . q. what qualities are chiefely required in a courtier ? a. wisdome , valour , learning , and bounty . q. what learning is most fit for a courtier ? a. diuinity , philosophy , policy , and history . q. what are the ornaments of a courtier ? a. variety of languages obseruation of trauels , experience of natures , and the vse of vnderstanding . q. what is a courtier most to take heed of ? a. enuious ambition , malicious faction , palpable flattery , and base pandarisme . q. what is a courtier chiefely to take note of ? a. the disposition of the best , the words of the wisest , the actions of the noblest , and the carriage of the fairest . q. what things chiefely is a courtier to be charie of ? a. his tongue and his hand , his purse and his midle finger . q. what conuersation is fittest for a courtier ? a. wise wits , noble spirits , faire eyes , and true hearts . q. how should a courtier hope of aduancement ? a. with prayer to god , diligence in his seruice , respect of persons , and iudgment in affections . q. what discourses are fittest for a courtier ? a. admiration of wisdome , defert of honour , truth of valour , and life of loue . q. what friends are fittest for a courtier ? a. the wise and the wealthy , the valiant and the honest . q. what seruants are fittest for a courtier ? a. the expert , the faithfull , the diligent and the carefull . q. what is the true valour in a courtier ? a. to feare no fortune , to be patient in aduersity , to master affections , and to forgiue offenders . q. what are the follies in a courtier ? a. vaine discourses , idle complements , apish fancies , and superfluous expences . q. what are most dangerous in a courtier ? a. to bee inquisitiue of occurrents , to reueale secrets , to scorne counsaile , and to murmur at superiority . q. what things are most profitable to a courtier ? a. a sharpe wit and a quicke apprehension , a smoth speech , and a sound memory . q. what should a courtier chiefely obserue in a king ? a. his wisdome , his valour , his disposition , and affection . q. what in a councellor ? a. his religion , his reason , his care , and his iudgment . q. what in a lord ? a. his title , his worthines , his spirit , and his carriage . q. what in a lady ? a. her beauty , her portion , her parentage , and her disposition . q. what in an officer ? a. his knowledge , his care , his diligence , and his conscience . q. what time is best spent in a courtier ? a. in prayer , in study , in graue discourse , and in good exercise . q. and what time is worse spent ? a. in deuising of fashions , in fitting of fancies , in faining of loue , and in honouring vnworthines . q. what is commendable in a courtier ? a. concealing of discontentments , mitigating of passions , affability in speech , and courtesie in behauiour , q. what most delighteth a ladies eye in a courtier ? a. neat apparell , wise spéech , to mannage a horse well , to dance well . q. what most contenteth a king in a courtier ? a. religious valour , reuerent audacity , humble loue , and faithfull seruice . q. what is most troublesome to the minde of a courtier ? a. conscience and patience , continence and abstinence . q. what are most grieuous to a courtier ? a. the frowne of a king , the displeasure of a lady , the fall of honour , and the want of wealth . q. what friend shall a courtier most rely vpon ? a. his god , his king , his wit , and his purse . q. what foes should a courtier most stand in feare of ? a. wanton eyes , glib tongues , hollow hearts , and irreligious spirits . q. what things are necessary for a courtier to haue euer in memory ? a. temperate speeches , moderate actions , deliberate inuentions , and discreete resolutions . q. what delights are most fit for a courtier ? a. riding and tilting , hunting and hauking . q. what is most comely in a courtier ? a. a stayed eye , a faire hand , a straight body , and a good legge . q. what should be hated of a courtier ? a. rudenes and basenes , sloathfulnesse and slouenlinesse . q what speciall seruants of name are most fit for a courtier ? a. a barbour for his chamber , a taylor for his wardrobe , a groome for his stable , and a foote-man for his message . q. what is the hapinesse of a courtier ? a. to feare god , to haue the fauour of a king , to be able to lend , and to haue no néede to borrow . q. what is the shame of a courtier ? a. to take much and giue nothing , to borrow much and lend nothing , to promise much and performe nothing , and to owe much and pay nothing . q. what should a courtier be alwaies iealous of ? a. in sinuating spirits , intruding wits , alluring eyes , and illuding tongues . q. what is the life of a courtier ? a. the labour of pleasure , the aspiring to greatnes , the ease of nature , and the commaund of reason . q. what is the same of a courtier ? a. a cleare conscience , and a frée spirit , an 〈◊〉 heart , and a bountifull hand . finis . pasquils passe, and passeth not set downe in three pees. his passe, precession, and prognostication. breton, nicholas, ?- ? approx. kb of xml-encoded text transcribed from -bit 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(eebo-tcp ; phase , no. a ) transcribed from: (early english books online ; image set ) images scanned from microfilm: (early english books, - ; : ) pasquils passe, and passeth not set downe in three pees. his passe, precession, and prognostication. breton, nicholas, ?- ? [ ], , [ ] p. printed by v[alentine] s[immes] for iohn smithicke, and are to be solde at his shop within temple barre, london : . dedication signed: n.b., i.e. nicholas breton. in verse. the words "passe .. prognostication" are bracketed together on the title page. printer's name from stc. the first leaf is blank. vertical chain lines. in some copies quire f has horizontal chain lines. reproduction of the original in the henry e. huntington library and art gallery. created by converting tcp files to tei p using tcp tei.xsl, tei @ oxford. re-processed by university of nebraska-lincoln and northwestern, with changes to facilitate morpho-syntactic tagging. gap elements of known extent have been transformed into placeholder characters or elements to simplify the filling in of gaps by user contributors. eebo-tcp is a partnership between the universities of michigan and oxford and the publisher proquest to create accurately transcribed and encoded texts based on the image sets published by 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keying and markup - aptara keyed and coded from proquest page images - emma (leeson) huber sampled and proofread - emma (leeson) huber text and markup reviewed and edited - pfs batch review (qc) and xml conversion pasqvils passe , and passeth not . set downe in three pees . his passe , precession , and prognostication . london printed by v.s. for iohn smithicke , and are to be solde at his shop within temple barre . . to my very louing and vndeserued good friend m. griffin pen , vpon his hearts true worthinesse shine the sunne of highest happinesse . the countenance of a landlord , makes a poore tenant halfe a king , and simple men are no fooles , that followe the shadow of alittle honour : for my selfe , i am of none of these sects : for i esteeme more of the kindenes of a good spirite , than of faire wordes , that bewitch ignorance ; yet i reuerence honour , and loue vertue , but finding my selfe vnworthy the fauour of great ones , and yet not willing to looke among the too little , i will loue where i find cause , & deserue where i finde loue : in which sence , entreating you , in the fore rancke of my affection , to march with your kind friend m. conquest : i commend to the good leizure of of your patience , the perusing of this little pamphlet , deuided into three pees : a passe , a precession , and a prognostication : pasquill gaue them to me , to deliuer vnto you , which with his further seruice shall be further at your commandement : and for my selfe how well i loue you i will not tell you , til your commandement make me happy in your emploiment , & so wishing both in the work , & my wil , a more worthines of your kindnes , i rest : yours affectionately to command , n. b. to the reader . pasquill commends him to all that loue him , to whom he giues to vnderstand , that after his pains taken in his mad-cappe , and his fooles-cappe , laying them both aside , thinking to take alitle rest , gat him his night-cappe , vnder which , in steede of sleep , many idle humors came in his head , which troubling his little staied braine , would not let him be at quiet , till he had committed them to the custodie of pen , and incke , and paper , which hauing set downe somewhat to his owne contentment , he hath in diuers copies sent abroade to all such as will pay for the writing , or els , i should rather say , for the printing which i thinke be better cheape : to tell you what he doth intreate of , were needeles , when it followeth neere at hand : and therefore onely thus much i will tell you , hauing past through manie strange courses , and finding little or nothing so pleasing , but tasted like a bitter sweete , vpon a suddaine fell vpon , good lord deliuer vs , and so continuing of his precession as long as he thought good , growing weary of his life , fell to dreame of doomes-day : but lest i prooue tedious , i will turne you to that you shall reade if it shall please you , and consider of it as it shall like you , and so for this time i leaue you . your friend pasquill . pasquill to morphorius . morphorius , i promised thee a passe , which heere i haue sent thee , hoping in the like kindnesse ere long to heare from thee : in the meane time , let mee tell thee , that for our parts , we haue little ioy to looke for in this worlde : fooles doe not vnderstand vs , and knaues do but abuse vs , the wealthy loue vs not , and the poore can do vs no good : honesty is ill for thriuing ; and yet the wisedome of the world being foolishnesse before god , i know not what to say : but for that the time of our life is short in this worlde ; let vs leaue vanitie , and fall to some vertuous courses and yet , because i will not at this time trouble thee too much with the scripture , i will leaue thee to reade what i haue scribbled : and so end in some haste . thine , pasquill . pasqvils passe he that desires from danger safe to passe along the world , his wofull wretched daies , and would behold ( as in a looking glasse ) the blocks and stops , and such vnhappy staies , as crosse a thousand in their very waies : let him but creepe as i haue learnd to go , and tell me if it do him good or no. he that will passe neere to a princes court , let him take heede his tongue breake not his necke , nor mate himselfe among the noble sort , lest prowde presumption haue too sore a checke , nor bend his will , to euery wantons becke : but watch good fortunes , when they kindly fall , and then passe on , and haue no feare at all . but , if a f●ce of brasse will be too bold , or like a sheepes head shunne good company , or of complexion be too chilling cold , or fiery hot vpon an agony , or much inclind to any villany , or for his wit , ioyne issue with an asse , he hath no warrant neere the court to passe . he that will passe before a iudgement seate , let him take heede his case be good and cleere , lest , when that trueth doth of the matter treate , a heedlesse will do buy repentance deere : while cost ill lost doth breed but heauy cheere : but let him chiefly carry a good purse , and then be sure to passe on ne're the worse . but if he come with an vncertainety , and thinke a curtsie will excuse a fee , in hope that law in pitties charity , wil alwayes giue the right where it should be , let him learne this probatum rule of me , that trueth and wealth do very much in law , while beggar falshoode is not worth a straw . he that wil passe into a warlike field , let him not be too rash , nor yet too slow , not franticke fight , nor like a coward yeeld , but with discretion so his valour show , that fame may grace him where e're he goe : lest heedlesse will do shew when he is slaine , he may passe thither , but not backe againe . he that will passe into a merchants booke , let him take heede how to discharge the debt , lest when that kindnesse doth for patience looke , he be so tangled in a statute net , that he be so with cunning trickes beset , that to the counter he do passe so fast , as he can scarce passe backe againe in haste . he that wil passe into a ladies eies , and in her hands wil leaue his little heart , and yet with all his wit , is not so wise , as to discerne the sleight of venus art , in giuing of the fooles-cap by desart : let him go better set his wittes to schoole , or else be sure to passe for a good foole . he that will passe into the holy land , let him be grounded in the rules of grace , and be assurde that he doth vnderstand , what is the trueth that falshoode may deface , lest when that wisedome follie doth displace , and learnings court breake vp , and all are gone , he passe but for a simple blind sir ihon. he that will passe into a clownes conceit , let him take heed● be know a clouted shooe , lest he be cousoned with a close deceit : when seely fooles know not what knaues can doe , with , yea , and nay , to bring an ideot to : but if he kindly know clim of the clough , then let him passe , he shall doe well enough . he that will passe into an ordinary , let him take heede to deale with cardes and dice , lest whatsoeuer mony in he carry , ere he beware he loose it with a trice , and all too late repentance learne the price , to know how he that passeth in purse-full , and goes out empty , passeth for a gull. he that desires to passe vnto the seas , let him take heede his ship be good and tight , let him prouide for all things for his ease , and to withstand both wind and weathers spight , and by his compas keepe his course aright : be wary of the shelfes , the rockes , and sands , and fall not rashly into pyrats hands . but if he passe within a leaking ship , ill victualld , and worse furnisht for defence , and thinke a thousand leagues is but a skip , and by the want of wits experience , prouide for nothing that may shunne offence : such one may happen well to passe from shore ▪ but once at sea , may passe to land no more . but he that seekes to passe by sea or land , to court , or country , for his best auaile , let him thus much for certaine vnderstand , that if his purse the better not preuaile , his fortune will in many courses faile : for a good purse will make a man to passe , to many places where he neuer was . but if ( alas ) he he passe purse pennilesse , in this vile world he shall haue little grace , but with a heauy heart all comfortlesse , among the beggars take a sory place : oh this same gold hath such a glorious face , that in false angells , he that heedes not well , will headlong passe his wicked soule to hell . but , he that faine would passe to paradise , must learne to passe from all these worldly pleasures , for vnto heau'n what heart can passe his eies , that is intangled in this worlds treasure ? no , where the world hath on the soule made seisure , as hardly it can passe to heau'n on hie , as can a camell through a needles eie . then do not passe the boundes of honestie , of wit , of reason , nor of amitie . of law , of iustice nor of equitie , nor the true grounds of trueths diuinitie : but in the worship of the trinitie , humble thy soule vnto the deitie , and passe vnto the heau'ns felicitie . pasqvils precession . a loggerheaded asse that hath no wit , a rascall knaue that hath no honesty , a foule il fauour'd filthie baggage tit , a wicked iudge that hath no equity , and a rich man that hath no charity , a faithlesse friend , and from a fruitlesse tree , the lord of heau'n and earth deliuer me . a gracelesse child , and an vnquiet wife , an idle seruant , and a priuy theefe , a long delay , and an vngodly life , a helplesse care , and a consuming griefe , and from despaire that neuer finds reliefe , and from the drone that robbes the hony be , the lord of heau'n and earth deliuer me . a prowd companion , and a prating iacke ; a cogging marchant and a carelesse debter , a queasie stomacke , and a broken sacke , a filthy hand , and an ill-fauourd letter , and an ill mind that meanes to be no better , and from a bribe insteede of a due fee , the lord of heau'n and earth deliuer me . a blind phisition , and a sluttish cooke , vnholsome porridge , and vnsauory bread , a babish story , and a foolish booke , a baggige humor , and a beetle head , a smoaky chamber , and a lowsie bed : and from such neighbours as cannot agree , the lord of heau'n and earth deliuer me . a tyrant prince , and a rebellious subiect , a bloudy soldiour , and a coward leader , an owles eie-sight and an vgly obiect , an obscure line , and an vnlearned reader , a sergeant , iailour , hangman , and beheader , and from the fruit of the three cornerd tree , good lord of heau'n and earth deliuer me . a resty hackney , and a durtie way , a stormy tempest , and a leaking ship , an idle quarrell , and a drunken f●ay , a dogged queane that euer hangs the lip , a iade that will not stirre without a whip , a blinded eie that can nor will not see , from these the lord of heau●n deliuer me . a lazie huswife and a hatkney gill , a crooked finger , and a cramped foote , a hasty wit , and an vnbrideled will , a broken shooe , and an ill fauourd boote , a poisning weede , and an vnwholesome roote , and from the buzzing of the humble bees , the lord of heau'n and earth deliuer me . a mouth that slauers , and a stinking breath , a craftie cripple , and a sullen queane , a stinking puddle , and a moorish heath , a dogge that is too fatte , a horse too leane , a maide that will not keepe her dairie cleane , a blow vpon the elbow , and the knee , from each of these the lord deliuer me . a fleering laughter , and a faithlesse heart , a creeping curtsie , and a cankred mind , an idle study , and a needlesse art , a northerne tempest , and an easterne wind , and from a curte , that bites a man behind . and from a glasse of an il-fauour'd blee , the lord of heau'n and earth deliuer me . to keepe too long among vngodly people , to fit mine humor vnto euery fashion ▪ to seeke to build a house vpon paules steeple , to dwell too long vpon a peeuish fashion , to follow ill , and hate a reformation , to learne the rules where such ill lessons be , from all such trifles , the lord deliuer me . to make an idoll of a painted face , and to attend vpon a golden asse , to seeke to do the honest mind disgrace , and bring a kind of wicked world to passe , or seeke to braue it with a face of brasse : to leape the tems , or clime a rotten tree , from all such trifles , the lord deliuer me . from standing too much in mine owne conceit ▪ and giuing credite vnto euery tale , from being caught with euery foolish baite , from setting of my credite all to sale , from leauing of a nut to take a shale , from the poore line of the fooles petegree , the lord of heau'n and earth deliuer me . from fury , franzie , and imprisonment , from fine maid marian and her morris dance , from the deseruing of due punishment , from bond , from statute , and recognisance , from trusting too much vnto fickle chance , from vnkind brothers that cannot agree , the lord of heau'n and earth deliuer me . from taking pleasure in a villanie , from carelesse hearing of a sound aduise , from sorting with the wicked companie , from setting vertue at too low a price , from loosing too much coine at cardes and dice , from being bound till folly make me free , the lord of heau'n and earth deliuer me . from laying plottes for to abuse a friend , from being by a cunning knaue beguild , from working humors to a wicked end , from getting of a filthy whore with child , from dwelling in a house that is vntilde , from surfeting within a cherrie tree , from all such toies , good lord deliuer me . from a conspiracie of wicked knaues , a flight of buzzards , and a denne of theeues , a knot of villaines , and a crue of slaues , and from the patches on the beggars sleeues , and from the spoile that gratious spirits greeues , and from the foole can neither thriue nor thee , the blessed lord of heau'n deliuer me . from the illusions of the filthy diuell , from too much hunting after worldly pleasure , and from delighting in an inward euill , and too much louing of this wordly treasure , and from taking leuell by vnlawfull measure ▪ and from the babies foolish a , b , c , the blessed lord of heau'n deliuer me . to thinke to wash an ethiopan white , to loue too long , and not be loued againe , to do him wrong that alwaies doth me right , to play the knaue with him that meaneth plaine , and to continue in so v●le a vaine , from all such notes where such instructions be . the blessed lord of heau'n deliuer me . an old blind cat that cannot catch a mouse , a flinging curtoll , and a kicking mare , a wife that neuer loues to keepe her house , a lazy hound that will not hunt a hare , the shame that falles out with the begars share , and from the foole that will good fortune flee , the blessed lord of heau'n deliuer me . from all infections both of soule and body , and from the curelesse crosses of the mind , from being too much inward with a noddy : or to a brother or a friend vnkind , or changing humors hourely with the wind , from an ill fruit of an accursed tree , the blessed lord of heau'n deliuer me . from making bargaines till i liue by losse , and hoording come to eate into my heart , to walke the woodcocke to the beggars crosse , or to be scholler at the diuells art , to hurt my soule with an infernall smart : from all such humors where such errors be , the blessed lord of heau'n deliuer me . from beating of my braines about a bable , from thinking of no end ere i beginne , from giuing eare vnto an idle fable : and poasting iournies for a puddings skinne , and loosing all while other men do winne : from eating apples vpon a dams tree , the blessed lord of heau'n deliuer me . a rainy euening , and a foggy morne , a barren ground , and an vnkindly yeere , a nittie haire , a garment ouer worne , a market towne where all things are too deere , a churles bare table without bread or beere , the wofull issue of a iudas fee , the blessed lord of heau'n deliuer me . from restie bacon , and ill salted beefe , from raw sodde cunger , and ill rosted eeles , from a quicke witte , that hath his tongue too briefe , and from the blaines , and kibes vpon my heeles , and from a madding wit , that runnes on wheeles , from all such rules as out of order be , the blessed lord of heau'n deliuer me . from a delight in hunting after newes , or louing idle tales of robin hood , and from too much frequenting of the stewes , or ventring farre but for a little good , and take a puddle for a princely flood , from such blind iests as best with fooles agree , the blessed lord of heau'n deliuer me . to slander honor , vertue to disgrace , offend discretion , learning to abuse , good labours enuy , and their worth deface : to follow follie , wisedome to refuse : to leaue the best , and all the worst to chuse , to euery asse to giue the cappe and knee , from all such errors lord deliuer me . from writing libells against men of state , and medlnig with matters aboue my selfe , where i am lou'd , to giue iust cause of hate , or to be busie with a monkie elfe , or carelesse runne my ship vpon a shelfe : from such ill courses , where no good i see , the blessed lord of heau'n deliuer me . from loosing too much time in making loue , from trusting to an idle humour'd dreame : from spending too much mony how to proue , to make a boate to ouergo the streame , to kill my selfe to purge a little fleame : from such odde vaines where such deuises be , the blessed lord of heau'n deliuer me . from a prowd woodcocke , and a peeuish wife , a sleepy maiden , and a wanton hagge , a poyntlesse needle , and a broken knife : a house vnfurnisht , and an emptie bagge , a fidling baggige , and a wicked wagge : and from the woods where wolues and foxes be , the blessed lord of heau'n deliuer me . the french verola , and the english feuer , the irish ague , and the spanish pippe , the lungs consumption , and the rotten liuer , the cursed fall into a fellons trippe , and from the ladder by the rope to skippe , where execution makes the fatall tree , the blessed lord of heau'n deliuer me . to diue into a pocket for a purse , or steale a horse out of a pasture field , to loue to sweare and lie , and ban and curse , and stubbornely to no good counsell yeeld : but vnder fortune all my forces shield , from all such rules where reasons ruines be , the blessed lord of heau'n deliuer me . from cousoning of my selfe with too much kindnes , from slipping fortune when it doth befall me , from being led by wilfull reasons blindnes , and keeping backe when fortune seemes to call me , from all such passions as may so apall me , where blinded eies cannot their blessings see , the blessed lord of heau'n deliuer me . to be commanded by a currish minde , and to , be flattred by a foolish knaue : and to be crossed by a wicked winde , and to be followed with a filthy slaue , and to be harbourd in a hellish caue : from such ill courses ▪ where such crosses be , the blessed lord of heau'n deliuer me . from thriftlesse spending , and from fruitlesse paines , from sencelesse studies , and from gracelesse deedes , from helplesse torments , and from witlesse vaines , and from all those follies , that such humors feedes , and from the sinne that endlesse sorrow breedes , and from all spots in my fowle soule to see , oh blessed lord of heau'n deliuer me . a moath that eates into the finest cloth , a wicked worme that hath a deadly sting , a poysned potion , with a sugred froth , a wicked charme , within a diuels ring : and from the syrenes when they fall to sing : from such ill creatures as so cursed be , the blessed lord of heau'n deliuer me . a mowse within a daintie peece of cheese , a nest of rattes within a linnen chest , a snake within a hiue of hony bees , a woolfe that eates into a wounded breast , and from his curse that neuer can be blest : from all such ill , wherein no good can be , the blessed lord of heau'n deliuer me . from an olde kow that kicketh downe her milke , and a yong colt , that will his rider cast , from a thiefes halter , though it be of silke : and from a diall that doth goe too fast , and from a pardon when the paine is past , and from confession vnder tiborne tree , the blessed lord of heau'n deliuer me . from too long hoping after dead mens shooes , and from betraying of an honest trust , from lacke of care , either to gaine or loose , and from a conscience that may proue vniust , and from a wicked and vnlawfull lust : from all such courses where no comforts be , the blessed lord of heau'n deliuer me . from a stale peece of flesh that is twice sodden , and from a bloud raw rosted peece of beefe , and from a crauen henne that is crow trodden , and from a bawd , a whore , a rogue , a thiefe , and from home-taking an hearts inward griefe , and from the ill wherein no good can be , the blessed lord of heau'n deliuer me . from blindnes , lamenesse , deafnes , cramps , and stitches , and from the gowt , the chollicke and the stone , and from inchanting charmes of wicked witches , from coughes , and rhewmes , and aches in the bone , and from the griefe of loue to liue alone : and from all agues whatsoe're they be , the blessed lord of heau'n deliuer me . from the forsaking of the word of god , to follow idle humour'd fopperies , to scorne the scourging of the heau'nly rod , from doing of my selfe such iniuries , to bring my soule into such miseries , and from all sinne within my soule to see , the gratious god of heau'n deliuer me . when i am olde , and sicke , and lame and poore , and crucified a thousand sundry wayes , and death beginnes to ope my fatall doore , to call me home from my vnhappy dayes , and all my passions then must end their playes , then from all euill , and both now and then , the lord of heau'n deliuer me , amen . pasqvils prognostication when that a churle doth grow so prodigal , he cares not how he throw away his coyne , and a wise man growes so fantasticall , as with a foole will for his counsell ioyne , and that a fencer layes away his foyne , and a yong spend-thrift falles to purchase land , i feare that doomes day will be hard at hand . when that a lawyer leaues to take a fee. and that a trades man will not sell for gaine , vvhen euery iudge will so indifferent be , euen as he sees to shew the matter plaine , vvhen that the world is growne to such a vaine , my muse doth feare in her best ayming markes , the skie will fall , and then we shall haue larkes . when humblenesse is praisde , and pride abated , vertue is honour'd , and foule vice defaced , goodnesse beloued , wickednesse is hated , wisedome aduanced , folly is displaced , truth is esteem'd and falshood is disgraced , the rich men giue their treasure to the poore , i feare me doomes day will be at the doore . when filthy dowdes will leaue to paint their faces , and lacke an apes leaue ietting like a man , and brokers debters feare no sergeants maces , nor geese will take the riuer with the swan , nor greedie turne-spittes licke the dripping pan : nor that a knaue will giue a foole the scoffe , i feare me doomes day will not be farre off . when giddie heads lay by their idle humors , and wicked wittes will leaue their villanie , and gracelesse tongues will cease vnciuill rumors , and yong men follow no il companie , nor maides be sicke of the sweete timpanie : but constant hearts for very loue will die , i feare me doomes day then will be too nie . when idle louers leaue for to dissemble , and faithfull friends are worthily regarded , and vertues beautie doth the sunne resemble , while clowdie mistes are vtterly disswaded , and careful seruice kindly is rewarded , while honor liues , where loue can neuer die , i feare me doomes day will be very nigh . when old men liue til they be yong againe , and yong men fal in age before their time , when poets muses leaue to frump and faine , and blossomes loose the beautie of their prime , and no man falls that takes in hand to clime , and he that may be rich will needes be poore , i feare me doomes day then is at the doore . when that a beggar braues it with a king , and that a coward puts a souldier downe , and that a waspe is bred without a sting , and that a knight must creepe vnto a clowne , and heart sicke honor falls into a swowne , and careful hearts for lacke of comfort die , i feare me doomes day wil be then too nie . when cankred coine a kingdome may command , and many thousands die for one mans ease , and that a poore man may not right demand , and honest hearts must wicked humors please , til sorrow too much on the soule do ceaze , when thus the world with woe is ouergone , i feare that doomes day will be comming on . when cockes of game begin to leaue their fight , and old fooles will not with yong bables play , the stately eagle loose her lofty height , and wise men fall to keepe fooles holiday , when that the world doth grow to such a stay , it makes me feare that much about that yeere , the day of doome wil sure be very neere . when that the lion doth begin to roare , the wolfe to houle , the snarling curre to barke , the buzzard kite too neere the sunne to soare , the bunting striue to mount aboue the larke , my muse doth find in her best aiming marke , that neere vpon that yeere she feares to see , the comming of the day of doome wil be . when that a flie vpon a galde horse backe , can make fooles laugh to see how he can sit , and when a pedler in a beggars packe , can carrie ware , for his poore trade vnfit , and with his purse can go away with it , and epicures will leaue their belly-cheere , i feare me then the day of doome is neere . when iohn a noddes will be a gentleman , because his worship weares a velvet coate , and euery piper , a musitian , because he hits vpon an idle noate , and beggars care not for the king a groate . when that the foole will giue himselfe the scoffe , i feare me doomes day cannot be farre off . when children teach their parents how to speake , and seruants learne their masters to command , when strong men will be guided by the weake , and rascall driue the male deere downe the lawnde , and beggars fill the misers emptie mawnd , and dead men rise aliue out of the beere , i feare me doomes day wil be very neere . when conies hunt the dogges out of the warren , and partridges beate hawkes out of the field , and deinty faulcons feede on filthy carren , and souldiers take the penne , and leaue the field , and that a prince will to his subiects yeeld : then by some rules my muse doth vnderstand , she biddes me feare , that doomes day is at hand . when such as loue their eies will needes be blind , and such as heare will seeme to stoppe their eares , and fathers to their children are vnkind , because they thinke that they are none of theirs , when they haue wiues , and other make their heires , when such hard pointes the world doth stand vpon , i feare me doomes day will be comming on . when that the world is set vpon a will , and purses carie matters as they list , vvhen all the grace is in the golden skill , and few or none that cares for had i wist , and each one thinkes he walketh in a mist , vvhen all these courses fall out in a yeere , i feare me doomes day will be very neere . when idle quarrels breede vngodly warres , and subtil peace deceiues a simple heart , vvhen men do shoote their arrowes at the starres , and neuer thinke of death his sodaine dart , vvhen thus the world doth take the foolish part , vvhen all good thoughts are flung vpon the floore , i feare me doomes day will be at the doore . vvhen he that puts himselfe into good ragges , thinkes himselfe halfe a prince for his apparrell , vvhen he that hath the chest of golden bagges , beleeues he hath the world within a barrell , vvhen folly thus with better wit will quarrell , vvhile wisedome in the world hath much disgrace , i feare me doomes day will come on apace . when lands and bagges do marry wealth to wealth , and want and vertue must go downe the wind , vvhen few or none regard the spirites health , vvhile wicked humors leade away the mind , vvhen the poore world is in this pitteous kind : vvhile hellish spirits in their pride do stand , i feare me doomes day will be hard at hand . when charing crosse and paules do meete , and breake their fast in friday streete , and ware and waltam go to kent , to purchase lands and gather rent , and easter falles afore the lent : then , if my table doe not lie , the day of doome will sure be nie . when woodcockes build in dawcockes nestes , and robin hood is rise againe , and misers churles make merry feasts , and merchants loose that they may gaine , when once the world is in that vaine , then do not thinke but nigh that yeere , the day of doome is very neere . when euery child his father knowes , and euery man will loue his wife , and women sweare to be no shrowes , but husbands leade a quiet life , while kindnesse cuts off euery strife : then without doubt this build vpon , the day of doome is comming on . when newgate is without a knaue , and bridewell found without a whoore , a galley found without a slaue , a farmers barne without a floore , and not a beggar at the doore : then let both time and reason trie ▪ and if that doomes day be not nie . when theeues begin to leaue to steale , and iades will leaue their kicking trickes , and fooles their secrets will conceale , and maides will vse no setting stickes , nor blacke thorne carrie pointed prickes , then do not thinke but in that yeere , the day of doome will sure be neere . when old men care not for their health , and faire yong women wish to die , and rich men throw away their wealth , and rascalls leaue their beggarie , and knaues will leaue their knauerie , then thinke as i haue said before , the day of doome is at the doore . when wanton eies breede wicked minds , and wilfull heads breede wofull hearts , vvhile indiscretion nature blinds , to scorne the rules of reasons artes , and headlong fall into foule partes , til had-i-wist make folly crie , then thinke the day of doome is nie . when women will no malice shew , and men are free from envies fault , vvho may be high , wil be below , and beefe keepe sweete that hath no salt , and beere is brewed with musty malt , then do beleeue that truth will trie , the day of doome will sure be nie . when gamsters at primero rests , will put out all their purses eie , and warres do grow to be but iests , where many fight , and few do die , a spider will not eate a flie , then by my rule i vnderstand , the day of doome will be at hand . when souldiers led into a field , do see their leaders runne at a stay , the valiant to the coward yeeld , that doth his honour steale away , when the world is at such a fray : i say but as i said before , thinke doomes day will be at the doore . when that a cocke wil craue his hen , because shee is not of his breede , and boies will be as good as men , when schollers teach their masters reade , an hearb is spoiled by a weede , then by my rules experience , the day of doome is not farre hence . when no good nurture can amend ill manners , nor daily preaching draw the world to god , but sinne and shame display their open banners , while he on earth begins to make abode , when holy thoughts are wholy ouertrode , while faith and troth do feare to shew their face , i feare me doomes day will come on apace . when that a man must seeke to please his wife , for feare the cuckoe sing vpon his head , a woman will be wearie of her life , because she cannot bring a foole to bed , when siluer thus must be exchangde for led , by such true rules as i haue rightly scand , i feare me doomes day will be hard at hand . when wicked minds will in their humors dwell , and sinne is not ashamde to shew her face , and atheists are resolude to go to hell , because they haue no feeling thought of grace , when that the world is in this wofull case , and death and sorrow do begin their song , i feare the day of doome will not be long . when men and women gree like dogges and catts , because the world is full of wicked natures , and euery towne is full of mice and rattes , that do deuoure the foode of better creatures , while fooles make idolls of ill-fauoured features , when we are thus poore , people to beg on vs , i feare me doomes day will come stealing on vs. when that a cat will eate no milke , and that a fox the goose forsakes , and courtiers leaue their wearing silke , and snow doth leaue to fall in flakes , and one man marres that other makes . then doth my table say that yeere , the day of doome will sure be neere . when fishes leaue to play with baites , and buzzards leaue to beate the wind , and knaues will leaue with cunning sleights , for to deceiue a simple mind , when that the world is in this kind , be sure this note to build vpon , the day of doome is comming on . when morrice dancers leaue their bells , the foole his bable by will lay , and oisters breede without their shells , and that the mice with cattes will play , while wise men make fooles holy day : then tell me if my table lie , that saies that doomes day will be nie . when that a kite the chicken feares , the wolfe will not come neere the lamb , the frogs will be as big as beares , the ewe will not abide the ramme , a calfe wil leaue to sucke the damme . then do i by my table find , that doomes day is not farre behind . when youth will not the wantons play , and age hath sworne he will not dote , and wil and wit are at a fray , vvhile beggarie is not worth a groate , it is a certaine rule to note , that very much vpon that yeere , the day of doome approcheth neere . when that a beggar braues a king , and fishes swimme without their sinnes , an owle wil teach a larke to sing , and fishers leaue to lay their ginnes , vvhen puddings creepe out of their skinnes , then thinke as i haue said before , the day of doome is at the doore . when swallowes leaue to feede on flies , and asses looke into the ayre , and mowles begin to ope their eies , and two fooles do not make a paire , and basenesse sits in honors chaire , and the lord be seruant to a groome , then thinke vpon the day of doome . when fire begins to leaue his heate , no coolenesse in the water is , the hungry will refuse their meate , and louers leaue to coll and kisse , and all is well that was amisse : then doth my perfect rule descrie , the day of doome wil sure be nigh . when couetousnesse can infect a king , and pride is set vpon a beggars heart , and too much want the honest mind doth wring , while helplesse sorrow breedes the spirits smart , when thus the diuell ginnes to play his part , to fill the world with such vnhappy fare , i feare doomes day before we be aware . when furies flie like sparkles in the ayre , with fire and sword , to fil the world with bloud , and feareful soules are neere vnto despaire , while gracelesse hearts can see no hope of good , but endlesse sorrow is the sinners food : when thus the diuell in the world doth sit , doomes day wil come , although it be not yet . finis . the hate of treason vvith a touch of the late treason / by n.b. breton, nicholas, ?- ? approx. kb of xml-encoded text transcribed from -bit group-iv tiff page images. text creation partnership, ann arbor, mi ; oxford (uk) : - (eebo-tcp phase ). a stc estc s ocm this keyboarded and encoded edition of the work described above is co-owned by the institutions providing financial support to the early english books online text creation partnership. this phase i text is available for reuse, according to the terms of creative commons . universal . the text can be copied, modified, distributed and performed, even for commercial purposes, all without asking permission. early english books online. (eebo-tcp ; phase , no. a ) transcribed from: (early english books online ; image set ) images scanned from microfilm: (early english books, - ; : ) the hate of treason vvith a touch of the late treason / by n.b. breton, nicholas, ?- ? [ ] p. [s.n.], printed at london : . in verse. signatures: a-c⁴. imperfect: torn, with slight loss of print. reproduction of original in the henry e. huntington library and art gallery. created by converting tcp files to tei p using tcp tei.xsl, tei @ oxford. re-processed by university of nebraska-lincoln and northwestern, with changes to facilitate morpho-syntactic tagging. gap elements of known extent have been transformed into placeholder characters or elements to simplify the filling in of gaps by user contributors. eebo-tcp is a partnership between the universities of michigan and oxford and the publisher proquest to create accurately transcribed and encoded texts based on the image sets published by proquest via their early english books online (eebo) database (http://eebo.chadwyck.com). the general aim of eebo-tcp is to encode one copy (usually the first edition) of every monographic english-language title published between and available in eebo. eebo-tcp aimed to produce large 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and some readable characters will be marked as illegible. users should bear in mind that in all likelihood such instances will never have been looked at by a tcp editor. the texts were encoded and linked to page images in accordance with level of the tei in libraries guidelines. copies of the texts have been issued variously as sgml (tcp schema; ascii text with mnemonic sdata character entities); displayable xml (tcp schema; characters represented either as utf- unicode or text strings within braces); or lossless xml (tei p , characters represented either as utf- unicode or tei g elements). keying and markup guidelines are available at the text creation partnership web site . eng treason -- poetry. - tcp assigned for keying and markup - apex covantage keyed and coded from proquest page images - judith siefring sampled and proofread - judith siefring text and markup reviewed and edited - pfs batch review (qc) and xml conversion the hate of treason , vvith a touch of the late treason . by n. b. printed at london . to the most high and noble lord the duke of lineux , health , honour , and eternall happinesse . right honourable , and my gracious good lord , your apparant true love to his maiestie , with your assured hate to all his enemies hath made me out of my humble hearts love and service , to his maiestie and your grace , to write these few invective lines against the most hatefull , and horrible nature of treason , and traitors : i name no person offendant , and wish there were no such offence . but hoping that god will weede out the wicked , and blesse his maiesty with a world of loving subiects & encrease his love with many such good friends ' as your selfe , in prayer for his maiesties , and your long life , with health , and all hearts happinesse , i humbly rest your graces in all humble service , n. b. to all that love god , and the king. nobles , and gentlemen , and all other his maiesties loving subiects , of what condition soever , let me laie before your eies a few invective lines , against the horrible nature of treason , and especially against so gracious a king , queene , and prince , so honourable a counsaile , and so blessed a state. the consideration whereof , may make the hearts of all true christians to tremble , to thinke that the divell had so great a power in the world , as to sow so much wickednesse in the hearts of vnhappie men . but , god that euer is , and will be gracious vnto his , hath revealed their villanie , and so preserved his people , as in the preservation of our king and countrey , from the divell and all his devices , hath given iust cause , day and night to give glorie to his holie maiestie , to whose almightie tuition and mercifull goodnesse i leave thee . from my lodging in london . your friend as i find cause . an invective against treason . oh what a wretched wicked world is this , so little faith in soules , or loue in hearts ! so many minds , mind nothing but amisse . thus on this earth , can divels play their parts , to poyson soules with such infernall darts , can nothing flow but wealth and wickednesse , to drowne the world in all vngodlinesse . what mischiefe walkes among the minds of men ? will nothing serve their discontented wills ? must they needes run into the divels den ? are these the scopes of machiuilian skill , that all the world , with his infection fills ? oh god , what divell could in ill go further ? then pride in malice practice hellish murther . to kill at all , is an vnkinde desire , to kill a foe , is but a bloody fact , to kill a friend , a heate of hellish fire , to kill a neighbour , an vngratious act , to kill a brother , horrors fowle abstract , to kill a father , too vnnaturall , to kill a king , the wickedst deede of all . for , father , brother , neighbour , friend , or foe , in each of these , but few to ruine runne : but in a king , or princes overthrow , how many thousand thousands are vndone ? wo worth the hand that such ill threed hath spun , as by the worke of sathans wickednes , a world of christians should endure distresse . but all together , king , queene , prince , and peere , the bishop , lord , the iudge , the magistrate , when they should all in parliament appeare , for the establishing of a blessed state , even then to shew the horror of their hate , and by a fire , devised for the nonce , to teare the house , and blowe them vp at once . what eare doth heare , whose spirit doth not tremble to thinke vpon the horror of this act , if all the divells did in hell assemble , among themselves to make a foule compact : how could they finish a more hainous fact , than so to seeke the ruine of a state , and leave so faire a land so desolate ? but god in heaven , who from his seat beholdeth , heav'n , earth , sea , hel , & what ech one containeth , and every thought of every heart vnfoldeth , and for his service , all and some retaineth , hating the pride his powerful hand disdaineth : hath broke the force of all their wicked frame , and made their work vnto the world a shame . but of the griefe of griefes , in gratious thought , to see a villaine on a vertuous king , by a secret malice to have murder sought , murder on him , and on his after spring ; what eare hath heard of a more hellish thing , than for a little gaine of prides content , to practise murther on the innocent ? our gratious king , on whom the king of grace hath rainde a showre of his eternall graces , and over vs , hath given the kingly place , of high command , command the king of places ordainde for him , and for his royall races : this godly king whom god himself hath sent what do we aile , that he cannot content . to whom is he a foe ? but to our foes , a neighbour borne , and ever found a friend , in love , a brother , and his care who knowes might , as a sonne , a fathers love commend : and , for a king , let it be wisely weende . and reasons eies will see that royalty , that will coniure a christians loyalty . whose proved love hath he left vnregarded , whom , but the wicked , hath hee ever hated ? whose vertuous acts hath he left vnrewarded ? whose power , but prides , hath ever he abated ? whose humble suites hath he left disalated ? whose true affect , but he in favour graces ? whose gratious life , but he in love embraces ? whose virgines hath his wanton loue defloured , whose worthy honour hath his scorne disgraced , whose wealth hath he with auarice deuoured , whose loue despised , or whose fame defaced , or vertuous person from his place displaced : what proued grace , but in his grace approued , to make his grace of gratious harts beloued . learnings aduauncer , and religions loue , wisedomes affecter , reasons studient , valours maintainer , vertues turtle doue , of maiesty earths royall president : graces companion , honours continent , heau'ns gratious blessing , & worlds worthy wonder , liue our king iames , to bring earths kingdoms vnder . amen , good god , and diuell let them be , who to this prayer will not say amen , blinde be his eies , and let him neuer see , who ●ides himselfe in vtter darkenesse denne , and pinnes his thoughts vp in impatience penne , where by the traines of treasons foule illusion , he brings both soule and body to confusion . oh , t is a woe , to thinke vpon the thought , that entreth into a defiled heart : and with what speede the wit is ouerwrought , that once is led to learne the diuells arte , who will haue all , if once he get a parte : where still one sinne he heapes vpon an other , till he the soule in vtter darkenes smother . he makes a king esteemd below his state , murder , a plot , where policie may plod , pride , a brave humor , wealth a magistrate , content a kingdome , and a king a god : but in these humours heaven and he are odde : for , good mistaken makes him prove so evill , as far from god doth make him prove a devil . oh when a crue of ydle headed wits , that think they have a world within their brains , to counsaile fall in their fantasticke fits , by lacke of grace , to lay vngratious traines , see how they make their profite of their paines : sorow & shame , despaire , death & damnation , the story writes of iudas constellation . what can be thought to be the fruit of treason ? feare in the heart before it be effected , a lacke of grace , and an abuse of reason , where heedelesse wit is ill , by wil directed , till both by wisedome ruinde and reiected : while hope of honor runs on fortunes wheels , findes death , and hell to follow at their heeles . who can have pitty on so vile a soule , as murder seekes on such a gratious king ? let him be put into the divels roule , whose heart can yeeld to such a hellish thing : for but from hell doe all such horrors spring : where let vs see how wicked wits do worke , and how the divell in their wills doth lurke . when craft hath gotten wealth , and riches ease , and ease bred pride , and pride ambition , ambition seekes but it owne selfe to please , and lacke of pleasure breedes sedition : then if a wicked soules condition beginne to builde the tower of babilon , who will not laugh at his confusion ? who hath enough , and yet will looke for more , let him remember midas choaking gold : and such a steward for the divels store , onely in heauen , doth his chiefe office hold . who hath for coine his soule and conscience sold : a traitor proues in such a high degree , as merites hanging on the highest tree . when god in mercie sends a gracious king , a gracious king gives tokens of his love , a loving king is such a heavenly thing , as onely grace doth give from god above , to such a king who doth a traitor prove , to god and man , doth fall out so vngratefull , as both to god & man must needs be hateful . fie on the world that ever wickednesse , should roote it selfe so in the heart of man , while gracelesse thoughts in all vngodlinesse , do onely tincke vpon the golden pan , and make their bread of an vnkindly bran : which seeming wheat , is but a wicked weede , sowne by the divell , in a hellish seede . the busie braines that in their high conceits , begin to build strange castels in the aire , will find their humours fall out but deceits , when lacke of wit doth prove but follies heire , while patience passion sits in sorowes chaire : to see repentance proue the best event , that can fall out of rashnesse discontent . oh glorious god , since man was first created , was ever heard so great a villanie ! did ever men deserve so to be hated , as this accursed hellish companie , that in their soules doe hide such treacherie ! let all the world , through all the world go seek , what eie hath seene , or eare hath heard the like . but our good god , that with his gracious eie beholdes his children in his charie love , and in the greatnesse of his maiestie , the siely weakenesse of our soules doth prove , with his high glorious mercies hand above , even when we most his mercie have offended . still from destruction , hath our state defended . o blessed britaine , more then greatly blessed , in god , thy king ; his councell , and thy state , how can his glorie be enough expressed ? which to the world they wonders may relate , when not by force of fortune , nor of fate , but by his grace , thy king and counsailes care , this thy deliuerance iustly may declare . oh heathen , hatefull , and most hellish soules , void of all thought of god or of his grace , that so could make their throates such bloody bowls and such a poison in their spirits place , all roote of honour , from the land to race ! o that such beasts , as so much shame do beare , could be forgot as though they never were . surely in hell this plot had first a breeding , from thence , in low places talk't vpon , low in a seller , had it then proceeding : and there by low spirits wrought vpon : to seeke a kingdomes whole confusion : thus , low in earth and hell , by wicked fiends , wicked beginnings , make as wicked ends . but truly lowly had those spirits beene , they had not set their haughtie minds so high , nor had their eies with shame and sorrow seene , the hatefull fruits of hellish treacherie , but pride , the plotter of all villanie , in cursed thoughts where all confusions dwell , wrought low in earth to bring them down to hel . for gallowes minds , not gallant minds indeed , that make rebellion but a rule of wit , do seldome better with their treason speede . then iustly is for such offences fit , for , god himselfe that ever hateth it , how ere the divell blinds the damned eies , will plague it with a world of miseries . fooles more then mad , with strange imagination , a spiring higher then the hope of grace , do headlong runne their soules vnto damnation : carelesse to note the nature of their race . while beggers seeke both lordes and kings to place , working such wonders as were never knowne , till all their wicked thoughts be overthrowne . but , was there ever such a wicked dreame , to overthrowe a kingdome with a blast ? did ever witts so worke against the streame , all care of conscience from the heart to cast , and with their soules to run to hell so fast : it cannot be , but that the men were mad , that in their braines such wicked humors had . for when king , prince , and lord , and knight were gone then beggars would begin a gouernment : and lords and princes shall be euery one within the compasse of the continent of this rebellious beastly rabblement : but of this dreame see what a wake doth fall , mercy or death must make an end of all . do we not see it euery houre effected , treason still hatefull both to god and man ? and traitrous harts from heavenly truth reiected , and hell the place where first the plot began , when sathan first did seeke the spoile of man , when eua●s pride , and iudas auarice , do shew the compasse of their deepe deuice . o pride , betrayer of vntempred thought ! and avarice , the enemy to grace , which brings the haps of al their hopes to noght , that in their soules doe suffer them a place , most filthy sinnes that doe all fame deface . god blesse all britans , and all britany , from all the venome of such villany . and now , sweete lord , that you do plainely see , how god doth plague this hellish sinne of pride , and what the end of all those traitors bee , that in their hearts do such a venome hide ; o let it never neere your heart abide , but thinke the note of truths nobility , all in the vertue of humility . prowde lucifer an angell was of light , till he presumde to mount a steppe too hie , but see what grew of his vngratious fight , from heaven to hell he gat his fall thereby , a iust reward of wicked treachery : where losse of grace , & gaine of endles griefe , paies home the prowd , the traitor , & the thiefe . for , pride first layes the wicked plot of treason , treason steales into the ambitious breast , ambition robs both wit and sence of reason ; the heart of truth , the spirit of his rest , and makes it cursed , that might else be blest : of hellish pride , the onely traytor thiefe , that is the ground of all eternall griefe . why pride doth blinde , the eie infects the minde , venoms the heart , and gives the soule a sting : and in all vilenes of so vile a kinde : none can describe it , t is so vile a thing , it doth ill humours to such issue bring , that pitty t were but such a plague approved , from christian hearts should ever be removed . o the sweete sence of loves humilitie ! which feares displeasure in a dearest friend , the onely note of truths nobilitie , whose worthy grace is graced without end : for , who wants faith , wants little of a fiend : while faithful love , in humble truth approved , doth ever live , of god and man beloved . alas , the little time of natures leave , to runne the course of her allotted care , where idle shadowes , the eie deceave , that onely hunteth after fortunes share : and had , must leave it ere it be aware : looke , looke at heav'n , and let the world go by , better to die to live , than live to die . let pride be hatefull vnto every state , it is a vice with vertue not allowed ; and such a vice as vertue hath in hate ; for vertue never makes the spirite prowde , but hath her love the humble heart avowde : and in advauncement of nobilitie , gives greatest grace to truths humilitie . which grace is gratious in the sight of god , makes men as saints , and women angells seeme , makes sinne forgotten , mercy vse no rod , and constant faith to proove in great esteeme , while wisedomes care can never truth misdeem , but is in some , a blessing of the highest , and to the nature of himselfe the nighest . it maketh vertue so in beauty shine , as if on earth there were a heavenly light , it maketh wit in wisedome so divine , as if the eie had a celestiall sight , it is a guide that leades the spirite right , vnto the place of that eternall rest , where all the blessed live for ever blest . it makes a court a kinde of paradice in subiects service , and the king his grace , whose favour drawes their harts vnto his eyes , while they live blessed to behold his face : o blessed prince , that in his blessed place , in subiects love beholds his safeties being , while they live happy in their princes seeing . god in his mercy send those humble mindes to all the subiects of our gratious king , that he whose wisedom in true iudgement finds of humble faith , what fruits do fairely spring , in his good grace may give vs cause to sing : if on the earth a heaven be figurde thus , the lord of heaven graunt it in him , and vs. confound , 〈…〉 orces of his 〈…〉 cut off the tray●ors that intend him 〈…〉 and of his thoughts and actions so 〈◊〉 , that we may see thy wisedome in his will : and so his spirite with thy blessing fill , that he may seeke to glorifie thy name , and we be humbly thankefull for the same . o heavenly god , let never hellish braine , have powre to doe his maiestie misdeede , but let themselves even by themselves be slaine , that doe their spirites with such poison feede , and let our harts in teares of comfort bleede , to thinke on thee , to blesse thy people thus , to have so good a king to raigne over vs. blesse him , our queen , & gratious prince of ours , and all their of-spring in their princely places , raine on their soules in thy celestiall showres , the heav'nly comforts of thy holy graces , that when thou seest thy favours in their faces , they in their loves , and we in thankfull hearts , may in thy prayers make true musike parts . 〈…〉 wisedome , & his state with wealth , nobles hearts with truths nobilitie , 〈…〉 biects all , with loves humilitie : 〈…〉 is governement with such a worthy fame , that he and we may glorifie thy name . vnto which prayer , let that wretch not live , that doth not say amen with sincere hart , and doth not thee due glory humbly give , that vnto vs in mercy doost impart such good , too good for our too ill desart : and grace our musike plaid on tru harts bright for our king iames blest be the knight . finis . the soules harmony. written by nicholas breton breton, nicholas, ?- ? approx. kb of xml-encoded text transcribed from -bit group-iv tiff page images. text creation partnership, ann arbor, mi ; oxford (uk) : - (eebo-tcp phase ). a stc estc s this keyboarded and encoded edition of the work described above is co-owned by the institutions providing financial support to the early english books online text creation partnership. this phase i text is available for reuse, according to the terms of creative commons . universal . the text can be copied, modified, distributed and performed, even for commercial purposes, all without asking permission. early english books online. (eebo-tcp ; phase , no. a ) transcribed from: (early english books online ; image set ) images scanned from microfilm: (early english books, - ; : , : ) the soules harmony. written by nicholas breton breton, nicholas, ?- ? [ ] p. by s. stafford, for randoll bearkes: and are to be sold at the signe of the white vnicorne in popes-head alley, imprinted at london : . in verse. signatures: a-b c⁴ (-a ). reproduction of the original in the henry e. huntington library and art gallery, followed by a reproduction of a photostat of a -c of the same. photostat filmed as the leftmost of three editions. created by converting tcp files to tei p using tcp tei.xsl, tei @ oxford. re-processed by university of nebraska-lincoln and northwestern, with changes to facilitate morpho-syntactic tagging. gap elements of known extent have been transformed into placeholder characters or elements to simplify the filling in of gaps by user contributors. eebo-tcp is a partnership between the universities of michigan and oxford and the publisher proquest to create accurately transcribed and encoded texts based on the image sets published by proquest via their early english books online (eebo) database (http://eebo.chadwyck.com). the general aim of eebo-tcp is to encode one copy (usually the first edition) of every monographic english-language title published between and available in eebo. eebo-tcp aimed to produce large quantities of textual data within the usual project restraints of time and funding, and therefore chose to create diplomatic transcriptions (as opposed to critical editions) with light-touch, mainly structural encoding based on the text encoding initiative (http://www.tei-c.org). the eebo-tcp project was divided into two phases. the , texts created during phase of the project have been released into the public domain as of january . anyone can now take and use these texts for their own purposes, but we respectfully request that due credit and attribution is given to their original source. users should be aware of the process of creating the tcp texts, and therefore of any assumptions that can be made about the data. text selection was based on the new cambridge bibliography of english literature (ncbel). if an author (or for an anonymous work, the title) appears in ncbel, then their works are eligible for inclusion. selection was intended to range over a wide variety of subject areas, to reflect the true nature of the print record of the period. in general, first editions of a works in english were prioritized, although there are a number of works in other languages, notably latin and welsh, included and sometimes a second or later edition of a work was chosen if there was a compelling reason to do so. image sets were sent to external keying companies for transcription and basic encoding. quality assurance was then carried out by editorial teams in oxford and michigan. % (or pages, whichever is the greater) of each text was proofread for accuracy and those which did not meet qa standards were returned to the keyers to be redone. after proofreading, the encoding was enhanced and/or corrected and characters marked as illegible were corrected where possible up to a limit of instances per text. any remaining illegibles were encoded as <gap>s. understanding these processes should make clear that, while the overall quality of tcp data is very good, some errors will remain and some readable characters will be marked as illegible. users should bear in mind that in all likelihood such instances will never have been looked at by a tcp editor. the texts were encoded and linked to page images in accordance with level of the tei in libraries guidelines. copies of the texts have been issued variously as sgml (tcp schema; ascii text with mnemonic sdata character entities); displayable xml (tcp schema; characters represented either as utf- unicode or text strings within braces); or lossless xml (tei p , characters represented either as utf- unicode or tei g elements). keying and markup guidelines are available at the text creation partnership web site . eng - tcp assigned for keying and markup - apex covantage keyed and coded from proquest page images - ben griffin sampled and proofread - ben griffin text and markup reviewed and edited - pfs batch review (qc) and xml conversion the soules harmony . written by nicholas breton . imprinted at london by s. stafford , for randoll bearkes : and are to be sold at the signe of the white vnicorne in popes-head alley . . to the right honourable and vertuous lady , the lady sara hastings , nicholas breton wisheth all happinesse in this world , and eternall ioyes hereafter . right honourable , your zealous loue to diuine studies , hath made the muses of that nature , to present your fauour , with the best fruites of their delights , which in the exercise of their spirituall contemplations , haue brought sorth these comfortable meditations : which bound vp in this little volume , they haue presumed with my seruice , to present to your good ladyship , beseeching the same , with that good fauour to accept them , that may vnder heauen be the greatest grace , that they desire vnto them . it is intituled , the harmony of the soule , who in the gracious thoughts of gods blessing , and humble talke with his mercy , thinkes her selfe halfe in heauen ere shee come there : where , after that you haue passed a happy pilgrimage on this earth , god send you the eternall felicitie of the faithfull . your ladyships in all humblenesse , nicholas breton . the soules harmony . god. grace in all glories height , on whom all glories waite , describes my ioyes conceite . iesvs . ioy in the highest of the height of ioy , holding the state of the celestiall story eternall life , that doth all deaths destroy , sonne to that grace , that makes the fathers glory , vnmatched power , in mercies princely might : such is the substance of my soules delight . christ . cleere is the sunne , that doth for euer shine , heauenly that light , that giues al eyes their seeing , royal that crown , which neuer can decline , imperious power , that giues all powers their being . such is the power , the crown , the light , the sun , that neuer ends where glory first begun . my soules loues life , & lifes loues soules delight , how highly are thy holy angels blest , that in thy grace enioy the glorious sight , wherein the summe of all their ioy doeth rest ! what heauenly musike may those muses sing , who set their consorts by thy sacred skill , and angels quauers make the quiere to ring , while vertues ayre doe all the voyces fill ? how may those spirits be with ioyes possest , that may be rauisht with this royall sight , where peter sawe , and in his seeing blest my soules lifes loue , and loues lifes soules delight ! oh blessed peter , blest in such a seeing : well might he sing , sweet lord , here is good being . o gracious god , and lord of mercies might , vvhy do i liue amid this world of woes ? vvhen euery day doth seeme to me as night , vvhile sorrowes seeke my spirites ouerthrowes . i heare thy word , and would obey thy will , but want the power , that might performe my due : i know the good , and fayne would leaue the ill , and feare the sorrow , that doth sinne ensue : and yet i fall into that depth of sinne , that makes me feare the iudgement of thy wrath , vntill thy grace doth all my helpe beginne , to know what comfort , faith in mercy hath . oh blessed light , that shewes in mercies eye , while faith doth liue , that loue can neuer die . lord , when i thinke how i offend thy will , and know what good is in obedience to it , and see my hurt , and yet continue still in doing ill , and cannot leaue to doe it ; and then againe , doe feele that bitter smart , that inward breeds , of pleasures after payne , when scarce the thought is entred in my heart , but it is gone , and sinne gets in againe : and when , againe , the act of sinne is past , and that thy grace doth call me backe againe : then in my teares i runne to thee as fast , and of my sinnes , and of my selfe complayne . what can i doe , but cry , sweet iesus , saue me ▪ for i am nothing , but what thou wilt haue me . o lord that liuest in that life of life , which all thou art , and of thy selfe alone : whose sacred word is that soules cutting knife , that doth deuide the marrow from the bone . o glorious god , of grace and mercy more , then heart and soule are able to conceaue , and seest the teares that mercy doth implore , and wilt not faith in feares discomfort leaue . my god , my lord , my soules lifes dearest loue , how so my sinnes haue thy displeasure moued , let my soulesteares thy glorious mercy moue , to make me feele , how faith may be beloued , that being set from sinne and sorrow free , i may not cease to sing in praise of thee . my heauenly loue , frō that high throne of thine where gracious mercy sits in glories seat , in that true pity of thy power diuine , that dries the teares , that mercy doe entreat , behold , sweet lord , these bleeding drops of loue , that melt my soule in sorrow of my sinne , and let these showres some drops of mercy moue , that in my griefe my comfort may beginne . let not despaire confound my praying hope , that begs an almes at thy mercies gate : but let thy grace thy hand of bountie ope , that comfort yeelds , which neuer comes too late , that in the cure of my consuming griefe , my ioyfull soule may sing of thy reliefe . oh , that my soule were purified so , it might no more be subiect vnto sin , and that my care might onely seeke to know , how humble grace doth mercies loue begin . oh , that my thoughts , my words & deeds were such , as might not swarue from my deare sauiours will , and that my truth might neuer haue a tutch of false conceit , for to excuse mine ill , and that this world were vnto me a hell , but where i see his saints in their loues seruice , and i might die , till i might liue to dwell in some such place , to do some pleasing office , that he might be , who doth my death destroy ▪ all aboue all , and all in all , my ioy. the worldly prince doeth in his septer hold a kind of heauen in his authorities : the wealthy miser , in his masse of gold , makes to his soule a kind of paradice : the epicure , that eates and drinkes all day , accounts no heauen , but in his hellish rowtes : and she , whose beauty seemes a sunny day , makes vp her heauen , but in her babies clowtes . but , my sweete god , i seeke no princes power , no misers wealth , nor beauties fading glosse , vvhich pāper sin , whose sweetes are inward sowre , and sorry gaynes , that breed the spirits losse . no , my deare lord , let my heauen onely bee in my louesseruice , but to liue to thee . o god , forgiue the greatnesse of my finne : i am not worthy to implore thy grace , the loathsome stinke , that i lie tumbling in , with filthy shame hath couered all my face . i haue deseru'd the depth of all thine ire , to know thy will , yet wilfully offend , my soule deserues , in the infernall fire , to feele the torments that shall neuer end . but lord , thy mercy is aboue thy wrath , thou doest not ioy , to see a sinners death , and true repentance in thy mercie hath the blessed food , that giues the spirit breath , where praying hope , in heart can perish neuer . while humble faith doth liue in ioy for euer . what is the gold of all this world ? but drosse ; the ioy , but sorrow , and the pleasure , payne , the wealth , but beggery , & the gayne but losse , the wit , but folly , and the vertue vayne ; the power , but weakenesse , and but death the life , the hope , but feare , and the assurance dout , the trust , deceit , the concord but a strife , vvhere one conceit doth put another out ; time but an instant , and the vse a toyle , the knowledge , blindnesse , & the care a madnesse , the siluer , lead , the diamond , but a foyle , the rest , but trouble , and the mirth but sadnesse . thus since to heauen compar'd , the earth is such , what thing is man , to loue the world so much ? oh , would man thinke but on that world of ioy , which in the heauens the chosen shall receiue , and then againe , vpon this worlds annoy , vvhere hellish baytes the wicked do deceiue ! would he but looke vpon the angels graces , the paradises of their heauenly pleasures , and then , vpon the deuils ougly faces , vvith all their torments endles without measures ! vvould men thus make a differēce in their minds , twixt light and darkenesse , and the day , and night , then would sinne die , that with illusion blinds the eye of nature from her blessed sight , and man would loue the good , & hate the euill and honour god , and tread vpon the deuill . some heauenly muse come helpe me sing , in glorie of my heauenly king : and from some holy angels wing , where graces doe for feathers spring , oh bring my hand one blessed pen , to write beyond the reach of men : let all the subiect be of grace , where mercy set in glories place , doth stand before that shining face , that makes all other beauty base : that heauen and earth may see the wonder , that puts all worths and wonders vnder : let vertues onely set the grounds , vvhere grace but all of glory sounds , vvhile mercie heales the spirits wounds : vvhere faith the feare of death confounds : that heauen and earth may ioy to heare , the musike of the angels queere . oh tell the world , no world can tell , how that ioy doth all ioyes excell , vvhere blessed soules set free from hell , in mercy do with glory dwell , and with the saint , and angels sing , in glory of their heauenly king : sinke not a note beneath the sence , of glories highest excellence , and keepe vnto that onely tence , vvhere heauens haue all their honour thence : that seraphins may clap their wings , to heare how grace , of glory sings . oh , let the sunne in brightnes shine , and neuer let the moone decline , and euery starre his light refine , before that blessed light diuine : of whome , in whom , from whom alone , they haue their shining euery one . let all the azure skie be cleare , and not a mistie cloud come neere , but all that brightest light appeare , where angels make their merrie cheere , and all the troope of heauens may see , where all the ioyes of heauen may be . let phoebus in his brightnes stay : and driue the darkesome nights away , and virgins , saints , and angels play , while martyres keepe high holy-day : and all the hoast of heauen accord , to sing in glory of the lord. let all the yeere be summers spring , and nightingales all birds that sing , and all the fruites that grow or spring , be brought vnto this glorious king , vvith all their colours and their sweetes , before his feete to strow the streetes : let hony-dewes perfume the ayre , that all may be both sweet and fayre , that may with mercies leaue repayre , vnto the seate of glories chayre : that euery thing may fitting fall , vnto the glory of them all . let all the hearts , the soules , the mindes , that wisdome vnto vertue bindes , and breedes but of those blessed kindes , that gracious loue in glory findes , agree together all in one , to glorifie our god alone . and when they all in turne are set , and in their swettest musike met , and highest skill the note hath fet , where grace may highest glory get ; my rauisht soule in mercy then , may haue but leaue to sing , amen . gloria in excelsis deo. prayse , in the highest of the height of prayse , strayne vp thy heart vnto thy spirits note , there , 〈◊〉 the worth , where all thy wonder stayes , write to the wits of all the world to quote : tell them , oh tell them , that thou canst not tell , what grace and glory thy deare god deserueth , whose excellence all excellence doth excell , while him alone , all excellency serueth . life , loue , trueth , power , grace , pity , bounty , glory , health , comfort , wisdome , vertue , mercy , peace ; these in the state of the celestiall story , doe sound the glory that shall neuer cease , whose holy prayses to more height arise , then earth or heauen , or angels can deuise : gloria in excelsis deo. o that my heart could hit vpon a strayne , would strike the musike of my soules desire : or that my soule could find that sacred vayne , that sets the consort of the angels quiere : or that that spirit of especiall grace , that cannot stowpe beneath the state of heauen , within my soule would take his setled place , with angels ens , to make his glory euen . then should the name of my most gracious king , and glorious god , in higher tunes bee sounded , of heauenly prayse , then earth hath power to sing , where heauen & earth , & angels are confounded . and soules may sing while all heart-strings are broken , his praise is more , then can in praise be spoken . gloria in excelsis deo. when iob had lost his children , lands & goods , patience did kill the poyson of his payne : and when his sorrowes came as fast as floods , hope kept his heart , till comfortes came agayne . when dauids life by saul was often sought , and worlds of crosses compast him about , yet was his spirit neuer ouer-wrought , but in his woes , hope still did helpe him out . when the sore cripple by the poole did lye , full many a yeere in misery and payne , his heart on christ no sooner set his eye , but teares mou'd grace , and he was well agayne . no iob , nor dauid , cripple more in griefe : christ giue me patience , and my hope reliefe . finis . an excellent and most-pleasant new sonnet shewing how the goddess diana transform'd acteon into the shape of a hart. approx. kb of xml-encoded text transcribed from -bit group-iv tiff page image. text creation partnership, ann arbor, mi ; oxford (uk) : - (eebo-tcp phase ). a wing e wing e b estc r ocm this keyboarded and encoded edition of the work described above is co-owned by the institutions providing financial support to the early english books online text creation partnership. this phase i text is available for reuse, according to the terms of creative commons . universal . the text can be copied, modified, distributed and performed, even for commercial purposes, all without asking permission. early english books online. (eebo-tcp ; phase , no. a ) transcribed from: (early english books online ; image set ) images scanned from microfilm: (early english books, - ; : and : or : ) an excellent and most-pleasant new sonnet shewing how the goddess diana transform'd acteon into the shape of a hart. breton, nicholas, ?- ? gascoigne, george, ?- . sheet ([ ] p.) : ill. printed by w.o. and sold by the booksellers, [london?] : [ -?] "to a pleasant new tune." "licens'd and enter'd according to order." "an excellent song called lullaby" has been variously attributed to nicholas breton and george gasgoigne. harvard attributes it to breton. cf. nuc pre- imprints. place and date of publication suggested by wing. reproductions of originals in the harvard university library and british library. with: an excellent song call'd lullaby. created by converting tcp files to tei p using tcp tei.xsl, tei @ oxford. re-processed by university of nebraska-lincoln and northwestern, with changes to facilitate morpho-syntactic tagging. gap elements of known extent have been transformed into placeholder characters or elements to simplify the filling in of gaps by user contributors. eebo-tcp is a partnership between the universities of michigan and oxford and the publisher proquest to create accurately transcribed and encoded texts based on the image sets published by proquest via their early english books online (eebo) database (http://eebo.chadwyck.com). the general aim of eebo-tcp is to encode one copy (usually the first edition) of every monographic english-language title published between and available in eebo. eebo-tcp aimed to produce large quantities of textual data within the usual project restraints of time and funding, and therefore chose to create diplomatic transcriptions (as opposed to critical editions) with light-touch, mainly structural encoding based on the text encoding initiative (http://www.tei-c.org). the eebo-tcp project was divided into two phases. the , texts created during phase of the project have been released into the public domain as of january . anyone can now take and use these texts for their own purposes, but we respectfully request that due credit and attribution is given to their original source. users should be aware of the process of creating the tcp texts, and therefore of any assumptions that can be made about the data. text selection was based on the new cambridge bibliography of english literature (ncbel). if an author (or for an anonymous work, the title) appears in ncbel, then their works are eligible for inclusion. selection was intended to range over a wide variety of subject areas, to reflect the true nature of the print record of the period. in general, first editions of a works in english were prioritized, although there are a number of works in other languages, notably latin and welsh, included and sometimes a second or later edition of a work was chosen if there was a compelling reason to do so. image sets were sent to external keying companies for transcription and basic encoding. quality assurance was then carried out by editorial teams in oxford and michigan. % (or pages, whichever is the greater) of each text was proofread for accuracy and those which did not meet qa standards were returned to the keyers to be redone. after proofreading, the encoding was enhanced and/or corrected and characters marked as illegible were corrected where possible up to a limit of instances per text. any remaining illegibles were encoded as <gap>s. understanding these processes should make clear that, while the overall quality of tcp data is very good, some errors will remain and some readable characters will be marked as illegible. users should bear in mind that in all likelihood such instances will never have been looked at by a tcp editor. the texts were encoded and linked to page images in accordance with level of the tei in libraries guidelines. copies of the texts have been issued variously as sgml (tcp schema; ascii text with mnemonic sdata character entities); displayable xml (tcp schema; characters represented either as utf- unicode or text strings within braces); or lossless xml (tei p , characters represented either as utf- unicode or tei g elements). keying and markup guidelines are available at the text creation partnership web site . eng - tcp assigned for keying and markup - apex covantage keyed and coded from proquest page images - john latta sampled and proofread - john latta text and markup reviewed and edited - pfs batch review (qc) and xml conversion an excellent and most-pleasant new sonnet , shewing how the goddes diana transform'd acteon into the shape of a hart. to a pleasant new tune . licens'd and enter'd according to order . diana and her darlings dear , went walking on a day , throughout the woods and waters clear , for their disports and play ; the leaves aloft were very green and pleasant to behold ; these nymps they wa●● the trees between , under the shadows cold , so long , at last they found a place of springs and waters clear , a fairer bath there never was found out this thousand year : wherein diana , daintily , herself began to bathe , and all her uirgins fair and pure , themselves did wash and lave : and as the nymps in water stood , acteon passed by , as he came running through the wood , on them he cast his eye , and eke beheld their bodies bare , then ●resently that tide . and as the nymps of him were ware , with voice aloud they cry'd , and clos'd diana round about , to hide her body small ; but she was highest in the rout , and seen above them all . and when diana did perceive where acteon did stand , a furious look to him she gave , and took her bow in hand : and as she was about to shoot , acteon began to run , to hide he thought it was no ●oot , his former sight was done . and as he thought from her to 'scape , she brought it so to pass , incontinently chang'd his shape , even running as he was ; each goddess took diana's part , acteon to transform , to make of him a huge wild hart , there they did all determ : his skin that was so fine and fair , was made a tawny red , his body over grown with hair , from feet unto the head ; and on his head great horns were set , most wonderous to behold , a huger hart was never ●et nor seen upon the mold ; his ears and eyes that were so fa●r , transformed were full strange , his hands and feet comprised were throughout the woods to range . thus was he made a perfect hart , and waxed fierce and grim ; his former shape did quite depart from every joynt and limb ; but still his memory did remain , although he might not speak , nor yet among his friends complain , his woful mind to break ; at length he thought for to repair home to his dwelling-place , anon of him his hounds were ware , and gan to cry apace : then acteon was sore agast , his hounds would him devour , and from them then he fled full fast , with all his might and power . he spared neither bush nor b●ake , but ran through thick and thin , with all the swiftness he could make , in hope to save his skin ; yet were his hounds so near his tail , and follow'd him so fast , that running might not him avail , for all his speed and haste : for why , his hounds would never li● till they him overtook , and then they rent and tore his skin : and all his body shook : i am your master acteon , then cry'd he to his hounds , and made unto them rueful moans , with sad lamenting sounds ; i have been he which gave you food , wherein i took delight ; therefore suck not your master's blood , his friendship to requite . but those curs of a cursed kind , on him had no remorse , although he was their dearest friend , they pull'd him down by force , there was no man to take his part , the story telleth plain ; thus acteon a huge wild hart , among the does were slain . you hunters all , that range the woods , although you rise up rath , beware you come not nigh the flood , were uirgins use to bathe : for if diana you espy , among her darlings dear , your former shape she will disguise , and make you horns to wear . and so i do conclude my song , having nothing to alledge ; if acteon had right or wrong , let all true uirgins judge . an excellent song , call'd , lullaby to a pleasant tune come little babe , come silly soul , thy father's shame , and mother's grief , born , as i doubt to all out doles , unto thy self unhappy chief . sing lullaby , and keep it warm , poor soul , it thinks no creature harm ; thou little think'st , and least dost know , the cause of this thy mother's moan , thou wantest wit to wail her woe , and i myself am left alone : why dost thou weep , why dost thou wail , and knowest not what thou dost ail ? come , silly wretch ; ah , silly heart , my only ioy , what can i more ? if there be any wrong , thy smart , that may thy destiny deplore , 't is i , i say , against my will , i wait the time , but be thou still ; and dost thou smile ? o thou sweet face ! i would thy dad the same might see , no doubt but it would purchace grace , i know it would be for thee and me . but come to mother , babe aud play , poor father , false , is fled away . sweet babe , if 't be thy fortune change , thy father home again to send , if death doth strike me with his launce , yet may'st thou me to him commend : if any ask thy mother's name , tell them by love she purchast blame ; then will his gentle heart soon yield , i know him of a noble mind , although a lyon in the field , a lamb in town thou shalt him find : ask blessing lad , be not afraid , his sugar'd lips hath me betray'd , then may'st thou joy and be right glad , although in woe i seem to mourn , thy father is no rascal , lad , an able youth of blood and bone ; his glancing look , if he once smile , right honest women will beguile . come little boy , and rock asleep , sing lullaby , and do not cry , i can do nought else but weep , and sit by thee , the lullaby : god bless the babe and lullaby , from this thy father's cruelty . printed by w. o. and sold by the book sellers . choice, chance, and change: or, conceites in their colours breton, nicholas, ?- ? approx. kb of xml-encoded text transcribed from -bit group-iv tiff page images. text creation partnership, ann arbor, mi ; oxford (uk) : - (eebo-tcp phase ). a stc estc s this keyboarded and encoded edition of the work described above is co-owned by the institutions providing financial support to the early english books online text creation partnership. this phase i text is available for reuse, according to the terms of creative commons . universal . the text can be copied, modified, distributed and performed, even for commercial purposes, all without asking permission. early english books online. (eebo-tcp ; phase , no. a ) transcribed from: (early english books online ; image set ) images scanned from microfilm: (early english books, - ; : , : ) choice, chance, and change: or, conceites in their colours breton, nicholas, ?- ? [ ], , [ ] p. [by r. bradock] for nathaniell fosbrooke, and are to be sold at his shop in paules churchyard at the signe of the helmet, imprinted at london : . by nicholas breton. signatures: [a]² b-k⁴. running title reads: choice, chaunce, and change. identified as stc on umi microfilm reel . reproductions of the originals in the henry e. huntington library and art gallery and the bodleian library. appears at reel (henry e. huntington library and art gallery copy) and at reel (bodleian library copy). created by converting tcp files to tei p using tcp tei.xsl, tei @ oxford. re-processed by university of nebraska-lincoln and northwestern, with changes to facilitate morpho-syntactic tagging. gap elements of known extent have been transformed into placeholder characters or elements to simplify the filling in of gaps by user contributors. eebo-tcp is a partnership between the universities of michigan and oxford and the publisher proquest to create accurately transcribed and encoded texts based on the image sets published by proquest via their early english books online (eebo) database (http://eebo.chadwyck.com). the general aim of eebo-tcp is to encode one copy (usually the first edition) of every monographic english-language title published between and available in eebo. eebo-tcp aimed to produce large quantities of textual data within the usual project restraints of time and funding, and therefore chose to create diplomatic transcriptions (as opposed to critical editions) with light-touch, mainly structural encoding based on the text encoding initiative (http://www.tei-c.org). the eebo-tcp project was divided into two phases. the , texts created during phase of the project have been released into the public domain as of january . anyone can now take and use these texts for their own purposes, but we respectfully request that due credit and attribution is given to their original source. users should be aware of the process of creating the tcp texts, and therefore of any assumptions that can be made about the data. text selection was based on the new cambridge bibliography of english literature (ncbel). if an author (or for an anonymous work, the title) appears in ncbel, then their works are eligible for inclusion. selection was intended to range over a wide variety of subject areas, to reflect the true nature of the print record of the period. in general, first editions of a works in english were prioritized, although there are a number of works in other languages, notably latin and welsh, included and sometimes a second or later edition of a work was chosen if there was a compelling reason to do so. image sets were sent to external keying companies for transcription and basic encoding. quality assurance was then carried out by editorial teams in oxford and michigan. % (or pages, whichever is the greater) of each text was proofread for accuracy and those which did not meet qa standards were returned to the keyers to be redone. after proofreading, the 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site . eng - tcp assigned for keying and markup - apex covantage keyed and coded from proquest page images - pip willcox sampled and proofread - pip willcox text and markup reviewed and edited - pfs batch review (qc) and xml conversion choice , chance , and change : or , conceites in their colours . imprinted at london for nathaniell fosbrooke , and are to be sold at his shop in pauls churchyard at the signe of the helmet . . to the reader . if your choise chaunce to bee good , change it not , if your conceit chance to chuse amisse , allowe it not : if it carry a good colour , and the cloth be naught , esteem it not : but if it be good and you conceite it not , change your humor , but keepe your choise : in briefe , here are conceits of diuerse colours , some in graine and none but will bide the weather : but if you be in loue , here is a lesson for your learning , where you may find passion put to her patience , wit to his whirligigge , the foole to his part , and the better conceite to his best corner : many wild geese flie in their owne feathers , and a tame duck is a pretie fowle : in som , there is nothing so good but may be mended , nor so ill but may bee well taken : kind fellowes and honest wenches i know will not be angry , and if any man be out of his wits , god send him well into them againe : and so hoping that good conceites , will chuse the best and leaue the worst , i will change kind thankes for kind acceptance , and so rest , as i find cause . insert these words into the beginning of the eight leafe before the end of the booke : i could be glad of your fau . &c. a dialogue , after a friendlie greeting , vpon a sodaine meeting , betweene arnofilo and tidero : as they trauailed vpon the way , betwixt mount ierkin , and the great city at the foot of the wood , in the long valley . ar. tidero , well met , of all the men in the world , i would neuer haue thoght to haue seene you in these parts : why ? how many thousand yeeres since i saw you last . tidero : not many thousand : what ? am i become a spirite that you wonder at mee ? this is as good as a good yeer on you : how long haue you been away , and how haue you done since yesternight : is a yeere or two such a time of absence , as if one should come out of his graue to maze the world with miracles ? i must confesse i haue beene abroade , and haue seene more then i haue eaten , and drunke more then hath done mee good : but what of that ? all is well that ends well : and therefore hoping that you will leaue your wondering , in honest kindnesse tell me how you doe ? and haue done euer since i saw you ? ar. sometime well , and sometime so so : meate whole , but : tid . but , where is now the old shrug at that wicked but ? an old mezill will haue a misers tricke : if you had bin where i haue bin , and endured that i haue don , you would leaue your shrinking of your shoulder , at the burthen of ease . ar. why , but tell me , hast thou been a trauailer ? tid . i haue walked a little ouer the great water , some ten thousand of miles , and yet haue found the waye home againe . ar. and for ought i see , thou art welcome home , and no doubt but many of thy friends will be glad to see thee : for my selfe , i am glad euen with all my hart , to see thee so wel . tid . you are glad of your eiesight , and so i think are many more , that after the common fashion carrye the name of friends , but : ar. tush i praye thee , leaue thy but : i doubte thou hast mette with some vnkinde kindred , fained friende , hollowe companion , cogging rascall , or dogged pesaunte , that hath giuen you a dry salutation , bidden you to a hūgry breakfast , that you are not in full true charity with all the world : but put away melancholie , let the diuell goe hang himselfe , one honest man is worth a hundred beggers : and for my poore state , thou knowest it : and such as it is , take parte with it : goe home with mee , and staie till i bidde thee goe . i protest i shall bee glad of thee : and for my little wealth , i had rather spend it on such a companion , then leaue it to a sight of churles : for thou knowest i haue no store of heires , and therefore i pray thee , bee let vs be merry , and let vs liue togither . tid . why how now ? doe you take me for a woman , that you come vpon mee with a ballad , of come liue with me and be my loue ; well , losse of time is but ventered ware , and the gaine of repentance , but the greefe of vnderstanding ; but , i will hope the best , that i haue now founde a man , whose breathe is not poisoned . ar. poisoned man , god forbid ; but say , where with all doest thou meane ? tid . with deceit , lying , dissembling , in effect all one kind of poison ; which in these days is as cōmon among men , as painting among women . ar. fy vpon it , talke not of it , for my wife she i am sure vseth not the one , and for my self god blesse me from the other : but leaue tricks to trickers , and tell me i pray thee in a word , what hast thou seen in thy trauaile ? tid . in a word , variety : i can not in one word better expresse the sum of all : for indeed i haue seen much , & much variety in that i haue seene . ar. as how i pray thee ? tid . i haue seene the greate water called the sea , to which compared , the greatest riuer is but a little channell , and the greatest flood , except that which was in the time of noah , is but as a dish of water : the taste of which water is salte : and in this water liue a whole worlde of straunge fishes ; of which i haue seen some very great , some not so great , and some far lesse : but , as vpon the land , so in the sea , i saw the great eat vp the little : a whale would hunt a whole skull of herings , and swallow down a number of them : the porpoise would hunt the samon and the shad , the seale would feed vpon the whiting , but the whale would take order with a world of small fishes : and so you see vpon the land , among the fowles of the ayr : the eagle vpon the phesant or the poulte : the faulcon vpon the mallard , or the partridge , the hobby vpon the larke , and so still the great feede vppon the small ones : so in beasts the wolfe vpon the sheepe , the dog vpon the hare , the fox vpon the lamb , the greater euer makes his pray vpon the lesse : and yet as in birds and beasts , so in fishes haue i obserued , that the sword fish , and the dolphin will be the death of a whale : a little iacke of a marlin , will be on the neck of a partridge , and a little dog will put downe a great beare . ar. yea , but they can neuer do it , but when they haue them at aduantage . tid . that is vnderstood , but they doe so : how euer they catche them at it . ar. yea they do indeed , but how they do it , that would be knowne . tid . it is not for me to looke after , for i will neyther flie into the ayr to aske the birds , nor diue into the sea , to aske the fishes : nor be a beast on the land , to learne a note of their nature ; and yet there comes much good by them . ar. as how i pray thee ? tid . why when a whale is wounded , he will runne to the shore , and then the fishermen make much mony of his oyle , when a marlin killeth a partridge , the faulconer fares the better , and when the dog pulls downe the beare , it makes sport for the master of the game . ar. thou saist true , but let them alone with their sports , & tell me what els sawest thou at the sea ? tid . i saw how woodden horses went with the wind , which carried men and merchandize , ouer the water from one land to another : but sometimes , with a sodaine tempest man & horse ouerthrown vpon a rock , and the goods all flote or drownd , somtime man , horse and ware through a leake , sink all into the sea : somtime swallowed in a sand , and sometime vpon a sodaine one fall vpon another , and by fire and sword , one or both fall to destruction : these horses were called shippes , pinnaces , hoyes and such like : and let me tell you , as dauid the prophet said : he that passeth the deepe seeth the wonders of the lord : for if i should tell thee what dangers i haue escaped both by sea and land , thou woldest say , i were bound to praise god. ar. thou saist well , i haue heard so much of the daungers of the sea , that i care not , if i keepe one foot of land : but i pray thee tell me a little further of thy trauaile . tid . i will tell you , at sea i saw none of those toyes that i haue heard fooles talke of , as mermaides and sirenes , for they are in deede but fictions : but i saw in a cleer day , a great depth vnder one ship vpon a calm , in a still water , the tops of steeples and old stone walles , which the sea had swallowed by som great breache ouer the banks of that country : and as i heard afterward in my trauaile , in the drowning of those townes there perished a worlde of people , and no small masse of wealth . arnofilo . a pittifull spectacle , and yet we see , when wealth breedeth pride , god will send vs a sore plague : but i pray thee proceede , and tell me of thy further trauaile . tid . i will : when i first arriued on shore with some other of the shippe , wherein i made my passage , i beheld the soile , which was as this is , replenished with grasse , herbs , flowers , and trees , and so forth : and for the fowles they did fly , the beastes did feede , and men and woemen did walke and talke as we doe : onely they did vary in their attire , and in theyr language from vs : the poore did for the most part drinke water , and the ritch wine ; the poore fedde most vpon herbes , rootes , course bread , and little flesh : the riche vpon such cates as the country will yeelde : their cities were faire to the eie , but slight for the substance , their wealth great , but in few mens hands , their lawes stricte , and well obserued ; the men , neither pigmeies nor monsters ; their women some fair , some foule : but one thing i noted chiefly in the country , that in euery house the inhabitants had a priuate law in their owne houses , and one neighbour with an other , besides the common lavves of the country . arnofilo . for those , in that they may bee tedious to thee to recite , i will deferre them till another time : but , i pray thee tell mee something of the priuate lawes among them . tid . betvvixt neighbours it vvas one lavv , that euery man shoulde pay his ovvne house rent , and not to trust vnto his neighbour . another law , that euery man should prouide for his owne houshold all things necessary , and not to borrow of his neighbour : another lawe , that no man should owe his neihbour any thing but compliments : an other was that no man should be bould with his neighbours wife , further then she wold let him , howsoeuer the common law woulde direct him . no man should slander his neighbours wife , for feare of hurting him , and doing her no good : no man should tell tales , though true , betwixt partie and partie , that might mooue strife , for breaking of peace : no man should denie a kindnesse promised vnto his neighbour , or his wife , least he should grow angry , and shee take thought : no man mighte make hornes at his neighbour , though hee knewe him to bee a cuckolde , for feare of breeding of bate betwixte a man and his wife : these with many other priuate lawes , were verie straightly and carefully obserued , betwixt neighbour and neighbour : besides , there is one other that i had forgotten , and that is this , that no man might father his neighbours childe , how soeuer hee had talked with the mother of it , for feare to breede the fathers vnkindenesse , and the mothers vndooing . ar. prety lawes , and well noted ; i see there was some good fellowshippe among them , and that they had a care of their businesse : it was well , for without these lawes , knaues and fools might haue done much hurt : what was the punishment to bee layde vppon the offendors in any of these items , or priuate lawes ? tid . no open matter of shame , but among themselues he that did offend , according to the nature of his offence was censured ▪ if he wanted wealth , held a poor man , if he wanted wit , a foole : if honesty , a knaue , if kindnesse , a dog : and so though suffered to bee a dweller , yet not esteemed as a neighbour . ar : truely good , so it should be , as the world goes : neighbours should be kind one to another , or els there were no neighbourhood : but tell me i pray thee a little of the priuate lawes in eache house . tid . if a man were maried to a scold , let her work for her liuing , and pray for patience : if a woman were maried to a foole , let him walke to wind yarne , or pick nuts . if a man had a whore to his wife , to think of his own case , and so : to conceale his sorrowe , or to bee rid of his mischiefe : if a woman be maried to an eunuche , to do somthing to saue his shame from knowledge . no man must goe to market without money , nor to dinner without meate . no man must go to bed till he be sleepy , nor rise till he be awake . no man must looke for money till he haue earned it , nor pay money till he haue it . many other such lawes , or items there are agreed vpon , among them , which were but tedious to recite : som of which , i haue forgotten , but these i can well remember . ar. prety noted , i thanke thee for them with all my hart : but what punishment is there appointed for the offenders , in any of these agreements ; tid . i will tel you , he that will liue with a scoulde must be laught at for his labour : shee that is wife to a fool , liues in suspition of god forbid : hee that will liue with a whore must wear a greate cap : shee that is married to an eunuch muste goe to phisick for the greene sicknes : he that goes to market without mony must come home without meate : hee that dines without meate , must feed vpon fasting : he that goes to bed til he be sleepy , must lie & tumble till he be weary : and he that riseth ere he be wake must bee held for a mad man. hee that lookes for mony he knowes not why , must haue it he knowes not when , and hee that will paie it ere hee haue it , muste bee wondered at of all the worlde : ar. gramercy good wagge , for thy good noates , pretty laws , and pretty punishments , if tt were worse , it would not bee so well : for scolds and whores , and fooles and cuckolds would be cut of order for pride , if they were not taken downe with some trick : and to tell a truth , it is requisite that a man shold not bee so lazy as to goe to bed , ere hee bee sleepy , nor so madde as to rise in a dreame : so foolish to goe to market without monye , or so peeuish , as to dine without meat , or so childish , as for to look for mony without desart , and to paie it before hee haue it , why it is a thing impossible : and therfore the agreements are good , i like them well : pittie but they should be kepte : but i pray thee , tell me a little further of thy trauell , in that country or any other : tid . i will tell you : for the greate men , i durst not look too greatly at them : for fear their greatnes would haue too greate an eie at my looking ; onely i sawe , they were wel proportioned , strong limmed , manlike faces , wore good cloathes , rode on fat horses , pinched not theire owne bellies , nor were not afraide of a cuppe of wine , kept their cuntries in peace , and liued in a league of greate loue : this was all that i there noted , amonge the greate ones : and for the name of the countrie , as i heard ; it was called , terra straue . ar. i find it not in the mappe by that name , but t is no matter , on with thy discourse . tid . for the meaner sort of people , yet not the basest , for those are alikeeuery where : roges will begge , beggars will not be bashfull , fooles wil crie , and dogs will barke , and therefore let them passe ; but , for the better sort , i found them good fellowes , of what condition soeuer : male , or female , learned , or vnlearned , there would none be out , for his hand in a helth , howsoeuer they had fared : the schollar would dispute vpon none but the full pointe , and the vnlearned by experience had a carouse , at the highest : ciuill cariage and fair conditioned , drink , and spende and paie , like right lads and not quarrell , till the cuppe had made a conquest of al the cōpany ; & thē ipse hee qui the which leapte ouer the hedge , and fel in the ditch , a , b , c , non habet p : how rousts the henne when the cock is a sleep : t is twelue a clock , and god giue you good night : ar. but is it possible , was ther such good good fellowship ? much good do their hearts , and yet t is pitty ther was not more dauncing and lesse drinke : for then their heeles might haue held vp their heads , and their waies might haue been fit for a better worke : but so long , as they went all one waie , i like the better of their trauell . tid . oh sir : a little nap makes them as fresh as if they had neuer been salted : and daunce and sing , and if need bee a better thinge : tushe they are a gallant people , the men were good musitians , and there wenches would sing excellently : but for that i had no long time to tary there , i could not obserue much more then i haue told you : and therefore if the time wil giue vs leaue , i will tell you what i saw in an other countrie , which i next fell vpon . ar. i praie thee doe , thou canst not please mee better . tid . i will tell you : crossing but a little riuer , and it was ouer a short narrow stone bridge , i fell into a country that had another name , which mighte well be : for in many things me thoughte it differed in nature . ar. as how ? i praie thee tell me . tid . first for the soyle it was more full of sand , and dust , and not so fair and fat , as the neighbour country , yet had it no lack of wood , nor corne nor fruite : for the country people , i meane the meanest sort fed much of garden commodities ; which with helpe of a little oyle , and scarce sweet butter , made them dishes of meat fit for their stomackes : and their drinke was moste either vpon plaine water of the brooke , or vpon apple water , otherwise called sider which which was in a manner their wine : their villages large and their houses strong , though nothing stately : the people most plaine without welt or guarde , or almoste wit or vnderstanding , more then to know their owne , the way to the church and the field , and the taphouse if there were any in the towne , the way to the market and home againe ; to plough , and plant , and sowe , and reape , to thrash and grind , to make hard bread and eat it with strong teeth , to make loue illfauouredly and to get children to furnish the parish : these were the main points of their conditions : for to talke of more then a codshead , would trouble a fisherman , the shephearde more then of a sheepshead , nor the ploweman further then his tillage ▪ nor the butcher more then his bullock : for if you did goe any further , you did but trouble their capacities : but for those matters you should hear them talke so sauourly , that if you did want witt to consider how soone those small cunnings woulde bee learned , you would haue been buried in a dungheape , ere you could get out of the cleane : oh how the fisherman would discourse of his angle , his line , his cork , his lead , his bait , his net , his grinne , his leape , his weere , and i know not what ; his obseruing of time day and night , his patience to attend , his crafte in drawing his baite along the streame , his dressing of his baite to drawe the fish to it , his playing with the fish when he hadde him , his hoising of him out of the water , and then what a messe or meate he could make of him , although perhappes it prooued all but a gudgin : but if it were a codshead , his lippes would bee worth the licking , and in this was his element , heere was his study , and in these matters of little moment , woulde hee spen d the whole spirit of his vnderstanding . with whome , although it were no greate hurte , for to loose a little time , yet it was some pleasure for to heare him , and besides to noate his kinde of pride in his poore trade . the sheepheard he would so talke of his rammes and his weathers , of his ewes and his lambs , his hogs and his sheerlings : the big h●●ne , and the fine wooll , the deepe side , and the broad ioines : the nature of theyr breed , and of their feed , their washing , their shearing , their marking , their folding , their diseases and their medicines : the flie and the scabbe , and how to trimme them , and picke them , and dresse them , and then with a sigh to talke of the rot , and what a heauy thing it is among them : to be short , if you had time to attend the end of his discourse , there is no heraulde in searching out and deliuering of a coate of a very greate antiquity , could weary you more then hee woulde your patience , with a tale of the petigree of some of his choyce cattell : for such a ramme was of such an ewe , that was bredde in such a grounde , of such a mans , that had so many rammes from such a ground , and he that was the master of such a ground brought som twenty rammes from such a country , and withall the owner of those sheepe had them out of such a shire , of the best strayne that was in all that countrey , and they in that country : came i know not from whence , but and if i woulde hauè stayed for to haue hearde him out , i think that he woulde neuer haue left , till he had come to iacob , or laban , or abell the first shephearde that euer was , to come to the straine of his sheepe : but , i left at a point enough for my learning : for i gathered out of all in briefe , how soon he that had mony might learne to gaine by sheep , though he would not lap himselfe in a sheeps skinne : but , if you should take him out of his element ; then he was gone , and you did his capacity much hurt : for , there was the summe of his worlds paradise : of which he would speake with such a feeling contentment , th●● it were pitty such a spirite should be drawn from his pleasure : but , to be short by the sum of his speeche i gathered in briefe , with mony how to make a good shepheard in a little time : on a hard ground breed small sheepe ; on a fat ground bigger boned : put not the rams to the ewes too soon , for feare the lamb be to forward : looke to them for the scab , and the flie , least i loose my sheepe , or my sheepe loose her fleece : giue them dry layer , for fear of the rot ; and in lamming time , to take heed of the fox , the wolfe the brock , and other vermine : to wash them in fayre weather , not to sheare them till they be dry , and take heede of clipping of their skinnes , for feare of the flie : to put them in good pasture , and haue an eie to them for feare of the theese : many other such kind of matters belong to the care of such a course : but , because i rather desired the knowledge , then the profession of it , i left him to his flock , which god blesse to his holy pleasure , and so an end . then fell i in with the ploughman , who tolde me such a tale of the nature of the earth , of the choise of his seede , of his first and second tilthe , of his manuring , plowing , sowing , harrowing , reaping , binding , carting , pitching , mowing , threshing , winowing , and fanning : and so putting vp into the garner for store , or into the sacks for the mill , or the market , with haye ree , & who to his horse ; and hum and hah to me with such a garlicke breath , as would haue poisoned a dog : i learned enough in a little time , to serue me for a great while , for though i loue to know any thing , yet god blesse my brains , for my limmes are not not now fit for labour : age and trauaile , hath giuen them too great a weaknesse , besides the nature of my spirit , that though it hath carried my bodie on the earth yet , hath it euer looked aboue the earth , for my comforte . ar : i thanke thee for that yet , with all my hearte : and i am not a little glad to heare it : that all the worlde cannot make thee to forget heauen : for it is no little happinesse to see much , & knowe much , and make good vse of all : for , cannot a a man be a fisher , but he must gape like a cods head ? nor bee master of a fewe sheepe , but hee must liue and die in a sheepes coate ? or haue a barn full of corne , but hee muste bee bounde prentise to his flaile ? the miller & his mare may doe well both to carry sackes , but the maister of them both shoulde not put his wits into a bagge : beleeue me , it is not a little griefe to think how men beefoole themselues , or the deuil bewitches men with folly : why , is it not a myserie to think , howe the breath of one villaine , poysons the heartes of an hundred : when he that trauailes a good subiect , comes home againe a traytor , serues god at home , and the deuill abroad , goes fourthe to gaine honour , and comes home to bee hanged ? are not these pittifull illusions ? well , ha●py art thou that haste been infected with none of these diseases : but tel mee i pray thee , what didst thou further note in the courtes , and cities of that country and other , where thou hast been . tid . i will : the citties in that country were large , & well builded , for strength more then beauty , for they were most of stone , and couered with a kinde of slate , but many of theyr townes were decaied , their castles , and chief howses , ruinated , as it should seeme , either by some ciuill warres , or some vnciuil enemy : for the gouernors , they wer men of further matter for theyr wit , thē their aspects , did make promise of : and yet they would knit the browes , look vnder the eies , stroke downe their beards , nod with their heads , shake vp poore men ; whippe roges , rate beggars , emprison offenders , hang vp theeues and in all they could , seeke to maintaine peace : that was one thing i cheefely noted in their citties : but for their courts i staied so little a while in them , that i cannot iustly saie any thing in their commendation ; and yet in the contrary i would saie as little , for feere i shoulde wrong them : but in their townes , and citties , i sawe many things and many prettie lawes , and customes among them , which in mine opinion were not vnworthy the noting : the first law was , that no man should marry a faire wench without mony , except hee were rich : for fear of the horne for want of maintenance : item that no old woman that had wealth and children should marry a young beggar , for feare of wasting her childies goods , and putting her selfe to her patience : no man aged should marry a wench too young , for feare of the curse of contrarietyes . no man should be a stranget to his owne howse , for fear his wife would procue a gossip . no woman should be master of her husband , for feare of the next neighbors riding . no man should bring his horse into a stable , but he should pay for his meat ere he came out . no man should take more then he had warrant for , lest he should answer it at the gallowes . no vintner should mingle water with his wine , except he vvere allovved it by his company . no tailor should put more stuffe in a garment , then vvas allowed him for his mesure . no shoemaker should make his shoos to strong , for feare they hold to long . no tradesman should sell his ware too good cheape , for feare of hinderance to his trade . no iester should bee fauoured of the wise , for feare of being more knaue then foole . no constable should be suffered to be drunk , for feare the vvatchmen should fall asleepe . no fool should inherit too much land , for fear a knaue should to soone alter the property . he that could get no children should not mary : and she that could not abide a man , should bee set to keepe chickens . no man might haue two vviues , for feare of breeding vnquietnes . no woman might haue two husbands , for feare she should be in loue vvith neither . many other such idle things there vvere agreed vpon among them ; vvhich for tediousnes i let passe : for being no maters of great moment , it is no great matter for their remembrance , only thus much i remember , that no man should be found drunke in a house , but he should be laid in the streete till he were sober ▪ ar. prety items , and good reason for the keeping of them : for as i said before , lack of care among mad people , may be the spoile of a whole market ; it is not meet that men should be perswaded , that the moon is made of a green cheese ; it is a principle in philosophy : contraries can not be togither : age and youth can not be in one predicament : ianuary and may neuer meet togither , but , if age long to be in his graue , youth wil be a good staffe to lead him to it but i mean the crooked cripples , that are not able to looke vp so high as the eie of venus , with a golden showr will think to come in at the window of her chamber : and therefore such an absurdum should not passe in the schoole of cupid : though that somtime , for breeding an old stalian , may be better then a yong colte . secondly , he that is a stranger to his wife , is worthy to find her a straggler : and she that is master of her husband , must weare the breeches . againe , hay is deere , prouender is costly , and horse meate must be paied for , and therefore let trauailers looke to their purses . and for theeues , when they are hanged , honest men thriue the better . for vintners , tailers , shoomakers , and all tradesmen , pitty but they should liue by their trades . and for a drunken constable , why he may be the spoile of a watch ; but for fooles and iesters the world is prettly well rid of them , and therfore i say no more to them . but i pray thee go on with thy trauail , and tell me somwhat els that thou hast seen and noted . tid . i saw somthing that it grieued me to see , and no lesse to remember . i saw in a city or borrough towne , i know not well whether a pitifull sight , an old old , and very very very aged old man , with a most exceeding illfauoured and ougly face , and a much far and a great deale worse body , whose legs were worse then wood , for they would haue stood vpright , which his could not ; with a pair of eies worse then glasse , for they were cleer and his were not : and , with such a breath , as except to the stinke of a rotten toothe , i cannot compare it to any ill sauor in the world . now this vntimely , misbegotten and accursed borne creature , was ( alas that i should speake it ) maried for his money to a most fayr , sweet , yong , dainty , strait , fine damsell that a man might see in a whole city , oh fine loue that could be betwixt them . ar. fy vpon it , what an ouersight was that in the whole parish ? why , the maids or the young men , or some good body or other might haue forbid the banes , or haue taken hir away from him , by the way : was there neuer an orlando that wold venter a lim for issabell ? tid . yes that there was , for els i feare i should haue spoild the groome , howsoeuer it woulde after haue faln out with the bride ; but , to tell you what fell out , vpon a sodaine as this monster of a man was comming homewards to his owne house , a little from the towne , in a little lane at the turning of a hedge , were prepared for the purpose tenn gallant caualieroes , well horsed , and weaponed , and euery way fully appointed for the purpose : put the peasaunte to his palsey , and on a spare horse furnished for the purpose , took the bride in all her ritche iewells and costly attire , and farre from that country carried her , from whence he coulde neuer fetch her : for griefe whereof , i meane his rich chaines of pearls , and iewels , wherewith hee had adorned his worlds idol , he took such a heauines in his hearte , as tumbled his head in his graue : and shee sweet lady , liued a happy life with a more worthy beloued . ar. more saist thou ? why lesse worthy could none bee , if he were as thou hast described him : oh cursed pelf , that makes such a coblatiue couiunction : but this is the fault of many fooles , that , as iewes doe moors , sel their children for mony : but the end of thy tale , was better then the beginning , which i was glad to heare : but tell me hast thou such an other ? tid . yes that i haue , and much of the same nature , in a country market towne , neare vnto this citty dwelt a woman of great wealth , who being of the yeares of scarce vnderstanding , for shee could hardly goe , with out leaning , a most hollow eied , wrincled faced , dropping nosed , toothlesse mouthed , slauering lipped , most ill countenanced , worie complexioned , and worse conditioned , crooked , creeping and cripled old woman , fel in loue with a most gallant , neat , handsome , tall , straight and goodly gentleman , who for the only loue of that she had , caste himselfe away , vpon this old croane : but , though he had a little troubled his conscience , with a little ceremony , the matter far from his hart , finding her humour too much enclined , to the spanish grape , and for want of naturall heat , to drincke much of spirits of wine ▪ & hot waters plied her so with such drinks , as droue her into such a heate , as put her into such a feuer , as carried her quickly to her long home , and left him possessor of all her wealth : ar. a good bargaine , but ill gotten for such a kindnes , was but a kinde of poyson : but yet , if hee meante not her death , it was no great matter for her sicknes . tid . oh no , i haue heard him protest , not for all the world , for had she liued she should haue lacked no cherishing , but for lyeing with her , hee woulde not haue come in bed with her , for hurting her ; for shee was so tender that shee was ready to fal in peeces . ar. it was done like an honest man , to haue some pitty on her that had so much loued him , i thanke him for it , euery man would not bee so kinde : but on i praye you , haste thou any more of these ? tid . not in this nature , but if it may not seeme tedious , i could tel you a merry tale , how i lost my selfe at a wedding . ar. i praie thee doe . tid . it was my hap one daie to hear of a great bridail , or contry wedding , in a pretty village neer vnto a market towne , which solemnity was kept , at the house of one sir slapsawce , a slouenly knight , that by an vnhappy chaunce came by a title more then hee was worthy of : for hee had nothing in him of a knighte , more then his title , excepte it were , that hee wore spurres and a sworde : for hee was vsed to ride very often to the faires , and to the market , and they were both guilte and dammasked for feare of wearing out too soone , a satten ierkin he wore , which was his greate grandfathers , & it was his pride to speak of it in honor of the antiquitie , beside a brooch in his hat , which was the bosse of some horse bridle , that hauing beene some pawne to his ancetors , was left to him for a legasie : which beeing set in his hat , would make him shake the head with no small pride : but not to stand too long vpon an idle description , let it suffice that he was fat , both in belly and purse : dwelte in a faire house , and kept good victuals for his friends which were not many , nor often : but , at feasts , hee would be lusty , brewe good beare , & down with a bullock : and make no spare as long as it woulde last : so now at this time betwixt maister ienkin his eldest sonne , and mistris parnel , his neighbours daughter whose fathers purse made a match with his land , there i say at his house at this bridale feast , was a great meeting of all the gallants of both genders in the country i omit to tel what charge he saued by the world , of capons , chickins , geese , lambes , pigs , yea and some bullocks , brought in by the tennants , with malt and meale , beside apples plummes and plumm cakes , that there wāted nothing that might be had , so good cheap but all this is nothing to the purpose of that i meane to speak of , for during this time of feasting being in the summer time , ther wanted no variety of sports , as hunting , hawking musicke and dauncing , courting , and kissing , and what not , that was necessary : and yet for my self , being brought thither by a friend , i left my selfe i know not how and not being out of a chamber was as it were in a wood , sawe many waies and knewe not which to take : for when i had taken a superficiall view of them all olde and young , faire and foule : men and woemen : i was in such a case , that i knew not which waie to turne mee , for , first touching the men , one hee was so fine at kissing of his hand , as if he did wipe his mouth at euery worde , an other would congey so low that his points had much adoe to holde , so that those were too full of compliments , for my conference , an other hee was so neate , fine , and all so fine , that for fear of tutching his ruffes , displacing his sword pointe , or some such nice kinde of anoyance , i durst not come too neer him : an other , he was so rude & so buisie with euery bodie , that i was loath to be troubled with him : an other was so eloquent , that i knew not how to talk with him : an other was so dull of vnderstanding , that i had no edge to deale with him , another so bashfull , that i was loath to make him blush : and another so sawcy ▪ that i was glad to shunne him , and other was so old that i should haue had a chronicle , to answer him and an other so young , that it was pitty to trouble him : thus among men i could single out no mate : and for the woemen , if one had a good wit , then was her face nothing answerable , so that i coulde rather desire to hear her , then see her : and if an other were faire , then her wit was oute of the waie , so that i mighte rather please mine eie then trouble my tong with her , another if shee were rich , then was she so olde that shee was out of date with mee : an other was so younge , that i was affraid to venter on her : so that , in some , i knewe not how to bestirre mee : either to stand like a spie , to heer , and see , and saie nothing , and to loose time , in talking to idlenes , but to tell you of the graces , and countenances of them all , as well men as woemen ▪ it were a prety iest to thinke on : if i could remember them all in the right : for the men , one would stand snuffing and spitting , as if he had bin new come from tabacco : an other would sit shaking of his legs , as though hee were kicking of a dull horse : an other would stand with his armes astrut , like a scarcrow in a peas-garden , another wold set out his foot to look vpon his new shoostrings : another would frown , as though he were too good for the company , and another bite the lippe , as though he had som pain in his middle finger : one did look as if he woulde whine for an ill looke of his mistrisse , another stand like a godson that should be conning of his lesson by heart , one like a foole that was ashamed of good company : and another like a knaue that was a setter for fooles : so that , afrayd to touche one , come neere an other , trouble one , or bee troubled with another , i left my old masters to their ha now ha , and the madcapps to their heidegies , and for a while rather stood to the blame of silence , then would flie the shame of folly : and so leauing euery one to his humor , fell to note the variety of countenances , among the woemen : one would sit mumping , as though teeth would haue much pleasured her : another nod the head , as though she hadd bin nurtering of youth ; another lere on either side , as a cat at a mousehole ; another swell with pride , as if she were mistris of the haruest cart , another make so many faces , that shee had nere a good one among them ; one would be stretching of her bodies , as if her waste were too streight , another bee putting off and on hir gloues , to shew the rings on her fingers , another stand and sigh as if her heart would haue burst for loue . ar. yea marry , that was the wenche i looked for all this while : did not her colour come and go often , and did she not vse little speech , and change the coppy of her countenance , and fiddle much with her fingers , and wag the forepart of her soot and withdraw her selfe from much company ? tid . she did all this and much more , as somtime laying her hand on her heart , another while stretching her fingers to heare them cracke , as if euery ierke of a ioynt were a husband , and by and by look in her hand , as though she had been tolde of her fortune vnder her middle finger , and then a little shake the head , as if it wer not fully to her mind ; & this wēch did i fall aboord withall ; and for lack of better busines , fell to court her with a few good words . ar. as how i pray thee : tid . in this manner : fayr virgin , if it be no trouble to your patience to put you out of your passion , let me intreat you to remoue your melancholy , for it is not agreeable to your complexion : sir quoth she , it may bee you haue made me blush , to think what you would say to me , but if my mind be not in perfect state , i can not take you for a phisician : yet for your good counsaile i thanke you , and that is all the fee you must looke for . ar. the wench had some wit , i perceiue by her answer . tid wit , yes at will , for this was but the first blowe , but see what followed : lady quoth i , your fee is too greate , for such a small peece of phisicke ; but , indeede if that i did but knowe the nature of your disease , i woulde studye for your cure , and deserue a fee before i woulde take it : but the mynde of sickenesse is vpon so many causes , that the griefe is hard to gesse , without som light from the agrieued : but that known , he is either vnlearned or vnlucky that can minister no cōfort : you say well quoth she , but what if it be known to be cureles , what then is any counsaile without comfort ? ar. perilous ape , i feare it will proue an vrchin . tid . oh no , t is a prety creature , as you will confesse when you heare more : but let me tell you my replie . it may quoth i seem cureles , that may haue helpe , and therefore good words may do good in the nature of a good wil : words quoth she are good when they are wel spoken ; better when they are well meant , & good when they are well taken , and better when they are well returned : but for good will , it is a kind of riddle that simple wits vnderstād not ; for fine wits can so equiuocate , that plain meaning is much abused , where the misbeliefe of good words makes the ouerthrovv of a good mind . ar. why how now man , was this a wenche ? tid . it was a woman at least of woman kind , as fayr a damsell as i thinke liues in the world : but , let me tell you how i went about with my witts to meete a little with her good will. lady quoth i , good will grounded vpon good cause , may out of a good meaning bring forth good words , which working good effect in agood mind , may vpon a good consideration worke a good conclusion ; beauty is a good thing to the eie , vertue to the mind these work a loue in desart , which is good in reason : novv loue in reason hauing a great povver in nature , may make the riddle easy to be red , wher knowledge vvill not dissemble ignorance . ar. well said wag , it was well put to . tid . no such matter , my fortune vvas yet too far from such a figure ; for , let me tell you her ansvver , and then giue your iudgment . ar. i pray thee do . tid . why sir quoth she i perceiue you go from one riddle to another ; knovvledge to dissemble ignorance is for vvisedom to bee hid in folly , vvhich is a strange construction for a weak capacity : if the cause of good will be misconceiued , the good words may then be displaced , and so the matter mistaken the time may be but mispent : beauty is but a shadow that hath no substāce , where reason may be blinded with illusion , and vertue is so far from nature , that it is not seen but with the eye of grace ; and for loue it is grown such a lest , that it is rather laughed at then beleeued in the world : therfore where you find beauty , do not flatter it with vertue , till you see it : and for vertue do not amisse conceiue it , least you wrong your self in it , but where in deed you find it , i can not blame you to loue it . ar. oh vnhappy the●fe , able to rob reason of his vnderstanding : but i hope thou wouldest not leaue her so . tid . i think not , for thus i fell vpon a replie : to blame loue were a blot in kindnes , and to yeelde to reason is a bond in wit ▪ to find folly in wisedom is the searche of a deep wit , and to wey words in their true worth , is the proofe of good vnderstāding : but to laugh at loue is no proof of good wil : if therefore the vertue of your spirit in the beauty of your eies hath drawn my hart to loue , will you not be as good as your word , not to blame me for dooïng well : for if reason faile not my conceipte , let me not mooue patience in speaking truth , & let not truth seeme flattery , where vertue hath but her due honoure : so shall the riddle be soone read , whose substance is but your selfe , and the passion best cured wher my humble seruice may be graced : sir quoth she i hope you wil pardon my weaknes , to entertain your patience with idlenes : for to answere your argumēts , would require a better scholar , then my learning : you may iudge amisse and meane well , complexions and conditions may differ , and i maie beleeue , and be deceiued , when wordes may want their weighte in good will : loue is a dangerous spirit , and where hee is snared by any subtilty , doth much hurt , where he is taken : if i were so well acquainted with him , as you woulde seeme to bee , it maye be , i shoulde employe him as you woulde , but to leaue ridling , in reason let me tell you this : as i woulde not bee vuthankfull to a straunger : so would i not bee straunge to my selfe , as i can commend your wit , i must haue care of my will , & til i be able to be a friēd , not to admit the entertainmēt of a seruāt ; & therfore , whē you know my disease , hoping you wil be my phisitiā , i wil follow your counsail ▪ to be as merry as i maie , & hauing no better fee , onely i thank you for your kindnes : lady quoth i , i am sory , time admits me not , with your fauour , to deliuer you further my minde , let it suffice you that i am youres more then i can saye , thoughe i can saie no more , then that i am yours : if occasion in your commaundement may make triall of my trust , i will attend my desart in the hope of your regarde : and so hoping , that loue will bee without daunger , where words carry the true weight : if affection may helpe a passion , let me intreat you to applye my faith to your fancy , and i hope my phisick will doe you good : but since , neither time , nor place doth fitte our further conference , i praie you let me intreat you thus f●re to honour my fortune , as to wear this ring for my sake , a littie hoope of gold , in which was ingraued , sic fides , so is faith , pure , and without end : which with a blushinge deniall , vpon such importunity , shee tooke and gaue me for a fauour to weare for her sake , a little cupid of bugle finely wroght , and written ouer his eyes in black letters : caecus sictus amor ; vpon the mutuall receipte of these tokens , with some little shorte congey wee parted , leauing her to her old passion , that i knew not ; or to this newe passion that i had mooued , but yet , founde not , or to smile at my folly , which i doubted not : and so sequestring my selfe from the woemen to chewe the cud of this kindnesse , i fell , or at lest was falen vpon , by a young gallant in shewe , but indeed a companion for a dogge , rather then for any better condition : yet to bleer the eies of fools he could plaie the knoue with setting on the face of an honest man : this youth in a basket , with a face of brasse , vpon a little acquaintance ( for a little would serue his turne ) comes to me , with this salutation : by your leaue sir : it seemes you are a straunger in these partes , but if you can awaie with our countrie sports , will you make one at bowles for a rubber or two ? we wil play no great game ( and yet would hee cheat for a shilling : ) no good sir quoth i , i thank you , i am not acquainted with your groūd , & should but pul down a side , & therfore i pray you nowe pardon mee : will you then sir quoth hee haue a reste at primero , or a game or two at tables : it is the worst thing in the world to stand idle : true sir quoth i , but it is as good be idle , as ill exercised , and to tell truth , i am no gamster : besides indeede , vnder the shadowe of iesting ; i did not like he should iest awaie my mony : indeed sir , to saie the truth you do the better , it is the worst spent mony at plaie , that can bee : for recreation , among good company , a little mony is not ill ventered : but i pray you sir , what news abroad ? hear you nothing from the court ? nor from beyonde the seas ? now i knowing his condition , and desirous to bee ridde of his company , told him , that i heard no late newes from the court , but from beyonde the seas i heard some letters read , in which i saw no matter of import ; but one i pray you sir quoth hee ( rowsing vp his rascall humour ) in hope to hear of some matter for his purpose : let me be holding to hear it , for we in the country liue so farre off from al good places , that news com to vs like fishes , neuer till it bee stale : and and yet ther too , are we glad of it : why sir quoth i , thus it is ; i read , that there was a notable knaue vnder the shadow of a fool , vsed to great mēs howses , wher with a bold face railing vpon one to please an other , he would abuse both : and euer chiefly following the best cheere , the deepest purses , and shallowest wits , thus somtime with a gull , and otherwhile with a white pigeon , one while with a gander , an other while with his grey goose , it fell out , that there was diuers mischiefes wrought by his villany : the chamber maid , was poisoned in her sleep , wherevpon shee fel into a timpany : my young master lost much money at play , and tales went betwixt friendes to set neighbours together by the eares : with theese , and many other such trickes , this customer with all his confederates , being founde one daie together , aboute some wicked consultation , were by a generall consent , taken suddenly together , whipte all out of the citty , and banished the country , vpon pain of death neuer to returne . is it possible quoth hee strange newes in deede , i thank you for it : wel sir , you will not walke abroad , i will leaue you for a while , and com to you anon : but i heard no more of him for that time . ar. it is no matter if you neuer hear more of him , nor any of his condition : for , if there he one honest man of them , he is out of the waie from al his companie , but i praie thee tell me what became of the wench , didst thou see her no more nether ? tid . yes that i did , i saw her , i spake with her , and with much adoe obtained fauor at her hand : but if it might not be tedious ▪ i will tell you a little of the circumstance that passed betwixt vs , ere we came to the chief pointe . ar. which pointe was that ? the buske pointe , or the gaskin pointe ? tid . tush a pinne for those points , our thoughtes were carried in a higher course of contentment : i will tell yow shee was faire , which made me not foolish , she was kinde , which made not me careles , shee was wise , which made not me wilfull , and shee was vertuous , which made not me vnhappy : but , while i thus commend her , i saie nothing of our conference , which was as i will tell you : the next daie beeing fair , & many ladies , and gentlewomen willing to take the aire , hand in hand , euery one singling out his mistresse , leading them along vpon a fayr green , conuersing as they thought conuenient ; my selfe not willing to bee lefte alone , and moste willing to haue so good a friende , tooke out my mistrisse by entreaty , to take a little patience with my trouble ; with whome , hauing trod a step or two , i fel aboord with in this manner . sweet mistris , though idle heads make a fiction of cupid , yet better iudging heartes know , that loue can neuer bee blinded : for the eies of loue looking into the hearte of vertue , sweare the seruice of reason , to the honour of beautye : seruante quoth shee , ( since you will needes haue it so ) let mee tell you yet , that there is no golde pure vntill it bee refined , nor any ringe but it hath two endes , till they bee both ioyned in one : so faith is not knowne , till it be prooued , nor endlesse , but in the knot of loue : but , as it is a greate arte to refine golde , and no lesse cunning to caste it into a ring : so is it a greate proofe of witte , to find out the purenesse of faith ▪ and no lesse happinesse to make vse of it in loue : but , as good mindes will euer construe good things vnto the best , so for to doubte the worse , is not amisse in the best meaning : lady quoth i , a causelesse suspition breedes a needelesse iealousie , and where all good is intended , why shoulde any be misconstrued : the refining of gold is in the fire , and the sitting of the ring in the hande ; so , is the trying of faith in the care of affection , but the knitting of loue , is in the content of the heart . where if feare bee a hinderaunce vnto happinesse , reason must want a part of his perfection : in deede quoth she , hope is a prety humour , but it is not alwayes followed with felicity : but for that i would neither hide the sunne in a cloude , nor make daye light of mooneshine , i will leaue to your owne discretion to consider , what is best to bee conceiued : and for that , all eyes are not in one head , nor all thoughtes in one heart , let mee intreate you to bee wise for your selfe , and i shall bee the gladder of your vvell dooing : lady quoth i , i shall do well in nothing , but your gladnesse , neyther shall i bee glad of any thing , but in that you shall well allowe of : for , to be wise in your will , shall stand the happinesse of my witt , and to passe the course of your contentment , shall bee the imperfection of my discretion ; and therefore let eies looke how they liste , and heartes thinke what they list , to your vertue i auowe my loue , and in your loue be the ioy of my life . seruant quoth shee , i commaund you then whatsoeuer you see to haue patience , and whatsoeuer you heare to haue silence , vntill the next time that wee meete againe , when you shal heare that shall not greeue you , though not enioy that may content you : and so let vs away , for our company is going in , and i haue spoiled a goose that i must plucke a feather with : with these good wordes and such like , wee went something fast , vntill we ouertooke our company that were going before vs , and in we went into the parlor , where beeing all set , some fell to cardes , some to tables , some to playing vppon instruments of musique , and some to singing , i placing my selfe somewhat neere vnto my newe mistrisse , tooke a booke in myne hand , and fell to reading of it , which beeing of the spoile of troy , scarce had i read three lines of the first lease , but a straunge humorde braine , that had but a little wit in his head , falles in hand with my fair mistris : but , if i should tell you howe shee handled him , it were a tale almost worth the telling . ar. i praie thee doe for ten to one , if hee were a cappe , she would fit him with a coks combe : tid . and so shee did , and a bell and a bable to it , or els i am deceiued : for let me tell you , first for his proportion , he was squared out of a timber logge , which was crooked at both ends , and little better in the midst , his face bigge enough , and wanted no nose , and for his lippes they suted his slauer well , his haire of the color of a roane horse , and as hard as the stumpe of a rubbing brush : and for a beard it was so thick , that it harboured a greate traine of his retinue , his body much after the barrell , and his legges with the wrong ende vpwardes , yet had this fellow a paire of bootes on , and spurres , that were too long for his heeles : now for his apparrel , had hee been a trauailer , i should haue taken him for some straunge foole , but beeing , as i after heard , a neighbours childe , i found he was a notable gull : nowe this foole falls to courting of my mistris , and thus hee comes to her : mistris are you heere ? i thinke i haue fitted you nowe , am i not in your colours : why quoth shee , you haue so many , that i cannot tell which is mine , if i were a greate lady , folks would take you for my foole : but i see your trickes well enough ; because you haue many mistresses , you woulde haue coloures for them all ; why , let me see , you have ashe coloure for one , oh that is for her that hath the greene sicknesse : and yealow for another , that is for her , that hath the yealow iaunders , you know who i meane , that was sick for loue of you : and white for an other , that was lately recouered of an ague , or a worse matter , you know the cause of her sicknesse : and blewe for an other , because she is in a consūption through your vnkindnes : and tawny for an other , you knowe who that was , that painted her selfe , and her coloure was not right : and carnation for another , who you knowe , is daintilie painted , but for whom is your crimson ? truly for you mistris : i thought so in earnest , quoth shee ; for i cannot chuse but blush when i see you , and so you wear crimson , for my colour : well when i perceiue i am among your mistresses : but i pray you henceforth leaue me out , for he that is my seruante shall weare no other liuery but mine : who ? i mistris quoth hee : no , though i am not so rich as i would be , i weare no liueries , i can tell you : no , yes said shee , i hard you saie not long since , that one of your mistresses had put the foole vpon you , but you would shake off her livery ▪ why so i haue quoth the good goose , i haue both shakē off her and her liuery : but in truth mistris , but that i haue loued you wel , i could not beare these floutes at your hand : for i hope i am not beholding to you , but t is no matter , they say with brawling and squabling beggars comme still together and so maie wee if you will , why quoth shee , so wee are already methinkes , are wee not mette heere together : but harken vnto mee seruaunre , it seemes by youre gloue , you nowe haue been a hawking , what ? haue you flushed a woodcock ? i heare there was one iuste in your waie , the last time i saw you : indeede quoth hee it is true , and a vengeance on it , for my tassel made after it , and went so farre ; that i had like to haue loste him : but you are so full of quibibbles , that i feare you meane knauery : but it is no matter when you haue done your wil , make an end : oh seruante quoth shee , you forget your selfe , will you nowe bee angry with your mistrisse ? but tell mee i praie you , doe you not sometime vse to hawke at the iaie and the woodpicker ? yes quoth hee that i doe , yea but quoth shee not in those cloathes : why mistrisse i pray you quoth hee , doe you thinke i am affraid of my cloathes ? no i am able to buy newe when these are donne , i woulde you shoulde well know it : i knowe it well seruaunte quoth shee , but i meane an other matter that the hawke mistaking her game should ( seeing your colours ) seise vpon your selfe , insteede of a woodcock , a woodpicker i woulde haue saide , well saide mistris , quoth hee , there is an other blowe , but i will beare it as well as i may : but it is no matter i will thinke of it as i haue reason ; yea seruaunte quoth shee will you take my pepper in your nose , and snuffe at a little mirth ? naye then i perceiue your prouerb will not holde , wee shall neuer come neerer together then wee are : yes faith good mistris quoth he , that i will come a little neerer you , when remoouing his stoole hee sits close by her , and offers to take her by the hande , when she desired him to forbear her , for his hands did so sweate that shee coulde not indure them : speake quoth shee your minde , and i will heare you , but if you will not hold your fingers , i will leaue you : well then mistrisse quoth hee , let mee tell you , you knowe i loue you : if it bee true quoth shoe , i am sorry for it , for i loue not you , i like you , i delighte not in you : but i am sure quoth he , you doe not hate me : bee you assured quoth shee , i will not hate my selfe : i hope qnoth hee , you will not make a foole of me ; i praye you quoth shee , doe not make a foole of your selfe : with this the gentleman began to grow angrie : when vpon the sodaine , a gentlewoman of the companie , full of wittie conceits came to my mistrisse with these wordes : come cosen , you and your seruaunte neuer meete , but there is some warres ere you part : but come on , let vs leaue this fiddle faddle , and nowe fall to some prettie sport , or other : contente quoth shee withall my heart ; when making of a little rounde , sate ther downe vnder a greate baye windowe in the parlor some fiue coople of vs , and no sewe madde laddes , and wenches at our backes , to heare and note our pastimes : which was as i will tell you , neither purposes , tales , nor rideles , but a merry iest , that i neuer hearde of before , callen decorums and absurdums , euerie one muste shewe his witte , till either the braines were wearie , or the dinner were readie : and thus they beganne . the sharpe witted wenche , whome i often spake of before , was the firste , who thus fell to her businesse : to speake good words to a good vnderstanding , is a decorum in iudgement : to which the next replied : to speake wisely to a foole is an absurdum in reason : then followed another with this speech ; to answer loue with kindnes is a decorum in nature : to which the next replied , to bestow loue vnworthily is an absurdum in wit : then followes another , to hope on desart , is a decorum in reason : to whome the next replyed , to be afraide of fortune is an absurdum in iudgement : then came it to my mistris , who thus deliuered her opinion , to honour wisedom is a decorum in loue : and then it came to me , who thus made my reply , and not to loue vertue , were an absurdum in humanity : then comes it to our foole , who thus brought out the treasure of his casket , to gather wealth is a decorum in thrift : to which was sodenly replied , to dig in a dunghill is an absurdum in honor , then comes it about again to the first , who thus began againe . to keep promise in kindnesse , is a decorum in loue : to which was replied , to performe an ill vow , is an absurdum in grace : then followed the next in this manner , to play the foole wisely is a decorum in conceit , to which was replied : to play the wag vnkindly is an absurdum in good manner : then comes it againe to my mistresse , who thus deliuered her mind , to be constant in loue is a decorum in honor : to which i replied , to be false to honour is an absurdum in loue : then comes it to the gull , who thus fell to plaine english . to be kind to her seruant were a decorum in my mistresse : to which a mad wenche replyed , a seruant to be too saucy with his mistrisse , wer an absurdum in duty : now as it vvas comming about againe , comes in the seruice for dinner , whereupon we brake off our talke for that time ; but after we had dined , and passed away a little time vvith idle prattle , wee gat our selues togither againe , all sauing the asse , who for feare of more coales then he could carry , gat himselfe out of doors , vvhere vve neuer looked after him , but fell to a new sport , to answer many words in one : one must propound , and an other answer . ar. as how ? i pray thee tell me . tid . you shall heare , the first began thus : if a man labour all the daies of his life , and get nothing till his death , vvhat shal he be thought ? awn . vnhappy . pro. if a vvoman bee kind but vnconstant , vvhat shall she be accounted ? awn . vnwise . pro. if a man deserue vvell of his mistrisse , and she requite him ill , vvhat shal she be thought ? awn . vnkind . pro. if a virgin be faithfull to her louer , and he proue a traitor to her trust , vvhat shall he be called ? awn . vngratious . pro. what is the fairest thing in the vvorld ? aw . trueth . pro. what is the svveetest thought in the mind ? a. loue pro. what is the most sure in the vvorld ? awn . death . pro. what the greatest offence in the world ? a. treasō . pro. what is the noblest thing in the vvorld ? aw . valor pro. what is most dangerous ? awn . trust . pro. what is most fearful ? aw warre . pro. what most ioyful ? aw . peace . pro. what is most rare ? aw . honesty . pro. what most common ? aw . beggery . pro. what most subtill ? aw . wit. pro. what most kind ? aw . will , if it be pleased : oh you are out , quoth all the company , for talking of pleasing : and so with a pleasing laughter the company brake off , and euery one with his mistris , fell to walking abroad , when my mistris making one , i had no reason to staye behind ; and therefore to be short , singling our selues from the company , i fell thus into discourse with hir : mistris , is there any thing more pretious in the mind then the loue of the heart ? i beseech you answer me in a word : no quoth she i thinke nor ; but quoth i , would you loue that heart , where you found that spirit ? yea , i think i should : but would you beleeue that tongue that did speak from such a heart ? yes , i think i should quoth she ; and will you esteem of that loue , that such a tongue speaks , out of such a heart ? yes , i haue reason for it ; then good mistris , let your eies in my heart , see the trueth of that loue that can not liue , but in your grace : well seruant quoth she , i see you would speak well if you could hit on it , oh mistrisse quoth i , i had rather hit wel then speake of it : wel quoth she , i perceiue you haue learned to turne the point vpon a quarrell : oh but quoth i , i had rather ioine hands vpon a friendship : but when ioyning of hands may cause the breaking of hearts , the conceit quoth she is ill caried : yea but quoth i , when the want of hands breeds the woe of hearts , content is much hindered : oh , but patience ( quoth she ) is an excellent trial of trueth : yea but quoth i delay is the death of delight : yea but quoth she loue is euer constant , so long quoth i as kindnes is comfortable : oh seruant quoth shee , loue sees in absence , nothing qd . i but sorow : oh sir , who wil not watch his hauk shall neuer reclaim her : but quoth i if she be flying she is better on the fist then on the mew : wel , he that wil not pluck for a card , is not worthie of a prime , but qd . i , he that can be flush , may better carrie the rest : wel seruant , i will consider of your discretion , & where honor may be kind , reason wil not be vngrateful : you are a stranger in this coūtry , & yet i heare well of your estate , but giue me leaue to be my selfe , & as i find you wise , continu my good opiniō , which being more then i will speake of , i wil leaue to you to thinke : and so once more let me intreat your silent patience to put off one sutor more : who speaks so by rule that i can hardly answer him by roat : mistris , let he cariage of my discretion so continue your good opiniō , that the hope of my fortune be in the honor of your fauor , in which let me be whollie yours , or els not be mine own : with this vve brake off our talk for that time , & going in , my mistris was saluted by a spruse cōpanion that loookt like a letter in print : who with a smoothe anus coūtenāce , as if he had bin a prologue to a play , with a wink & simper thus begins . fair lady , manie fair dayes to the looks of your fair eies : & sir , as manie quiet nights to your troubled brains , to bring your wits in tēper . i read qd . he , in the rule of affection , beauty is loues obiect , loue beauties subiect : but qd . she where simplicity vnderstāds not the proiect , the subtilty may be an abiect . qd . he where reason caries affection it fauours discretion : but qd . she wher wit wāts iudgmēt , wil goes to repētāce for vnderstāding : i but qd . he wher wits wilful reasō wāts in iudgmēt : & qd . she , reason without discresion leads vvit out course : why mistrisse quoth he , can reason be without discretion ? i haue heard so quoth she , of a scholer in philosophy , where in searching the secretes of nature , may be the ouerthrow of reason , which only proceeds from want of discretion : oh but mistrisse , extreamities exceed the rule of reason , and therefore he is a simple scholar , that will loose himselfe in finding nothing : and yet quoth she , he that seeks too far may loose himselfe ere he be aware : yea but quoth she , he that gaines more then himselfe , in loosing but himselfe , may thinke well of his profit , what euer be his paines : yea but quoth she , if desire be fed with vaine hope , when the gayne is but losse , what is the issue of such a profite ? sorrowe quoth he to reason , but patience to discretion : alas quoth she , all one sence set down in two words , where the griefe of patience is the sorrow of reason : why but mistrisse quoth he , what is the helpe ? i know not quoth she better then this , i thinke you were better keepe siluer in your purse , then spend it in making of golde . indeede quoth he you say wel , there be so many all-missers , that alcumistry is out of credite , and yet it is so pleasing a studie , as sets many good wits a worke ; yea , but then quoth she , if wise men wil be madde , who can helpe their disease ? indeed you say true ; and i think that loue and alcumistrie are alike , for when reason affecte●h beauty , and wit honoreth vertue , yet shall fortune giue a blow , that shall breake the necke of both theyr trauailers . he then quoth she that is wise wil shunn it , and a cowarde naturallye will feare it : but i hope you haue wit enough to auoide it : well mistrisse quoth he , though i scare not the worst , yet since i can not hope the best , you shall see i will not grow mad in the studie of feminine philosophie : howsoeuer i follow the masculine rules of reason . you do well qnoth shee , for if in the study of the feminine philosophy , the rules of reasō mistakē make the masculinewit proue folly , it wil proue a very pittifull peece of learning : but since you are com to your grammer rules , and i an ill sholer in an accidens , i pray you pardon my simplicitie if my partes of speech be imperfect : with that the quick witted wench that stood by , and gaue audience to their eloquence , as the scholer was about to frame his answer , brake it off with these words ; com on cosen , let vs go to cards , & leaue your pro & contra : master scholer , you must haue a wife from schoole , if you will win her by learning : indeed forsooth quoth he , panpudding is a good dish for a grosse stomack : o sir quoth she , i hope it wil doe well for a scholers commōs : how now cosen quoth my mistris , you are euer crossing my friendes , in trueth i loue learning with my heart , though not to read in a booke that i like not : truly mistris quoth hee , i woulde i had a book to your liking : in deed quoth she so would not i , for i had rather be beholding to you for nothing , then be indebted for a trifle : but quoth she if you pleas , let vs go to som other sports , for it maie be , we haue wearied som of the companie with too much idle talke ; i hope not , but what shal please you and them , i shal bee contented with ; and if i maie be admitted , i wil be readie to make one , com on quoth mistris madcap , let vs goe to griefes and ioies , let vs sit round ; which soon agreed vpon , we sate round , and thus fell to our businesse . first began my quick wit with these words , what a griefe it is , for a good witte to want mony ? the next followed , what a ioy is , it to be content with a little : then the next ▪ what a grief it is , to be wronged and cannot helpe it , the fourth : what a ioye it is to see the ruine of oppressiō ? an other what grief doth grow by the death of a frind ▪ an other what ioy doth come by the death of an enemy ? then comes it to the scholer , what grief doth growe by the pride of beauty ? then to my mistris what ioie doth grow in the preuenting of folly : then to me , what grief to reason ? not to deserue grace : then againe to madcap , and what ioy hath loue in the secret of fauour ? then an other : what grief to vnkindnes : thē the next , what ioy to cōfort : what grief to ingratitude ? what ioie to kindnes : what grief to falshood ? what ioy to faith ? oh quoth madcappe then bring in health & sicknes , & i knowe not what , tush we wil giue ouer this and to some other sports , but look supper is comingin , and therefore we must giue ouer , so for that time we brake off , but what followed after i will tell you . a. i pray thee do , & hartily thank thee for this i haue hard . tid . after supper we had some table talk , of diuers idle thinges , amonge other , there was some speech of the natures of despights : wherof one was this : what a spight it is , for a faire sweet wench , to marry a filthy ougly fellowe , another was , what a spight it was to see a horse of seruice drawe in a doung-carte , an other a hawke to be killed by an owle , another a milk-cowe to be stung by a hedgehog , an other to see a hound coupled with a mastiffe , an other to see a nightingale killed by a cat . another what a spight it is to see good meate , and haue no stomake , and an other , to haue a stomack and wante meate , and an other , to want teeth , and for a woman to want her tonge : at last , one merry fellowe comes out wyth his ierke : what a spight it is for a poore man to be made cuckoulde , by a filthy fellow ? yea quoth madcap , but it is a greate comforte to a thief , to see his fellows hang with him for company : indeed , quoth an other to liue alone is too much solitarynes , yea quoth an other , and some time a foole mars a play : t is true quoth maddecap it is a spighte a gald lade shold come among good horses : with that the knight , the master of the house riseth , and calls a hall hoh , gentlewoemen , and my good frinds , what shal the minstrels stand idle ? and so forgetting the name of musitians , bid call in the fidlers , and my maisters , euery one to his wench , oh when i was a young mā i could haue beene nimble at this geare : sonne take your bride and call in your frinds , and aboute the house , bestirre your stumpes a little , come on : when the wags and the wenches , with the groome and his bride , fell to take hands , and scarce had begun a steppe or two in foure square , i would haue said a quadrant pauen , but in comes a poste for puddings , a messenger from a maske , that deliuered such a speech of the aduenturs of an asse vpon the but of a rams horn , & the dangerous passage oner a puddle of water , that but for the honor of that knight , & trouble of his house , they wold not vndertake for a bushel of wheate , with a deal of trash as was not worth remembrance : somewhat absurdly ere the tale was told , with a drū & bagpipe came such a morice daūce , a maske i would say ther ; but they made fools merry , and themselues sporte , i could saye little in their commendation , but that for their cost and their cariage , bred and cheese , and a cup of ale , had ben a sufficient banquet for such a company : who hauing daunced , which they did very ilfauouredly , fel to dicing being both maskers and mummers , when after the rate of nine shillings among eighteene ▪ of them , they fell to plaie , and hauing gotten some ten groates , struck vp the drumm with no little mirth : for , though they cared not for their mony , yet theire gaines would pay for their vizards : and for theire clothes , they were but borrowed of their neighboures : but thus , after they had masked and mummed , away they went , and lefte it by this time , aboute the hower of sleepe , when euery one taking leaue o● the other , my mistris gaue me a kinde good night , which made mee sleepe neuer the worse . ar. i beleeue thee , but i pray thee , tell mee what followed the next morning . t. i wil tel you ; after some kind of visiō fancie or dream i know not whether , troubled with i knowe not what remembring a lesson that a lady of worth once gaue mee , that i shoulde not obserue dreames , for that they are but illusions , forbidden in the worde of the most wise , i did what i could , to put them out of my mind , and getting vp something early went abroad into the garden , wishing rather in the daie to behold the liuing substaunce of my loue , then in the night to be illuded , with the shadow of my delight , whereafter a diuine exercise , in the humble cōtemplation of my spirit , i met ( with wide heauen ) the ioye of my heart , in a worde my mistris , who whether , according to the custome of her good houswifery , in rising early , or whether she vsed the prime of the morning for the time of her deuotion , or that she chose that time for the preicruation of her health , i know not , but there i met her at the corner of a walke with her waiting gentlewoman , who knowing her duty , and loath to displease , fell a little behinde her : nowe my mistrisse had a booke in her hand , which shutting vppe with a modest smile , shee did thus salute me . seruante good morrow , what abroade so earlie ? i had thought no bodie had been so earlie a stirrer as my selfe : but i see i am deceiued : mistris quoth i , shall the setuant bee in bed after his mis ? that wer to much sluggardise : but for your good morrow , many thousand requite you ; a fayre morning ▪ a faire garden , and a faire lady , fair befall these fair meetings : why how now seruant , quoth she , a faire minde , faire thoughts , and faire wordes ; you should doe well to goe to the faire with such faire wakes : so i doe mistris quoth he , you are the faire that haue boughte me and mine : yea seruant , haue i all ? what then haue you leaft for your self ? enough quoth i , grace , and duty , the one to serue , and the other to please : and what quoth shee ? mistris quoth i , in loue and honour ▪ and how quoth shee ? in obedience & patience : as how quoth shee ? i answered , to doe your will , and attend your will : is it possible seruant , quoth shee , that i haue such a power ouer you ? why mistris quoth i is it so strange , that you shoulde haue power ouer your owne ? ales quoth she , i pitty thy fortune in thy affecting of vnworthines and quoth i , i ioie in my happines to haue sauour in so much honour : oh but my good seruant , if your estate want meane to answer the noblenesse of your mind , a greeuous ioy wil make a miserable passion : yea but mistrisse , if the content of the minde bee a kingdome in conceite , patience that knowes no pride , makes loue the happinesse of life : but how is reason satisfied , where necessitie is not supplied ? patience in hope finds the comfort of grace : but where time is grieuous , how is loue comfortable ? why though the winter be cold , is not the spring pleasing ▪ yes : but a thin haruest makes a poore farmer : oh mistris , liues not the shepheard somtime merier then the master of the sheepe : and the wench with the milk paile , then the lady of much riches ? indeed qd . she i haue heard much of the shepheardes & their loues , but whether they be fictions or figures i know not ; but giue me leaue , shall i leaue lady for mistris , wealth for want , a court for a cottage , & command for obedience , & all for the hope of loue ? no mistris , loue makes a cottage a court , where content is a kingdom , and what greater wealth then in the riches of the mind ? for obedience in kindnesse it is the worke of loue , and to be a worthy mistris , is better then an vnworthy lady : and therefore let hope bee an assurāce in the perswasion of loue : but who is the worthy mistris ? she that hath power ouer her selfe : and who the most worthy seruant ? he whom such a mistris hath entertained : good seruant hurt not thy self , in doing me good ; good mistris doe mee good in not wishing my hurt : if i should loue , & not liue with you , where is the contēt of your conceit ▪ if i can liue without your loue , let no conceit content me : if i shold fauor you & ouerthrow my fortune , what shal be the reward of my folly ? if your vertue grace my loue , howe much should my seruice honour you ? if the world frowne on mee , who wil helpe me ? if the heauēs blesse you , who can hurt you ? nowe fie vpon thee seruant , i knowe not what to say to thee : and for that there are company comming , let this in brief suffice thee : so farre as i maie , i doe affect thee , in honor i wil grace thee , haue patience for a time , & it shall be happy for thee : sor though my estate be not much , yet it is in mine owne disposing , and my parents in the earth , i am at the heauens direction , for my resolution : and therefore , feare not the fruit of thy faith in the hope of my fauoure , for , i am thine , but i pray thee giue me a little leaue , to shake off one suter more : walke by and heare vs , and when he is gon , let him goe for euer ▪ mistris quoth i , your commaund is a lawe , take your pleasure in any thinge , make mee onely happy in beeing what you will i shall bee ; and with this woorde , taking of her a sober smiling leaue , i stept a little aside , and seeing company comming , left her to entertaine a young gallant , who a little stepping forwardes from his company , saluted my mistris in this manner . faire ladie what al a nimphale ? blessed be those ▪ siluane creatures that can enioy the presence of such a goddesse . peace quoth she , i wil run away rather then make you an idolater , speake not so prophanely , there is no goddesse on earth ▪ and for your nymphes , they are but poets fictions : pardon mee lady quoth hee , if i speak vnprobably and let mee say what i think : how much is this sweet ground sweetned by so sweet a creature ? nothing at all quoth shee , it is your sweet gloues , whose perfume puts downe all the sent of the flowers : oh how much quoth he , doth your beautie giue a lustre to the fairest flower vvhen in the roses of your cheeks maid flora blushes to see the pure crimson of her best colour ▪ o sir quoth she , you meane the roses of your shooestrings ; indeede they are of a good ribbin , and well died i thinke they are in graine : and so is all aboute you , cloath and silke , i see you euer haue the best ; i woulde be loath quoth he to weare the worst , but ladie . ar. tush , i praie thee let him goe with his foolery ; i see it was some noddy , that i doubte not was quickly shaken off . let me heere what followed betwixt you , and your saire mistris . tid . i will ; this gallant with a fewe flouts pretily put off , after the company had walked aboute the garden , wee were called in to breakefast , where a bride-cake and a messe of cream , with the helpe of a cold pie , staiied our stomackes well , till dinner : but breakefast done , madcappe , that was ever busie with inuentions to set our braines aboute something calls vs together , and downe wee must sit in a ring : and fall to yea and no : one must propound , another answere , and the third giue the reason , and propound the next : as thus madcap began : if you see a fayre wenche , would you not haue her if you could come by her ▪ the second answeres , no ; the third makes the reason : beecause shee maie be more costly then comfortable : nowe hee beginnes ; if you were married to a foule slut , will ye keepe her ? second yea : third because ther is no remedie . if you loue a wenche , and cannot haue her ; will you fret : , no , for loue is full of patience : if you loue your mistris and can enioye her ; will you not bee glad of it ? , yea , or else hee were mad : if your wise make you cuckold , wil you put her away ? no , third , for shee may be profitable : if your mistris commaund you any thinge , will you disobey it ? yea . , for shee may commaūd him not to loue her , which he cannot . if your friend abuse you , will you not hate him ? a no. for he may do it vnwillingly , and then is to be pardoned : if you come where a faire wench is will you hide your eies , because you wold not see her ? . yea : because she may blinde the wit , which is , worse then the eie sight . if your friends get your wife with child , and you cannot , will you be angrie with any of them ? no , for it hides an imperfection . if your mistris haue a fine wit , and your wife , but a plaine vnderstanding , will you loue her better then your wife ? , no. for that witte that will rule a wife will not please a mistris if your mis . be kind & your wife dogged : wil you loue your mis . better then your wife ? yea . third for , there is cōsort in kindnes , but ther is none in doggednes . if your husband be a fool , and your friend be wise , wil you loue your frind best : yea . . for a fool is butthe trouble of vvit : but , quoth mad cappe , let me aske you one thing , what is most likest a halfe moone ? a romain c. , because it is sharp at both ends ; wel quoth an other but what is like to loue ? second nothing , third because quoth maddecappe , there is no such thinge there is bargaining and selling ; looking and telling , lust and folly , commanding & obeying , marying & getting of children , the sous monie must marry the daughter , and the widows purse , marry her yonger son : this must be done , & that must be done , friends must talk , & folks must meet , the banes must be asked , the church must be paid , the guests must be bidden , the dinner must bee eaten , the minstrels must play , the youth must dance , & the bride must blush , and the groom must make a leg , and gloues must be worn , and the cakes must be set vp , and the night grows late , and you must get you to bed , and here is a stir : but for loue , alas , where is he all this while ▪ god knows and not i : for old folks cannot , yonger folks do not , wise folks will not , and as for fools , let them whistle , i wil not com to them : but quoth she , now we are out of our yeas and noes , and therefore let vs all to some other sport , when sodenly comes in sir swadd the old knight in stead of a gentleman , an hee no naye must haue a dance : fie for shame , come come , to morrow is the last day i tell you , and therefore bee liuely & nimble , and haue abowt with these guirles : when to satisfie the olde huddle wee called for the musique , and passed the time in dancing till dinner ; which done , ar. yea that i would learne ? what follow d after dinner ; tid . after dinner we fell to such table talk , as was thoght best fitting to the company ; one descrying of a parasite by soothing of errors , another girding at a pandar by his brazen face , and his intelligence of leue : another commending beautye to bee a foile vnto vertue , another the honour of wit in the guiding of loue , another what difference was betwixt valour and fury , an other of the plague of loue in the solly of iealousie , another out of his epicurious humor , made a kinde of oration in the praise of a goose pie , and one of bacchus sworn men , could talke of nothing but of a cup of wine , the scholar commended learning , because it was the mistris of art : and another experience , for that it was the labor of reason : madcap commended a fool , because he could take no thought , but my mistrisse a wise man for consideration of all natures , and i my mistris for her wisedom in iudgement . ar. i thought where i should haue you , but what proceeded ? tid . i will tell you , as we were going on with our opinions vpon such points , as we were to talke of , came in certaine strangers , for the entertainment of whom , we rose from the table , and after a little ordinary courtesie , leauing euery one to his friend or his mistrisse , i with my mistris tooke a turne in the garden , where in very much kindnes , we fell to this conference : seruant quoth my mistris , to feed you with vaine hopes might argue much indiscretion in my cariage , & so breed som tuch in my reputation , and not to regard your worthines , might be a disgrace to mine vnderstanding : & therfore if you can conceiue me right , you shal do your self no wrong : mistris qd . i far be it from my good , to wish your hurt : do with me what you wil , for i am but as you wil : your direction shall be my course in the due care of your commademēt : my hopes cannot be vain that feed on the honor of your vertue , & in your regard of my vnworthines , shall be the height of my worlds happines : well seruant , i will now altar your title , for you haue made a conquest of your mistris , and therefore must now be called my master : & therfore now master , since your seruant hath no doubt of your honorable emploiment , let me see to what good office you will preferre the care of my seruice : oh mistris quoth i , i can not so soone forget my duetie , but yet to satisfie your will , i will thus far take your fauour : that since you will bee at my commaund , i command you the office of a most kind and true friend ; that you will in your loue commaund my life , in your wisedome aduise my will , and so frame my affection to your discretion , that my heart beeing in your hands , you may worke it to your pleasure : and therefore since the effecting of my felicity resteth onlie in your fauour ; in the title of a friend , carie all things to your contentment : wel seruant quoth she , in your humblenes i see such noblenes , that were i a princesse , you should be no beggar : but as i am , let this suffice for thy comfort : that i haue often seen thee , desired to know thee ▪ heard well of thee , and now haue seene that in thee : that wherein i can honour thee , bee sure i wil not faile thee : and in token of that trueth that shall neuer deceiue thee , with the loue of my heart , my hand heere i giue thee : but to bleare the eies of aduersaries to our fortunes , if discontentments should be taken , let vs go in as friends , and remaine louers , it shall not be long before you shall heare of me to your comfort : with this speeche being rauished , as one founding in delight , as a full hart could speake , i made her this answer : to your hand i giue my heart , with a more happy then worthie hand , your sight of me was my blisse , your speeche to me my comfort , your regard of me my honour , and your fauor my felicitie : but for your loue , what a ioie it is to my life , i shall leaue it to your better iudgement then my speeche : and therefore if i passe a point of your direction , let me lose the dial of my comfort . with which words we went in , and seeming more strange then before : after manie pleasing passages among the merrie company , the next daye b●●ing the breaking vpp of the feast , till the next time of our meeting , wee tooke a kind of strange leaue eache one of other . ar. but tell me , what followed ? now she was lady of thy hart , how camest thou to be lord of her house ? or what was the issue of thy fortune ? tid . good i assure you , but yet came news of , as you shall heare : within few daies after my comming home to my lodging where i laie in a citie , not far distante from her habitation , which i had before acquainted her with : sodenlie in a morning comes a letter vnto me by a footman brought me from my mistrisse , the superscription wherof was this . to my assured louing friend tidero , with speed : the contents whereof were in brief as followeth . as a friend i request you , as a seruant i command you , and as a master i entreate you , without answer of excuse , presently to make your appearāce at my house , there to vnderstand what shall happen , much is conceiued by a little , in which i rest . yours as you know , lamina . i thanked the messenger , and with as much speede as i could , returned him with this answer . to my best and onely beloued friende , the lady lamina . fair mistrisse , kind seruant , and deere friend , excuse shall be abuse , where there is possibilitie of performance : if i could flie , i woulde vse wings for wordes : in the assuraunce , of my happines , ioyful of what shal happen : so til i come , comming i rest , in the loue a seruant , your kinde master , and euer bounden friende : tidero . this letter was no sooner sealed vp and sent awaie , but i hasted all i could to be at the heeles of it , ere it came at home , but it was receiued , perused , and tricks inuented , and put in practise , and all er●l coulde come there : where with such attendants as i thought fit . i was entertained at the gate , with a young damsell , very beautiful , ritchlie attired , and eloquently spoken , who after the passage of ordinarie curteous demeanour , leading me along a base court into a gardame , and so a gallary , fell by the waie to court me with these wordes . sir : my cosen the ladie of this house , hath this daie performed a kind part with me : i praye you pardon me , if in the passion of loue , i passe the care of modesty : shee hath but supplied my place , and for mee hath pleaded in your affectiō : she hath told me of your worthynes , and i hope hath made you hers , whom before you knew her was wholly yours : i know you wise and honourable , and therefore hope you will no lesse conceale my disgrace , then deuise my comforte : shee is gon from hence , and left me heere for that purpose : what you see , howse , land , or wealth , whatsoeuer , is at my will , and in your will at my commaund , be pleased therefore i beseech you with my suite , and work not my ruine in youre deniall : for in the one you maie haue both a seruāt , and a friend , in the other , a stranger and an enemie : lady quoth i , if i could be false to fauour , but faith feares no fortune , my resolution beeing setled in the fixing of affection , i will rather haue patience with the vnkindnes of a friend , then deserue the rage of an enemy : it is nether house , lād , nor wealth that can corrupt me , beauty nor words that can bewich me , nor the threats of fortune that can affright mee : lamia is the day light of my loue , let the starrs giue their light where they list : to her haue i auowed my seruice , and in her loue will i run the course of my life : this one honor for her sake i will doe you , bury your words in obliuion , and take leaue to returne to my discomforte : no quoth the lady that must not bee , here is nothing intended you but pleasure : and therefore feare nothing may befall you , your horses are stabled , your seruants shall be merry , and their master not malcontent : returne you must not , till you heare from your mistrisse , for such was her commaund , and therefore i pray you haue patience : my mistrisse apparelled like a young man but with a periwigge , and a false bearde , comes vppon the soddaine as wee were entering into the greate chamber , and presentes mee with a letter from my mistrisse , the superscription in this manner : to my trusty seruant , my louing master , and approoued friend tidero with speede : pardon mee to perswade you to that may perhappes displease you , to lacke my presence for your better benefite : for i leaue you a hearte that deerelie loues you , and a hand of honour , i saie , that in her fauoure maie grace you , shee is another , and not my selfe , beleeue her , trust her , and loue her , and i will thanke you for her , for her seruant is my friend , consider of these contents , and in her command make my contentment ; so till i see you , which shall be i know not when , in hope of your kindnes to my friend , i will rest euer . your very louing friend , lamia . this letter when i had read , and knew it to bee her hand , what tricke soeuer was in her head , i presently tooke a pen and inke and returned the messenger with this answer . to my gratious mistris , my louing seruant and faithfull friend the lady lamia with speede . lady , is it the part of a friend to perswade falshood in loue ? your presence is the sun of my daylight , & your absence the darknes of delight . i seeke no benefite but your loue , nor can loue other then your only selfe ; disgrace be all worlds grace but in your eies , nor will i honour a heart but in your hands ; your self vvithout an other i serue , and you only and no other can i loue : and therefore hovvsoeuer you account of a friend , i vvill neuer be false to my affection , & so till i see you , vvhich if it be neuer , yet vvhile you liue vvill i loue you euer ; and so rest . your faithfull friend tidero . this letter sealed & deliuered , avvay goes the messenger , vvhispering vvith the yong lady a vvord or two , to entertain me with a little talke , till shee were gotten in , and new attired , which was not long a dooing : for by the time that we had heard a little musique of a prettie lad that did plaie vpon a base violl and sing to it : the song was scarce ended , but in comes my loue , my mistrisse attired like a horse woman , that had bin new dismounted , and with a prety smile after shee had saluted many , at last comes to me , with what ? friend , in truth you are welcom : did you not receiue a letter from me ? yes good friend quoth i a couple : in deed friend quoth she you are beholding to me , for had it not bin discurtesie to bid a friende to dinner , and not giue him entertainment , i had not come againe so soone : but if i had not com , you should haue had no great cause to mislike of your company : but i hope it is wel , in trueth you are welcom , you shall stay with me to night , to morrow go as soon as you wil ; good friend quoth i , i thank you , you shall command a greater matter in my seruice : so after a few complimēts we sate down to dinner , where there wanted no part of comfort that might be found in table kindnes ; as welcome , caruing and drinking , and so forth . but after dinner was done , ar. yea now you com to the matter that i long to heare of . tid . i will tell you ; after the cloath was taken away , my mistris began to entertain the company vvith these vvords . in generall hoh , you are all vvelcome ; you that come from a feast can better beare vvith a lesse pittāce but vvhat lacks in meat , let vs fill out in mirth ; and first quoth she to her page : sirra take your viole and plaie , and sing the song that was taught you of loue , which commanded , was soon obeied , and thus performed : the boy taking his instrument , fell to play & sing this ditty , which i will recite vnto you : for i got it out of his book . of all conceites which is the best ? loue. yet what is that is thought a iest ? loue. what thought is that giues smallest rest ? loue. yet in the end makes reason blest ? loue. what wound is that is hardly healed ? loue. what deed is that is surest sealed ? loue. what thought is sweetest best concealed ? loue. what comfort kindest best reuealed ? loue. what word is sweetest to be heard ? loue. what soundly made can not be mard ? loue. what seruice merits most reward ? loue. what grace is worthy most regard ? loue. what loue most constant in a friend ? where loue is louely without end ? well said boie quoth she , now goe your waies to dinner : let vs alone , and now my masters quoth she , doe but imagine ye are at a bridall , and let vs bee as merrie as we were there , let vs fall to some sport or other ▪ play maie be costlie , musique we shall haue enough anon , & therefore let vs spend a little time in some pleasing exercise : i will begin to you : whereto euery one giuing a willing consent , she began thus : we haue been at yeas and noes , griefes and ioies ; let vs now goe to buts , one propound , another answer , the third giue the reason : beautie is a blessed hue : but : it workes manie cursed actions : then another , monie is a good thing : but , ▪ it brings many to miserie : again vertue is honourable , but , somtime she wants mony : againe loue is pretious , but ; if it be right : againe , kindnesse is the ioye of loue : but , in constancy : then qd . i loue is the ioy of life : but quoth the second : in a true friend quoth my mistris : again patience is a vertue : but , a poor one : another , hope is comfortable , but ▪ when it is happy : content is a kingdome , but , in conceite . as we were going on with our buts , comes in a gallant youth wel accompanied and attended , who as it afterwards fell out , was a suter to the young lady , that to trie my constancie came about me with a trick of loue , or rather wit indeed , to find out the trueth or falshood of a louer : wherupon the company rose , and after al obseruances of due compliments , he with his yong lady , and i with my mistris fell to such parlee , as we thought best for our purpose : he in the parlour , and wee in the garden , where what followed you shall heare . ar. good i doubt not . tid . good indeed , and better to : for after that we had walked a turne or two , shee reuealing of her deuise , to try the constancy of my affection , tooke all thinges so well , and requited them so kindly , as honour could desire , that loue might enioye : but by the waie among other talke , i praie thee friend quoth shee , do me this kindnesse for to lend me your little table book in your poeket : for i did a little ouerlooke you the other daie and i am much mistaken , but i sawe you writing of verses : in deede mistrisse quoth i it is true , vppon some certaine idle notes that i tooke out of my obseruation of certaine creatures , i wrote a fewe idle odde lines , which i will committe vnto your kindenesse in secrete to make vse of : which no sooner hadd shee taken , and read it ouer , but a heartie laughter , and much thankes she tooke of me : and told me she vvould reade them at nighte in her bedde ; but the booke put vp in her pocket , vvith contented mindes in we go together , passed avvaie the daie pleasantly , and after supper the young gallant a neighbour hard by tooke his leaue of his mistris , and avvaie leauing vs to fall to such fortunes as fell out . ar. oh , but i praie thee kinde wagge , tell me some of thy verses . tid . i will , vpon a finicall asse i wrote a kind of epigramicall sonnet in this manner . a dapper fellow that is fine and neate , his hose well gartered , and his ruffes well set without his picktoothe can not eate his meate , nor sit at table where the clothe is wet . can talke of nothing but of daintie fare , and thinke of nothing but of fashion ; troubles his conscience but with little cares and yet will shew some idle passions : can smile and simper , congey , kisse the hand , and cast a sheeps eie at a fie for shame and on the tiptoes of his honour stand , when god he knowes it neuer knew his name . what will this gallant leaue vpon his graue ? he liu'd a rascall , and he died a knaue . ar. good in trueth , more i pray thee , what was the next ? tid . the next was on a fool , on a swaggering ruffe . he that was gotten in a drunken fit , bred vp in brabbles , and by shifting liues , his dad a tinker , and his dam a tit , his portion nothing but what fortune giues : studies no art , but how to cheate and cosen , to packe a card , or cleanly strike a die , swears by the elle , anddrinketh by the douzen , talkes what he list , and euery word a lie : bragges of his state , ard ietts like iack an apes , weares no good cloths , but of an others cost : gets some odd booties , by vnhappy scapes , spends on the score , and neuer paies his hoste . what will be said of him another daie ? god hath done well to take a knaue away . ar. another honest wagge , if thou louest me . tid . i will , and another and another to , and as many as i can remember , if you like them so well . ar. the more the better , i pray thee out with them . tid . i will : vpon a shamfast clovvn in gaie clothes . he that makes curtsie at a ladies doore , and blusheth at a clappe vpon the cheeke , and saies good morrowe mistrisse and no more , and weares his silken clothes but once a weeke . stoupes and goes backward , when he makes a legge and saies forsooth at euery word is spoken : and onely keeps his maidenhead for megge and in his hat will weare her true loues token : can not endure to tast a cup of wine , and loues the browne loafe better then the white : will at the spending of a penny whine , and alwaies goes to bed at candlelight . vvwat will be written on his worshippes tombe ? wo to the bride that meets with such a groome . vpon a churle that was a great vsurer . a chuffe that scarce hath teeth to chew his meate , heare 's with deafe eares , and sees with glassy eies , vnto his graue his path doth daily beate , or like a logg vpon his pallet lies : hath not a thought of god , nor of his grace , speaks not a word but what intends to gaine , can haue no pitty on the poore mans case , but will the hart strings of the needy straine : cries not till death , and then but giues a groane , to leaue his siluer , and his golden bags , then gaspes and dies , and with a little moane is lapped vp in a few rotten ragges : what will this clunchfist leaue vpon his graue ? here lies the carkasse of a wretched knaue . ar. rightly hit , more i pray thee . tid . vpon a cheating companion . he that was borne out of a bastard race , betwixt a beggar and a gentleman , a filthy carkasse and an ougly face , and plaies the foole before maid marian : can seeme as sober as a millers mare , and can not blush at any villany : in euery market shifteth for a share , and sits himselfe for euery company : hath all the cards vpon his fingers ends , and keeps a knaue in store for many a tricke . vvill be a traitor to his truest friends , and liues not by the dead , but by the quicke . vpon his tombe what memory will passe ? here lies the damnedst rogue that euer was . ar. oh filthy rascall , it is pitty that he should come among good company , but on i pray thee with some more . tid . the next was vpon a gull , that for a little wealth was made a gentleman of the first head , which was thus : he that is well conceited of his wit , because a knaue or foole doth flatter him , and knowes not how to stand , nor goe nor sit , when in his garments he is gaie and trim : rides like the trey of clubs betwixt two clownes , ayealow doublet , and a tawny hose , hath halfe ayeard of land , in two country townes , and like a hogge doth gruntle as he goes : weares a course stocking , and a holland ruffe , a brooche and picktoothe , in an old silke hat , lookes bigge at beggars , takes a iest in snuffe , and in an alchonse spends he cares not what : of this great gull what memory will passe ? he liu'd a cockscombe , and he died an asse . another vpon a pander . he that is hatcht out of a cucker broode , betwixt a kistrell , and a bagige kite , feedes all on offall and such filthy foode , is neither fit for feather , nor for flight : but in his teeth can closely keepe a ring . and make a motion for a filthy matche , can beare the bob , while other play and sing , and hath the craft to cloake and connicatche : can like a dogge lie sneaking at a doore , and creepe and curtsie , couche and bowe the knee , and be a carier to a common store , what will be said of such a swad as he : here lies a tronke of natures trechery ▪ a slaue that onely liu'd by lechery . ar. some more i pray thee , what was the next ? tid . vpon a louing foole , as you shall heare . a foole that knowes not how to vse his eies , but takes a picture for an angells face , and in his thoughts strange wonders will deuise , to bring his wits into a pitteous case : matcheth the light with darknes , heauen with hell , wisedome with folly , ignorance with wit : and to himselfe will such fond fancies tell , as neither are for wit , nor reason fit . but like a madman mumbleth to himselfe , his dainty parnell hath no paragon , but like an ape sits sidling with an elfe , till lands and goods and life , and all are gone . what will some write that did his folly proue ? here lies the foole that liu'd and died for loue . the next was vpon a prodigall cockescomb , that troubled all good company . he that will strew his mony in the streetes , followes the dice , and alwaies throwes at all , offers disgrace to euery man he meetes , snuffes vp the nose , and swaggers for the wall : cares for no lawe , and knowes not how to loue , makes sleepe and eating his soules paradice , will not put vp that may his patience moue , treads on a worm , and braues a flight of flies : lookes a to side , and swears at euery word , knits vp the browes , and sets his armes a strut , takes all mens tables , laics his knife aboord , and plaies the slouen with a filthy slut ? after his death what will befall his due ? here lies the captaine of the damned crue . ar. good waggeries , but hadst thou none of the feminine gender ▪ tid yes some one or two , but no more . ar. i pray thee tell me them . tid . i will : the first was this , vpon a fowle idle slut . she that is neither faire nor riche , nor wise , and yet as proude as any peacocks taile , mumpes with her lippes , and winketh with her eies , and thinkes the world of fooles will neuer faile . stands on her pantofles for lacke of shoos , and idly talkes for want of better wit , will haue her will , what euer so she loose , and say her mind , although she die for it : is cosen germane to a iacke an apes , and sister to her mothers speckled sowe , kin to a codshead , when he kindly gapes , aunt to an asse , and cosen to a cowe . what will be saide of her so fit for no man ? oh fie vpon her , t was a filthy woman . the next was vpon a cunning tit , as thus she that lookes fifteene thousand waies at once , makes twenty faces ere she dresse her head , studies for words to serue her for the nonce , with idle trickes to bring a foole to bed : turnes vp the white of an ilfauoured eie , treads on her toes , because her heeles are sore , splaies out her foote ▪ and holds her head awry , and be ares her placket far enough before : speakes all in print , and reads with a strange grace , writes like a scriuener , like a fidler sing , sits fourteen howrs a painting of her face , and tries the vse of many a secret thing : of such a minkes what memory will passe ? a cunning ape , will cosen many an asse . ar. pretily put on , but i pray thee didst thou write none in commendation of some worthy creature ? tid . yes , some two or three which you shall heare . the first vpon a true souldier . he that was well begot , and truely bredde , vvrought all with true stitche , and both sides alike , hath not his fancie on vaine humors fed , eut finds the blisse , that basenesse can not seeke . starts not to heare a demiculucrin , nor feares to charge upon a stand of pikes , fights like a fury , when his hand is in , shrinkes not the shoulder where the coward strikes : but loue : a trompet better then a pipe , prefers a march before a moris daunce , reares a dead wound but as a little stripe : and a coate armour for his cognisaunce : gets yet this good , that when his bones be rotten , his worthy fame will neuer be forgotten . the next was of an honest man that tooke great pains for small profit , and yet held vp the head : as thus . vvho beates his braines to write for no rewarde , may breake his pen and lay his paper by : vvho serues for grace , and liues without regard , may sigh and sob , and grieue and mourne and die : and yet againe since heauen will haue it so , some shall haue wealth , and other some haue woes : patience doth many passions ouergoe , that are vntemperate spirits ouerthrowe : let him that can not liue then learne to die , vvhat shall be , shall be , spight of death and hell , they are but babies that will howle and crie , cowards that faint to bid the world farewell : no , fill the hearts with sorrow to the brinke , a true bred spirit hath no power to sinke . the next was vpon a merry honest fellow that was out of tune for his purse . he that was gotten in a christmasse night , after a deale of mirth and merry cheere , when tom , and tib , were in their true delight , and hee lou'd her , and she held him full deere brought vpon plainnesse trueth and honesty , can not away to heare of knauery , liues with his neighbors in true amity , and cares not for this worldly brauery : goes through the world , with yea and nay and so , and meddles with no matters of import , when to his graue this honest man shall goe , what will the world of all his worth report ? here lies a man , like hiues that haue no hony , an honest creature but he had no mony . the last i wrote of my selfe , which was this . he that is moulded of a noble mind , purified mettall , steele vnto the backe , flies not with fethers of a buzzards kind , cries not with feare , to heare a thunder cracke . sups vp his sighes , and swallowes downe his griefe , begs but of god , or of his greate vicegerents , can not endure to name the word reliefe , and serues but honor , or her loues adherents : knowes his desart , and yet can not importune , bites on bare neede , and yet laments no lacke , hates to be cald , or thought the child of fortune , stoupes not to death vntill the heart do crack : liues like himselfe , and at his latest breath , dies like himselfe , ye though he starue to death . ar , starue saist thou ? no it is pitty that such a spirit should haue such a fortune : howsoeuer it stand with thee , bee thus far bold with me : liue with me & share with my fortunes , i protest i will want of my mind , ere thou shalt want that thou needest but with many thanks for thy kind verses , & discourses , i pray thee tell me , what followed of thy fortunes with thy mistris ▪ tid . i will tell you : after she had taken my table book and perused such trifles as shee founde , well seruante quoth shee , i see you are a wagge ; but it is no matter , i must tell you in plaine termes , i know som of them deserued as much as you haue written , but letting al these toies passe , let me tel thee , the loue i bear thee , with the truth i haue foūd in thee , haue made me so much thine , that i am no more my owne : & in token hereof , receiue from me this diamond , & for that i know not how thou art furnished for mony , take here this purse of golde , to defray such charges as may fall vpō you for your good : besides here is a pair of bracelets , which you shal wear for my sake : in the morning be stirring early , for i mean to be at the church hereby ioyning to my house , there to make fast that knot that shall neuer be vndone : & so , let vs go in and passe away the time as friends , but no further in the eie of the world : for it shall be best to my content , that the care be priuately caried , till our comfort be not to be crossed : with these words , as it were ouercom with ioy , with willing consēt i obeied her cōmandement : all which euening and night we passed in such exercises , that all parties pleased , we went euery one to his lodging , but how little sleep i tooke , i leaue to the wachmē in the work of loue : in the morning the lady not long after me at the church dore , seing me at my praiers , kindly saluted me , & the churchman ready with a few witnesses of her prouiding & my only seruāt hauing sent another home vppon necessary occasions : scarce was the book opened , a few words read , and our harts ioyning hands , but by a villanus plot of a damnable iew , that in the shape of a man caried the spirit of a deuil , came into the church with some dozen of mascarados with ougly vizards on their faces , with swords and daggars drawne , cried out tidero : with the afrighte wherof the lady fell down , & after many soundings lay as dead : the captain of these accursed caitifes , was one sulferino a gallant there in the country , who hauing wasted his estate , thought likewise to be the ouerthrow of this ladies , who in the pretence of loue to her , practised this villany to me : well , vpon sodaine how was i here distressed ? my loue lying as it were dead before me , my enemies ready to dispatch me : but vppon the sodaine holding my life at as high a rate as i could , determining to sell it deare , among them i went , & with a pistoll that my man gaue me , and such weapons as we had , we laid the chiefe villaine on the earth , & those that could , got away ▪ but my selfe sore wounded , & my seruāt no lesse , looking vpon my mistris , i saw her come to life againe , when her eies alifted vp , she sighed out , on friend art thou aliue ? thou maist say thou hast had an enemy and not a friend , but good friend leade mee home : which i did with some few that were with vs : but no sooner come into the chamber , but sending for her cousen the fayr lady , after she had deliuered the whole discourse , in mine armes tooke her leaue of the world : beseching her ( euen a little before her last gasp ) for her sake , to doe me all the honour she could : to tell you my case in the passion , that then took me , it is more then i can expresse : but the lady her cosen priuately keeping me till i was healed of my wounde , within a fewe daies after finding the sharpe reuenge intended me by a brother of my late dead enemy , conueied mee away with my seruants to sea , furnishing mee with all things necessary for my voiage , but as one mischief foloweth another , so was it with me ; for being neer vnto the coast of this countrie ; came a sodaine tempest , in which our ship driuen on a rocke , tooke a wracke , by means whereof , goods none at all , and men few , were saued , yet my selfe by meanes of a piece of a maste that floated on the waues , was driuen on land , and with a few crownes in my pocket , and these bracelets on my armes , that had like to haue spoiled my swimming gat to shore , and am come away as you see , not yet three daies since , and your selfe the first of my friends that i haue met with . ar. thou hast told me of such a merry goe sory , as i haue not often heard of : i am sory for thy ill fortune , but am glad to see thee aliue : sorrowe not for her that is gone , for that is helplesse , nor for thy self too much , for that is needlesse , thy fortunes may be better at home , then they haue bin abroade ; take no thought , be merry , we are now hard at the towne , we will dine togither , and soone we will home togither : i haue a neighbor within a mile , may hap liue to do thee good : let vs goe . tid . arnofilo i thanke you , and thinke my selfe happy to haue mett with you ; when wee come home wee will talke further of the world , in the aduancement of my fortune , you shall but bind a friend : now what his fortune was , and what courses he ran in it , if i heare you like well of this , you shall hear of the rest , ere it be long . finis . vvits priuate vvealth stored with choise commodities to content the minde. breton, nicholas, ?- ? approx. kb of xml-encoded text transcribed from -bit group-iv tiff page images. text creation partnership, ann arbor, mi ; oxford (uk) : - (eebo-tcp phase ). a stc estc s this keyboarded and encoded 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(eebo-tcp ; phase , no. a ) transcribed from: (early english books online ; image set ) images scanned from microfilm: (early english books, - ; : ) vvits priuate vvealth stored with choise commodities to content the minde. breton, nicholas, ?- ? [ ] p. printed by edw. allde, for iohn tappe, and are to be solde at his shop at st. magnus corner, london : . dedication signed: n. britton. signatures: a-d⁴ (-a ). chain lines vertical. reproduction of the original in the henry e. huntington library and art gallery. created by converting tcp files to tei p using tcp tei.xsl, tei @ oxford. re-processed by university of nebraska-lincoln and northwestern, with changes to facilitate morpho-syntactic tagging. gap elements of known extent have been transformed into placeholder characters or elements to simplify the filling in of gaps by user contributors. eebo-tcp is a partnership between the universities of michigan and oxford and the publisher proquest to create accurately transcribed and encoded texts based on the image sets published by proquest via their early english books online (eebo) database (http://eebo.chadwyck.com). the general aim of eebo-tcp is to encode one copy (usually the first edition) of every monographic 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and edited - pfs batch review (qc) and xml conversion aa wits priuate vvealth . stored with choise commodities to content the minde . printer's or publisher's device london printed by edw. allde , for iohn tappe , and are to be solde at his shop at st. magnus corner . . to to the right worshipfull , my much and much worthy beloued friend iohn crooke esquire , sonne and heire to sir iohn crooke knight , all prosperity on earth , and the ioy of heauen . to present you with a long discourse , might perhaps weary you in the reading ; & to write obscurely , might be a trouble to your vnderstanding : to auoide therefore inconueniences , i have chosen this litle peece of labor to fit the patience of your idle leisure ; hoping , that as in fore-ages , men of great titles , would patronize the writings of good studies , not regarding the estate or quality of the person , so your true spirits that can rightly iudge of the natures of well deseruings , will not altogether shut my booke ( with my better seruice ) out of your good fauour : the subiects are many , and of diuers natures , but ( as many flowers in one nose-gay ) they are here put together in a little volume , which perusd with that good patience that may make profit of experience , i hope shall giue you some way contentment , and no way the contrarie : but least i make to great an entry to a little house , i will shut the dore to my further speech , and onely rest in some better seruice . your affectionately at commaund . n. britton . to the reader . you that shall happen to light on this little peece of a booke , how you will or can iudge of what you read , i know not : if it be well i am glad you are pleased , if otherwise , it is past the print , and therefore too late to be mended : many things are comprehended in a little roome , and he that reades all and takes good by none at all , i am perswaded is either vncapable or careles : to be short , such as they be i send them to you , set downe with the dayes in the yeare : in halfe one day you may read them , and euer after thinke on them as you can conceiue , disgest , or remember them : some of them were written by wiser men then my selfe , and for the rest ( like wares in a shop ) the good must help away with the bad : to conclude , i commend them with my further loue and seruice , to the fauour of those spirits , that iudging the best , will not say the worst : among whome , hoping you are one to fill vp the number of honest men , i rest . your friend as i may . n. b. vvits priuate wealth . hee that takes much and giues nothing , shall haue more wealth then loue . he that giues much and takes nothing , shall haue many thankes and few friends . he that spends his youth in whoring and dycing , may curse the bones , and cry out vpon the flesh . he that buildes castles in the ayre , in hope of a new world , may breake his necke , ere he come to halfe his age . he that meets an ilfauourd woman in the morning fasting , t is ods he shal not see a worse sight before dinner . he that telleth a lye and bindes it with an oath , is either weake in wit , or vile in conscience . he that braggeth much of a little worth , hath made his tongue an ouerthrow of his wit. he that marrieth a rich wife and abuseth his matrymony , will either begge among rogues , or hang for good company . he that cryes afore he is hurt , hath learned wit to avoid paine , and he that cryeth after a hurt , must learne patience for ease . he that oweth money and cannot pay it , is an agent for sorrow but he that hath it and will not pay it , is a steward for hell . he that scof●eth at god , is already with the deuill , and though he walke in the world , hee hath a hell in his c●nscience . he that selleth his cloathes to be drunke with the money , will beg in age and starue for foode . he that riseth early and maketh light meales , keepes his body in health , and his stomacke in temper . he that makes religion a cloake for villany , deuiseth with the deuill to cosen his soule of her comfort . if you see a faire wench leere after you when you are past , lay your hand on your hart for feare of your purse . if a stranger scrape acquaintance with you in some priuate place , thinke his wit , his wealth , or his honestie out of tune . he that selleth his ware , and liues by the losse , must giue ouer his trade or die in poore case . a kinde hearted man is easily abused , and a high spirited woman must be warily obserued . if you offend god , repentance will haue pardon , but if you offend the law , take heed of execution . if you marry a whore , make much of the horne , but if you marry a scolde , fall to your prayers . if you haue a friend , and cannot vse him , you lacke wit , but if you abuse his loue , you want honesty . he that tyeth his loue to beauty , may bring his heart to trouble , and he that marrieth a foule woman dooth wrong to his eie-sight . he that will neuer lend is vnworthy to borrowe , but he that comes into suretiship is in the way of vndoing . if you see an offenders punishment , pray for amendment : but if a horse-courser be hanged it is happy for trauailers . to giue a woman her will may be hurt to her wit : & to bridle her nature , may moue passion beyond reason . to build a house without money , is but a dreame of folly , and to trauell among theeues is danger of life . he that spends more then he gets , will hardly be rich , and he that speakes more then knowes will neuer be counted wise . he that least sinneth is the best man , and he that neuer repenteth is the worst . a prodigall spender will keepe coyne from cankering and a greedy vsurer will gnaw out the heart of a purse . he that trauaileth a strange way had need of a guide , and if he want money he must fare hard . a mouse in a cupbord will marre a whole cheese , & an ill tongued woman will trouble a whole towne . he that is giuen to sleepe , is borne to much trouble , and to ouer-watch nature may be a hurt to wit. he that leaueth the learned to liue with the ignorant , may happē vpon some wealth but he shal neuer be wise . an vntrusty seruant may rob a man of his goods , but a dogged wife will vexe his heart . if you see a trull scarce giue her a nod , but follow her not least you proue a noddy . a courteous phisitian will make much of his patient , and time pleasers are no true diuines . strong beere hath two contrary vertues , it will quench a thirst , and warme the stomacke . he that offends god to please a creature , is like him that killeth himselfe to auoide hurt . she that loues to make faces may haue an ape for her schoole-master , and hee that feedes her humors , puts his wits to much trouble . he that loueth many can hardly please all , and he that loueth none , is either dogged or foolish . a foole that is rich shall be followed with beggers , but the vertuous and wise are truely honorable . he that feasteth the rich , makes a friendship with mommon , but he that relieueth the poore , is blessed of god. a whores teares are a fooles poyson , and a theeues watch is the trauailers woe . the shot of a cannon makes a terrible report , but he that starts at the noise of it , will hardly proue a souldier . the sound of a trumpet stirs vp the spirit of a souldier , but if his heart faile him , he will not fight . womens tyers are an idle commoditie , and t● liue by panderisme is a roguish profession . swearing & lying is much among wicked men , & yet being so little belieued , i wonder they do not leaue it . a proud spirit is hatefull to nature , and he that is vnthankfull for little , is worthy of nothing . the hope of the vertuous makes haruest in heauen , & the dispaire of the wicked brings their soules into hell . the spiders webbe is a nette for a flye , and a flattering tongue is a trap for a foole. that sight of a sword will affright a coward , while a seasond souldier makes a flea-bite of a wound . a partiall iudge makes a pittifull lawe , and a dumbe preacher a pittifull parish . a bloody souldier makes a pittifull warre , and he that trusteth an enemie , may be betraid ere he be aware . the souldiers honour is got with great trauaile , while the vsurer tumbleth in the ease of his wealth . the true spirit regards no drosse , and he that makes a god of his golde will goe to the deuill like a beggar . he that leaues his spurres in his horses belly , may sit downe and sigh when he is weary with walking . he that will passe quietly through a common wealth must auoid the foole , and take heed of the knaue . an vsurper of a crowne will breede murmures in a kingdome , but a wise gouernour is worthy of his place . he that cloyeth his stomacke is an enemie to nature , and to ouercharge wit is an abuse of reason . vanitie & pride , make the fooles paradice , while loue and beauty are the nurses of idlenes . blessed children are the parents ioyes , while the barren wombe is the curse of nature . a wise generall and a valiant leader , are requisite in a campe , but tyranny in conquest disgraceth the soldier the gloe-wormes belly is the candle of the earth , & the phoenix nest is too high for the world . the longest day will haue a night at last , and age will with●r the smoothest skinne in the world . the dearth of the corne makes farmers rich , but to starue the people is the shame of the state . no preaching in the world will make a iew a christian , & a cut-purse will be his work when the theefe is at the gallowes . he that hath lost his eies may bid his friendes good-night , and he that is going to the graue , hath made an end with the world . a faire man is like curds and creame , and a foule woman the griefe of the eyes . a wittie wanton is a pleasing mistris , but an honnest huswife is the best to breede on . he that is giuen to drinking is subiect to the dropsie , and a licorous grocer will eate out his gaine . a garden is pleasant if it be full of fai●e flowers , so is a faire woman indued with good qualities . a faire flower without scent , is like a faire woman without grace . hearbes are wholesome , gathered in their time , and money well vsed is an excellent mettall . if christmas lasted all the yeare , what would become of lent ? and if euery day were good fryday , the world would be weary of fasting . the griefe of the heart is a weakning to the bodye , but the worme of conscience eats into the very soule . a iest is neuer well broken , but when it hurteth not the hearers , and profiteth the speaker . hope is comfortable in absence , but possession is the true pleasure . words out of time are lost , and seruice vnrewarded is miserable . to follow fooles is the anoyance of wit , and to serue a churle is a miserable slauery . variety of acquaintance is good for obseruation , and to make vse of knowledge , proues the sence of vnderstanding . early rysing gaines the morning , and a darke night is the theeues watch . a fantasticall trauailer , is the figure of an ape , and a proud woman is a fooles idoll . the eye is small yet is seeth much , and the heart but little , & yet it is the life of the body . the hope of profit makes labour easie , and the hand of bountie winnes the heart of vertue . a candle giues a dimme light in the sunne , & where diana keepes her court , cupid is out of countenance . a man is as dead when he sleepeth , and darkenes is the sorrow of time . there is no true rich man but the contented not truly poore but the couetous . a weake body is not for trauell , nor a sim ple witte for a scepter . no man liueth that doth not sometime amisse , but he that delighteth in sinne is a deuill in carnate . they that loue their beds , are great flea-feeders , and he that spends his spirits , cannot haue a strong body . the rich mans goods makes him fearfull to dye , and the poore mans want makes him weary of his life . the fire of anger burneth the soule , and the cold of feare chilleth the heart . snuffe a candle and it will burne cleere , and cut off dead flesh , and the wound will heale the sooner . the heart-ache brings the body into sickenesse , but the worme of conscience breeds the soules torment . times alters natures , and honors manners ; but a vertuous heart will neuer yeeld to villany . miseries are the tryall of patience , but loue is the master of passions . thought is a swift trauailer , and the soule is in heauen in an instant . a kinde nature winneth loue , but a stubborne spirit is a plague to reason . the disease of opinion doth beguile vs in the taste of happines , while the vanity of delights is but the superfluitie of desires . patience at the point of death , sets a seale to the perfections of life . how vaine is the loue of riches , which may be lost or left in an instant ? in the tryall of truth excuse will not helpe dishonesty . trie wits by their wisedome , and loue them for their vertue . reioyce not in any mans misery , but be pittifull to thy very enemy , and comfort the afflicted in what is fit for charitie . followe not the amorous , for they are humerous , nor the humerous , for they are idle . giue what thou doost francklye , and be maister of thine own purse , least base seruilitie make abridgement of thy bountie . be not iealous without iust cause , and doe no wrong for any cause . if thou doest ill , doe not excuse it : if well , doe not boast of it . nature enclinde to euill , must by correction bee brought to good , for discretion by instruction findes the way to perfection . the key of wantonnesse openeth the doore vnto wickednesse . the cares of busines , and the variety of pleasures , are the soules hindrances to her higbest happines . sinne comes with conception , but grace onely by inspiration . in the repentance of sinne sorrow bringeth comfort . where pride is poyson to power , and will an enimy to patience , there enuy can endure no equality , til death put an end to desire . greater is the griefe to loose then neuer to haue , and to see the fall of vertue then the death of nature , irreuocable is the losse of time , and incomparable the griefe of ingratitude , but the abuse of loue is abhorred in nature . when a dogge howles , an owle singes , a woman scoldes , and a pig cries , whether for a penny is the best musicke . full hearts cannot weepe , and swallowed sighes make swolne brests , while wisdome couereth woes , till death couer wretchednesse . who laboureth for knowledge , makes a benefite of time , but he that loueth vertue lookes after eternitie . the instruction of truth makes the witte gracious , while the practise of craft makes the heart impious . he that makes beautie a starre , studies false astronomie , and he that is soundly in loue , needes no other purgatorie . the depth of passion , tryeth the height of patience , where if witte bridle not the sences ; nature will reueale her imperfection . the remembrance of vanities , is a reuiuing of miseries , where the looking glasse of life becomes an houre-glasse of death . the exercise of venery is the cow-path to beggerie , and he that diminisheth his stock , may goe to the hedge for a stake . the landlords prodigality makes the tenants profit , and a proud beggar is a dogged rascall . a cat may loose a mouse and catch her againe , but he that looseth time can neuer recouer it . when rich men die , they are buried with pompe , but when good men die , they are buried with teares . bloody actions makes fearefull visions , while the ioy of peace is the spirits paradice . vvhen al vnder the sunne is vanitie , where hath vertue her dwelling in the world , but only in the heart of the elect , whose loue is onely in the heauens . an intemperate spirit spoiles the body , and a proud heart giues a wound to the soule . the shāme of wit is folly , and the shame of nature sin . who trauaileth out of the world , to seeke the truth of heauens historie , if he be not assured of grace , will make but an vnhappy iourney . comfortable is the graue where death is the end of grief , but ioyful is that faith , that finds the life of eternity a knight that dares not fight , hath honor in iest , & a marchant without mony may aduenture for nothing . the pinching of the body , makes a stincking breath , and straight shooes fill the feet full of cornes . women with childe long for many things , but all the world longs for mony . a great wit may haue a weake body , and a great head but a little wit. the dolphin is held the swiftest fish in the sea , but the thought of a man hath no comparison in the world . the tyger is said to be the cruellest beast in the world , but an vsurer vpon a bond will goe to the deuill for mony . a maiden blush is an excellent coulour , and a virtuous wit makes a virgin honorable . a constant louer is an admirable creature , but the man of wealth goes through the world . offices are sweet in the nature of gaine , but the abuse of an oath is the burthen of conscience . a sore eye is euer running , and a gossips tongue is euer babling . crosse pathes many times puts a man out of his way , and crosse fortunes many waies puts a man out of his wits . great windes are dangerous at sea , so is a iudges breath , to an offender . the philosophers stone hath mockt a number of students , and loue hath troubled a world of idle people . virginity is precious while it is purely reapt , but is it catch a cracke the beauty is gone . the eyes growe dimme when they come to spectacles , and it is colde in vallies when a snowe lyeth on the mountaines . the sting of a scorpion is onely healed with her bloud , and where beauty wounds , loue makes the cure . emprisonment and death are the miseries of nature , and the sergeants mace is a hellish weapon . a childe that feares not the rod will hardly proue gracious , and a man that feares not god , will bee in hell ere he be aware . elixars are great restoratiues , but much phisicke is offensiue to nature . a penne without inke writes a very blancke letter , and a purse without money , makes many a colde heart . stolne venison is sweete , so the stealer can scape , but if he be catcht he will pay for his hunting . the anglers sport is full of patience , and if he loose his hooke he makes a faire fishing . a showre of raine doth well in a drought , but when dust turnes to durt , the house is better then the high-way . a little salt seasons a great pot , & a little poyson kils a world of people . iewels are as they are esteemed , and there is nothing forced that is welcome . a little seed will sow a great ground , and a snuffe of a candle will set a whole house on fire . the want of necessaries breakes the heart of an honest man , and to be beholding to a dog , is a death to a good minde . when the rich pray on the poore , and the poore pray for the rich , there is great differnce in praying . a scolde and a foole must be answered with silence , while wisedoms words are worth the writing in gold . philosophie is a sweet study , and historie are sometime worth the reading , but the bible in all excellence , puts downe all the bookes in the world . much reading makes a ready scholler , but the guift of nature doth much in arte. a foole and a knaue cannot take thought , while an honest heart is full of sorrow . a far trauailer seeeth much , but he that goes to heauen makes a happy iourney . the kings of the earth are rich in golde , but blessed are the soules that are rich in grace . the aire is often cleansed by lightning , but till the world change it will neuer be cleane from sinne . an escape from danger is comfortable , but to keepe out of it is wisdome . he that makes an epicure of his mind , makes a gull of his witte : for time is precious to the vnderstanding spirit . a diamond may be little , and yet of great price but the grace of god is more worth then the whole world . fancy and fashion trouble many idle people , but the study of diuinitie rauisheth the soules of the elect . cockes of the game will by nature fight , and a heart of oake will burst ere it bend . the sight of the sea will a fray a faint heart , while the sailers care but a little for the land. the cryes of fooles make a foule noyse , while the hearts of the honest bleede inwardly . may-games and iestes , fill the world full of mirth , but the feeling of grace fils the soule full of ioy . a flie feedes a swallow that will choake a man , and that which kils a spider will comfort a man. th stone and the gowte followe the rich , but death where he commeth makes a swoope with all persons . a poore man in his cottage is merrier with his pittance , then many a lord in the midst of his liuing . great mindes and small meanes are the ouerthrowe of many good wits . a broken heart is gods cure , whose oyle of grace is a salue for all sores . hee that hath forsworne a beard , hath a strange face , and shee that hath no teeth , may learne to sucke . a friend is best tryed at a neede , and a fawning foe is not to be trusted . beefe and mutton are strong foode , and hunger is the best sauce to any meate in the world . sicknesse is the bodies curbe , and sorrow the mindes , but vnkindenesse in a friend is the breake-heart of a goodspirit . necessitie will breake through stone walles , but to make an excercise of beggerie , is the condition of a rascall . a painted sword is for a bragging coward , but the souldiers iron makes way where he goes . the rarenes of a toy , will set vp the price , but the goodnes of anything is best esteemed of the wise . a bird without feathers will flie ilfauouredly , and a man without money is out of heart with all mirth . to bee deliuered of a childe is a ioy to a woman , and to be deliuered from prison is a comfort to a man , but to be deliuered from sinne , is the truest ioy of the soule . a forward childe is sildome long liued , and to beget a foole is a griefe to the parents . he that cryeth without cause , is worthy of hurt , and he that feeles no hurt is full of dead flesh . trauaile is good for stayed wits , and a strong bodie is best for labour . the rich man to fill the tother bag , will pare a poore man to the very bones , but the good man will relieue his poore neighbour at his neede . an vnskilfull ryder may soone be out of the saddle , and a poore horse can goe but softly . some say tobacco is good to purge the head , but he that followeth it well , will finde it a shrewd purge to his purse . no eye can see the brightnes of the sunne : how glorious then is that life from whence it hath light ? many are fortunate that are not wise , but there is no man happie vntill he come into heauen . fire and sword are the terror of a camp , but thunder and lightning are the terror of the world . a faire house is a comfortable lodging , but the sweet aire reuiueth the senses . a faire horse is comely to looke on , but if he prooue heauy he is nought for trauell . the sires of afflictions refine the spirits of the faithful , and happy is the heart that endures to the end . many factions breede seditions , but vnitie and peace are the ioyes of a kingdome . an asses braie is an vnpleasant noyse , but the knell of a passing bell kils the heart of the wicked . a man will forbeare many things for feare of the law , but how few forbeare any sin for feare of gods iudgement ? delicate meates are no strong foode , but the spring water is cleare drinke . great assemblies are markets for the cut-purse , but a bare purse kils his heart . enuy among great men , make miserie of poore men , and when women breed the quarrells , they are not easily ended . a discreete iudge makes a blessed law , and a penitent offender is worthy of pardon . great boast and small roast , makes a colde kitchin , and shrugging of shoulders is no paying of debtes . he that may liue well and will not , is of a wicked nature , but he that would liue well and cannot , hath his heart full of griefe . the flyes and the bees liue in swarmes , & the antes and the wormes liue in heapes , but men can hardly make a company to liue quiet . poysoned drinke may be in a siluer cup , and he that plucketh a rose may pricke his hand in gathering of it . the porposes in the sea will play against a storme , & many make a banquet to make an end of the guests . the marchant and the trades-man are the vpholders of a common-wealth , but if they leaue out the farmer , they may fast for their supper . a discreete woman is worthy of honor , and a foolish man the disgrace of nature . burnt children dread the fire ; while olde fooles will play with the coales . a rauening curre is not good for a house , and a hawke that feedes fowle , will neuer be a high flier . he that remooues a land-marke is a very bad neighbour , & he that sets a trauailer out of his way is a wickked villaine . a delaying hope is grieuous to the heart , but dispaire is the greatest torment of the soule . to lye in bed and not sleepe , to see meate and haue no stomacke , to serue long , and get no wages , are three great miseries in the life of man. no man knowes a griefe so well as he that hath it , and no man more ioyfull then he that is rid of it . it is a griefe to a man to lacke wit , but more greefe to some to lacke grace to gouerne it . an aged man is a kalender of experience , and a spruce you●h is like a picture . a deadly wound makes a quicke dispatch , but a lingring hope breedes a long griefe . to meddle with state matters may be more trouble then profit , but to part man & wife is a wicked practise . at a little hole a man may see day , but if he shut his eies the light will do him little good . horselieches will burst with sucking of blood and a swelling toade is a venomous creature . a tortois shell will hardly breake , but at the least touch she will pull in her head . he that hath a wife hath a charge , and he that hath a good wife hath a blessing , but he that hath a bad wife , is in a pittifull taking . she that loues not her husband , lackes either honesty or wit , and shee that loueth not her selfe , will goe neere to be sluttish . the winter nights is for the gossips cup , and summers heat makes the brewers haruest . the lambe and the doue are two pretty creatures , but the dog and the hog are sullen beasts . a fox by nature is ful of craft , while a foole wants reason to make vse of wit. the smooth grasse will hide a snake , and a fained smile a false heart . to goe to church for fashion , is an abuse of religion , and to pray without deuotion , is breath to no purpose . good incke graceth a letter , but if the paper bee nought , the penne will doe no good . a long dyet kills the stomacke , and a desperat purge may be a perrill of life . the owle and the swallowe brings in winter and sommer , but the nightingale & the cuccoe talke onely of the merry time . light gaines make heauy purses , but he that labours for nothing may giue ouer his worke . he that will holde out the yere must abide winter and summer , and he that will goe into heauen must endure the miseryes of the world . to feed a iester is but a iest of wit , but he that giues not care to a tale , it neuer troubles him . when a lyon roares come not in his way , & when a foxe preacheth beware the geese . a faithfull friend is a rich iewell , and a silent woman is a strange creature . nature is subiect to imperfection , but an atheist is a horrible creature . he that lighs in a whirle poole , is in danger of drowning , and the losse of liberty is the sorrowe of nature . a rich court is a goodly sight , but he that lookes vp to heauen will not care for the world . when olde men are wilfull , their wits are out of temper , and when yong men are wise , they are in the way to honour . an olde sore tries the skill of a phisition , and if he get a name , he will quickly be rich . the fish of the riuer is not affraid of drowning , and if he play with a bate , it may cost him his life . an asse hath long eares , and a fox a long taile , but a tongue will be so long that it will ouer-reach out of measure . a neighing horse is not good for a theefe , nor a questing spaniell will make a good setter . a dogge will reioyce at the sight of his maister , when perhaps his mistresse will frowne at his comm●ng home ▪ the bones of the dead , breake the hearts of the liuing , when a poore gamster looseth his money . the kindenes of the heart is tryed in aduersitie , and the dogg ednes of the minde in the hight of prosperity . when the hare is in chase , feare makes her runne , but when the hounds are at a falt , she hath time to get away . he that plaies the rogue in the morning , may be a villaine till night , but if he be sorry when he goes to bed he may rise an honest man. he that is wounded in the heart hath made an end of his daies , but he that hath a wound in the soule knowes not when to end his sorrowe . a looking-glasse will make a foole proud of his beautie , but an houre-glasse will make a wise man remember his end . the varietie of flowers makes a spring beautifull , but the faire haruest makes a fat barne . tobacco smoake is very costly , but the ashes of it are good for a galde backe . a proud mechanique will looke ouer a marchant , and a rich churle will looke like bull beefe . the winde is weake , yet it beares downe great oaks , and water is weake , yet it swallowes vp great ships . a worme-eaten nut is not worth the cracking , and a crackt iewell not worth the wearing . mony-masters are the pride of the market , but if you part without a pot , you are no good fellow . a subtill bowler will haue a shrewd ayme , but if hee misse his byace his bowle may deceiue him . a dropping nose had neede of a handkercher , and a splay footed woman is a beastle sight . time is neuer idle , but not euer well imployd , when wit without gouernment fals to fast vpon folly . he that hath many wounds looseth much blood , and he that hath many quarrells will haue little quiet . vnkindenes is a cut to an honest heart , but a dogged wife is the hearts torture . he that saltes his meate will keepe it from stinking , & he that mortifies his flesh wil keepe it from much sin . he that hath an ill face hath neede of good wit , but money couereth many imperfections . vvhen the windes are downe , the sea will be calme , but quarrels begun are not easily ended . vvhere there is much carrion there wil be store of crowes , and at the buriall of a rich man , there will be store of beggers . threescore yeares and ten are a mans faire age , but after foure-score his strength is gone . to wrastle with a begger a man may get but a lowse , and to brabble with a scolde will make but a foule noyse . many hands makes quicke worke , but one is enough in a purse . good hearbes makes wholesome broath , but a filthy weede among them may marre all . a vvinters summer makes an vnkindly haruest , and a summers vvinter is not healthfull for a man. a cuckolde is the scorne of marriage , but a vvittoll is a beast in nature . a finicall fellow is like an vsher of a dauncing schoole , and a demure mistresse like the picture of hipocrisie . three chiefe things a trauailer had neede to haue a care of : his tongue , his purse , and his middle finger . three other chiefe things had all men neede to looke to : the soule , the body , and the state . to conuerse with children , is got little experience : but to talke with fooles is the abuse of wit , reuenge is the villanie of nature , and tirannie the horror of reason . what a iest is it in the nature of reuerence , when men must put off their hats while their maisters are pissing . vse makes perfection in many things , else could not the hang-man be so nimble at the halter . a skilfull phisition knowes how to vse his patient , and a cunning lawyer to doe with his clyent . he that hath a mint of money , and an idle woman to spend it , let him feede all her humours , and he shall soone see an end of it . he that reckoneth his chickins before they be hatcht , may misse of his broode when the henne leaues the neast . when geese flie together they are knowne by their cackling , & when gossips doe meete they will be heard . all earthly things haue an end , but the torments of the wicked are endles . in great extremities is tryed the greatest friendship , but when mans helpe faileth , god is a sweet comforter . the miseries of the world are many , but gods mercies are infinite . hollow windes are a signe of raine , and a long consumption is incurable . the gowte and the stone are two tickling diseases , but the pox is a slight cure . hell gates and a whores aporne are euer open for wicked guests . to the faithfull there is no damnation , and to the damned no saluation . a crafty knaue needs no broker , and a snarling curre will bite behinde . vnder simplicity is hidden much subtilty , and the crocodiles teares are the death of the trauailer . the camelion liueth onely in the aire , and the salamander liues onely in the fire . to traficke with vanitie , is to runne into miserie , and had iwist is an idle speech . the world goes hard with pride , when a ladie lies at a red lattis . true knights make ladies , and counterfaites marre them . neede makes a heauie shift , when a man pawnes his cloathes for his dinner . when taylors beganne to meate lordes landes by the yeard , then beganne gentilitie to goe downe the winde . when vanitie bringes toyes to idlenesse , let wit beware of foolishnesse . when a souldiours pay is most in prouant , he will hardly be led into a sharpe peece of seruice . he that makes holliday of euery day , makes an idle weekes worke , and he that labours on the saboath will neuer haue his worke to prosper . a schollers commons make a short dinner , and yet he may be in more health then an epicure . an ill blast of winde will spoyle a young plant , and a bitter frost is bad for fruite . a poore man shuts his doore to keepe out the winde , but a rich man shuts his doore to keepe out beggers . a kindely colyer is euer besmeered , and a smith and a glasse-maker are neuer out of the fire . a downe bed is soft to lye on , but yet it soakes the bodie more then a mattresse . truth hath often much a doe to be beleeued , and a lie runnes farre before it be staide . to be busie with a multitude , is to incurre trouble , & to feare sparrow-blasting is a pittifull folly . when wit brings youth to beauty , and vanity brings pride to beggery , then reason seeth natures misery . a sorry bargaine makes a heauy soule , when the heart akes and cannot be helpt . euill words are the worst part of eloquence , and hee that breakes the peace must answere the law . affabilitie breedes loue , but familiarity contempt . he that is careles of his state , may quickely prooue a begger , and hee that is feareles of god , will quickely prooue a deuill . vvitches and sorcerers doe much hurt in a common wealth , but after the gallowes they doe goe to the deuill . a parret well taught will talke strangely in a cage , but the nightingale sings most sweetely in a wood . an vnkinde neighbour is ill to dwell by , and an vnwholsome body is ill to lye by . a poysoned sword is a pestilent weapon , and he that vseth it hath a murtherous heart . a trotting horse beates sore in hard , way but a restie iade is a villanous beast . the wound of sorrow goes deepe into the heart , but a bullet in the braine is a medicine for all diseases . an ill weede growes fast , but a paire of sheeres will cut him downe . iudas treason was most abhominable , and iobs patience most admirable . sweete fresh water is comfortable in a cittie , and the want of it is the plague of the people . studie is the exercise of the minde , but too much of it may be a spoyle of the braine . when the saddle pincheth , how can the horse trauaile ? and when the wise lacke money their , wits ara in a poore case . howling dogs betoken death , and a scritch-owle at a window brings no good tidings to a house . babes will be stilled with lullabye , but an olde foole will neuer be quiet . the sunne is the labourers dyall , and the cock the huswiues watchman . diogines tub was a poore house , and yet alexander would come thither to talke with him . many a dogge is hanged for his skinne , and many a man killed for his purse . hee that loues not a woman lackes a peece of a man , and hee that loues too many , may be weary of his woing . the sauour of the earth makes a plough-man hungry and after a storme the sailers drinke merrily . a wax-candle and a watch are good for a studient , but if he want wit , he will be no great scholler . a priuate rebuke is a sweete correction , but an open punishment makes some shamelesse . when sheapheards fall to be hunts-men , the wolfe may bee with their flockes : and when the warrener is at the ale-house his connies may be stolne . he that goeth softly commonly goeth safely : but if he haue haste of his way hee looseth much time . t is soone enough that is well enough , and neuer to late that doth good at last . the desire of dooing well , is accepted before god , but the neglect of dooing well deserueth his displeasure . sweete are the deceits of loue , but bitter is the taste of repentance . vvho attendeth profit is not sorry for patience : and the faithfull with the patient are best trauailers to heauen . a faire hand is a vertuous ornament , but a vertuous spirit is a royall treasure . a sharpe wit hath a quicke inuention , but a iudicious spirit hath best vnderstanding . he that trusteth words prooueth hope , and hee that serueth a foole looseth time . vvithout valour men are shadowes : and without loue women torters . delay is the griefe of hope , but good neuer comes to late . that is not to day , may be to morrow , but yesterday will neuer come againe . it is a fearfull thing to fall into the hands of god , but it is a foule thing to shake hands with the deuill . the greatest proofe of follye is wilfulnesse , and the greatest proofe of wit is patience . too much reading is ill for the eye-sight , and too little reading is ill for the in-sight . time slipped is vnhappy , time lost is grieuous , time well taken shewes care , but to imploy it wel is gracious . and so much for this time . laus deo. finis . a true description of vnthankfulnesse: or an enemie to ingratitude. compiled by nicholas breton gent breton, nicholas, ?- ? approx. kb of xml-encoded text transcribed from -bit group-iv tiff page images. text creation partnership, ann arbor, mi ; oxford (uk) : - (eebo-tcp phase ). a stc estc s this keyboarded and encoded edition of the work described above is co-owned by the institutions providing financial support to the early english books online text creation partnership. this phase i text is available for reuse, according to the terms of creative commons . universal . the text can be copied, modified, distributed and performed, even for commercial purposes, all without asking permission. early english books online. (eebo-tcp ; phase , no. a ) transcribed from: (early english books online ; image set ) images scanned from microfilm: (early english books, - ; : ) a true description of vnthankfulnesse: or an enemie to ingratitude. compiled by nicholas breton gent breton, nicholas, ?- ? [ ] p. printed by thomas este, at london : . in verse. signatures: a-b⁴. running title reads: an enemie to ingratitude. reproduction of the original in the bodleian library. created by converting tcp files to tei p using tcp tei.xsl, tei @ oxford. re-processed by university of nebraska-lincoln and northwestern, with changes to facilitate morpho-syntactic tagging. gap elements of known extent have been transformed into placeholder characters or elements to simplify the filling in of gaps by user contributors. eebo-tcp is a partnership between the universities of michigan and oxford and the publisher proquest to create accurately transcribed and encoded texts based on the image sets published by proquest via their early english books online (eebo) database (http://eebo.chadwyck.com). the general aim of eebo-tcp is to encode one copy (usually the first edition) of every monographic english-language title published between and available in eebo. eebo-tcp aimed to produce large quantities 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the true nature of the print record of the period. in general, first editions of a works in english were prioritized, although there are a number of works in other languages, notably latin and welsh, included and sometimes a second or later edition of a work was chosen if there was a compelling reason to do so. image sets were sent to external keying companies for transcription and basic encoding. quality assurance was then carried out by editorial teams in oxford and michigan. % (or pages, whichever is the greater) of each text was proofread for accuracy and those which did not meet qa standards were returned to the keyers to be redone. after proofreading, the encoding was enhanced and/or corrected and characters marked as illegible were corrected where possible up to a limit of instances per text. any remaining illegibles were encoded as <gap>s. understanding these processes should make clear that, while the overall quality of tcp data is very good, some errors will remain and some readable characters will be marked as illegible. users should bear in mind that in all likelihood such instances will never have been looked at by a tcp editor. the texts were encoded and linked to page images in accordance with level of the tei in libraries guidelines. copies of the texts have been issued variously as sgml (tcp schema; ascii text with mnemonic sdata character entities); displayable xml (tcp schema; characters represented either as utf- unicode or text strings within braces); or lossless xml (tei p , characters represented either as utf- unicode or tei g elements). keying and markup guidelines are available at the text creation partnership web site . eng - tcp assigned for keying and markup - aptara keyed and coded from proquest page images - jonathan blaney sampled and proofread - jonathan blaney text and markup reviewed and edited - pfs batch review (qc) and xml conversion a trve description of vnthankfulnesse : or an enemie to ingratitude . compiled by nicholas breton gent. at london : printed by thomas este. . m. m more worth then vertue , can no creature know , a a phaenix in the world there is but one : r rare is the bird , and though there be no mo , y yet may you finde hir when you are alone . g. g great is the grace that in the spirit liueth , a and such a life is worthy honors loue : t the perfect good that heau'nly mercie giueth , e elected virgins in the heau'ns aboue . to the right vvorshipfull , vertuous , and noble minded gentlewoman , mistris mary gate , daughter to that true worthie knight of honorable remembraunce sir henry gate of semer. n. b. wisheth all happinesse on earth and heauen heereafter . a vertuous minde can not bee without hir honor , nor , an vngratefull spirit without a burthen of conscience : the first in your selfe is made manifest to many , the second , in my selfe , i wish not to liue to bee touched with , but yet , not able to requite those your honourable fauours that i haue receiued yet vndeserued , giue mee leaue in this little fruit of my labour , to present you with this token of my thanckfulnesse , wherein treating onely of the vile nature of ingratitude , i hope not to bee found guiltie in that offence . and so , wishing you your desert of honour , of the best mindes , and the vngratefull , the plague of an vnquiet conscience , or amendement of their euill conditions , in continuall prayer for your harts euer contentment , i rest . yours bounden to command nicholas breton . to the reader . hee that is vnthankfull for a good turne , sheweth the venime of a vile nature , and hee that is kindly gratefull , is worthie to bee beeloued : if you bee of the last condition , i commend you , if of the first , god amend you : what you are i know not , but i hope the best , the worst i desire not to heare off . and therefore , in briefe , the treatise beeing short , i will not trouble you to long , but as i finde your kindnesse , will rest in thankfulnesse . your friend nicholas breton . ingratis seruire nefas . of all the sinnes that euer raign'd , since wickednesse hir world began : that natures beautie most hath stain'd , within the wretched hart of man : and neerest doth to hell allude , is that of fowle ingratitude . it kills the eie of reasons sight , with fowle obliuions foggy mists : and makes the spirit to delight , but in the harmes of had i wists : and mires the soule in sinnes fowle flud , while lack of grace , can see no good . it studies onely to destroie , a gentle spirit with despight : and knowes no part of heauenly ioy , that pleads so in the diuels right : it is a hagge , that heauens doe hate , and , dwels , but with the reprobate . it bringeth foorth such shamefull euill , out of the shamelesse wicked minde : as by suggestion of the diuell , makes nature goe against hir kinde : when men that should bee vertues friends , become but machauilian fiends . there is no thought can bee so vile , nor word can sound so ill a worth : nor cursed state , so ill a stile , as can ingratitude set foorth : which was the curse of adams seede , and neuer since did better deede . vvhere it doth once infect the hart , the sonne doth wish the fathers death : the wife doth seeke the husbands mart , the brother stops the sisters breath : the neighbour , and the neerest friend , will plot each others speedy end . it makes the seruant to forget , his duty to his maisters loue : the subiect all his wits to set , rebellion to his prince to proue : the villaine for a comfortlent , for to beetraie the innocent . it maketh man forget his god , in whom alone hee hath his beeing : his comfort and his mercies rod , whereof his soule can haue no seeing : vntill to late in hell he findes , how god doth hate vngratefull mindes . oh what it doth , or doth it not ? that may agrieue an honest minde : to see the power that sinne hath got , vpon the curse of humane kinde : while comfort , kindnesse , care , and cost , vpon vnthankfulnesse are lost . oh hellish worme , that eates the wombe , wherein it lay , to looke abroade : and plots the meane to make his tombe , whose house had beene his chiefe aboade : while faithlesse friends make hellish fiends , god send all iudasses such ends . a king that on a time ordain'd , a punishment for euery vice : was asked , why hee did refraine ? on this to set downe his deuice : it is quod hee , beeyond my wit , i leaue to god to punish it . as who should say , the sinne were such , as did all other so exceede : that were the torment nere so much , it were no more then it did neede : that all the world might warning winne , to flie the thought of such a sinne . oh , how much worse then any beast , it makes the shape of man to proue ? for shape is most , and man is least , that so doth swarue from natures loue : and in the hate of honours nature , becomes the worst of any creature . fie , fie , vpon ingratitude , the sinne of sinnes that euer was : that doth the soule to much delude , and brings the world to such a passe : that lack of loues gratuitie , hath almost worne out charitie . of wormes , the viper is the worst , that eates the bowells that did breed him : of birds , the cuckoe most accurst , that kils the sparrow that did feed him : and is not man more halfe a diuell ? that so requiteth good with euill ? a poore man going to a wood , within the snow an adder found : when , wishing how to doe it good , did take it vp , from off the ground : and fearing of no future harme , did in his bosome keepe it warme . but comming home vnto the fire , no sooner hee had loosde his coate : but , to requite his kinde desire , the adder bit him by the throate : now whereto doth this tale alude ? but onely to ingratitude : there was a lyon as i reade , who had a thorne got in his foote : which in his trauaile fore did bleede , while to his hart the payne did shoote : with which , vnto his denne hee came , and fell to licking of the same . when , as hee stoode hee spied a man , vvho had beene thether fled for feare : and in his hart , with griefe beegan , to mourne his haplesse beeing there : yet , seeing how the lyon stoode , aduentured to doe him good . and feeling softly where it stucke , so cunningly did beate about : as with his mouth first fell to sucke , then , with his teeth , did get it out : and after did such help apply , that hee was eased by and by . and when the lyon felt such ease , hee reacht him out a princely pawe : as who should say to such as please , i carry comfort in my clawe : and to requite his kindnesse then , hee led him foorth out of his den. and brought him through a wildernesse , into a high way , neere a towne : when in a princely gentlenesse , before his face , hee sat him downe : and with his pawe as poets tell , did giue a kingly kinde farewell . now shortly after it befell , this lyon was by hunters caught : and as the story seemes to tell , vnto an emperour was brought : and with great ioy and iolitie , presented to his maiestie . vvhich lyon kept , as others are , that so are caught , and so are brought : to seede vpon such hungry fare , as , tamnesse had his stomacke taught : did liue such trayterous harts to teare : as to such death condempned were . whete long this lyon had not beene , but that the man that heal'd his wound : whose eie had neuer treason seene , nor spirit such a thought had found : iniuriously was apprehended , and vnto such a death condempned . who beeing brought vnto the den , whereas the lyon fiercely stood : to teare in peeces , those ill men , that fed him with their poisoned blood : before his face did kindelie stand , and pawde and lickt him on the hand . the lookers on amaz'd to see , the lyon thus the man entreate : did wonder what the cause should bee , his loue to him should bee so great : and to the emperour did tell , what all before their eies beefell . who comming thether to behold , the truth of that hee thus had heard : and seeing still the prisoner hold , his place with him : a great reward did promise him , the cause to show , that made the lyon vse him so . when , of the lyon , taking leaue , vvith kissing of his kingly foote : to make his maiestie conceiue , the truth of all euen from the roote : hee ript vp all that hee had done , vvhereby this lyons loue beegunne . the emperour well pleas'd to heare , how euery point and part did grow : before his presence made appeere , the wretches that had wrong'd him so : and threw them in his wrathfull power , vnto the lyon to deuower . vvho spared none but slew them all , the man was royally rewarded : the note to this effect did fall , that thanckfulnesse was much regarded : the lyon still remain'd his friend , and so the story made an end . oh lord that euer man should liue , in hate of loues forgetfulnesse : and that a lions loue should giue , such notes of noble thanckfulnesse : vvhich all in one doe but conclude , the princely grace of gratitude . then , shew no vipers venum vile , to gnaw the bowells , that did breed thee : nor cucko like , doe loue beguile , to kill the sparrow that did feede thee : but lionlike doe thanckfull proue , to him that hath deseru'd thy loue . remember what thou hast receu'd , of vvhom , why , how , and what , and where : and , let it bee , as well perceu'd , thou doste retourne thy kindenesse there : that perfect thanckfulnesse may proue , the nature of the lions loue . if that thou finde thy mistresse kinde , dishonor not hir qualitie : if that a noble friend thou finde , skoffe not his liberalitie : if meane men buie thy companie , requit them not vvith villanie . if that thy father doe commend thee , bee thou not bad to shew his blindnesse : and if thy friend a saddell lend thee , steale not his horsse to quite his kindnesse : but chiefely doe not seeke his blood , whose loue hath liu'd to doe thee good . forget not god , that gaue thee life , defame not him that is thy friend : bee not vnfaithfull to thy wife , and hold on honest to the end : for when the knaues bee all discarded , a poore small tromp may be regarded . doe not with connies vndermine , the castle where thy captaine liues : nor counterfet with a diuine , to cheate the charitie hee giues : least when the world doth see thy shame , both god and man doe hate thy name . leaue not a man to seeke a beast , a monster is nor flesh , nor fish , and where thou hast receu'd a feast , returne not home a poisoned dish : least they that finde thy hellish nature , doe hold thee for a hatefull creature . in summe , for all let this suffice , to warne thee from ingratitude : beehold it with your inward eies , and let it not your soule delude : for truth doth write that time may reede , it is a graft of gracelesse seede . which growes but in a wicked ground , and beares no fruit but infamie : and many times is blasted round , with hellish breath of blasphemie : yet with ill humours moystned so , as makes it wickedlie to grow . but from this wicked hellish thing , that so infects the minde of man : and with a most infernall sting , the wofull state of life beegan : and doth abuse good creatures thus , good lord of such deliuer vs. finis . grimellos fortunes, vvith his entertainment in his trauaile a discourse full of pleasure. breton, nicholas, ?- ? approx. kb of xml-encoded text transcribed from -bit group-iv tiff page images. text creation partnership, ann arbor, mi ; oxford (uk) : - (eebo-tcp phase ). a stc estc s this keyboarded and encoded edition of the work described above is co-owned by the institutions providing financial support to the early english books online text creation partnership. this phase i text is available for reuse, according to the terms of creative commons . universal . the text can be copied, modified, distributed and performed, even for commercial purposes, all without asking permission. early english books online. (eebo-tcp ; phase , no. a ) transcribed from: (early english books online ; image set ) images scanned from microfilm: (early english books, - ; : ) grimellos fortunes, vvith his entertainment in his trauaile a discourse full of pleasure. breton, nicholas, ?- ? [ ] p. printed [by e. allde] for e. vvhite, and are to bee solde at his shoppe neere the little norrh [sic] doore of s. paules-church at the signe of the gun, london : . "to the reader" signed: b.n., i.e. nicholas breton. printer's name from stc. signatures: [a]² b-d⁴ e² . vertical chain lines. reproduction of the original in the british library. created by converting tcp files to tei p using tcp tei.xsl, tei @ oxford. re-processed by university of nebraska-lincoln and northwestern, with changes to facilitate morpho-syntactic tagging. gap elements of known extent have been transformed into placeholder characters or elements to simplify the filling in of gaps by user contributors. eebo-tcp is a partnership between the universities of michigan and oxford and the publisher proquest to create accurately transcribed and encoded texts based on the image sets published by proquest via their early english books online (eebo) database (http://eebo.chadwyck.com). the general aim of eebo-tcp is to encode one copy (usually the first edition) of every monographic english-language title published between and available in eebo. eebo-tcp aimed to produce large 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to reflect the true nature of the print record of the period. in general, first editions of a works in english were prioritized, although there are a number of works in other languages, notably latin and welsh, included and sometimes a second or later edition of a work was chosen if there was a compelling reason to do so. image sets were sent to external keying companies for transcription and basic encoding. quality assurance was then carried out by editorial teams in oxford and michigan. % (or pages, whichever is the greater) of each text was proofread for accuracy and those which did not meet qa standards were returned to the keyers to be redone. after proofreading, the encoding was enhanced and/or corrected and characters marked as illegible were corrected where possible up to a limit of instances per text. any remaining illegibles were encoded as <gap>s. understanding these processes should make clear that, while the overall quality of tcp data is very good, some errors will remain and some readable characters will be marked as illegible. users should bear in mind that in all likelihood such instances will never have been looked at by a tcp editor. the texts were encoded and linked to page images in accordance with level of the tei in libraries guidelines. copies of the texts have been issued variously as sgml (tcp schema; ascii text with mnemonic sdata character entities); displayable xml (tcp schema; characters represented either as utf- unicode or text strings within braces); or lossless xml (tei p , characters represented either as utf- unicode or tei g elements). keying and markup guidelines are available at the text creation partnership web site . eng - tcp assigned for keying and markup - spi global keyed and coded from proquest page images - paul schaffner sampled and proofread - paul schaffner text and markup reviewed and edited - pfs batch review (qc) and xml conversion grimellos fortunes , vvith his entertainment in his trauaile . a discourse full of pleasure . london , printed for e. vvhite , and are to bee solde at his shoppe neere the little north doore of s. paules ▪ church at the signe of the gun. to the reader . grimellos fortunes were more then were spoken of , and such as are , you may easily consider of : who runnes many courses , is some-time out of the way , and so was hee , and euery man cannot thriue , no more did he : yet his will was good , so may be yours : but his fortune was so so , so may be yours . but what became of him in the end , is not spoken : and what you meane to doe , i cannot iudge . him i had litle acquaintance with , and you lesse : only his name i haue reade , but yours i know not , that i haue heard of : of him i heare no euill , nor wish to heare any of you : him i finde wittie , and you i hope to finde wise ; if not , i shall be sorrie for your witte , as mine owne fortune , to let my labours fall into your hands . but i will thinke the best , and so in the best thought i rest in hope of your patience . your friend , b. n. faxit deus the entertainment of grimello , by signior ganuzido , as he ouer-tooke him on the way . grimello . ganuzido . gri. you are well ouer taken sir. gan. what ? are you so sure of it ? gri. sure , of what sir ? gan. why , my purse . gri. your purse ? no sir , it was the least part of my thought . gan. why , what haue you taken then ? or haue you authoritie to take fooles as you finde them in your waie ? if you haue , you may happen yet to be deceiued . gri. why sir , i set no springs for woodcocks , and though i be no great wise man , yet i can doe something else , then shooe the boose for my liuing : and therefore , i pray you neither feare your purse , nor play too much with my folly . but if you can finde in your hart to do good for him that cannot deserue it , and will trust a stranger , with as much as you dare loose , it may be i should tell you a longer tale then you would beleeue , or else finde you kinder then i can looke for . gan. why ? saie i were as i may be ( for ought you know ) an honest man , and of ability to doe for you more then i meane to prate of , if i like of your talke , and your behauiour , what would you saie to mee ? gri. i could say somewhat vnto you , but that my hart is full . gan. of what ? gri. sorrowes . gan. for what ? gri. oh sir , it were a worlde to tell you the discourse of the causes of them . ga. well then , by the waie , let me aske you a question or two . gri. as many as please you . ga. then first , tell me whence came you ? gri. from terra florida , and am going to isola brata . ga. oh , i vnderstand a litle latin , and if i be not much mistaken , you came from the florishing lande , and are trauailing towardes the blessed iland . gri. uery true sir. gan. then figuratiuely , you came from the ale-house , and are going to the tauerne . gri. oh sir , you make too hard a construction of my disposition : for , though a cup of good ale be comfortable in the morning , and a draught of old sacke , warme the hart to bed-ward : yet for my selfe , i hold a moderate dyet the holsomest phisick , and for those kinde of houses , they are but for necessitie : and therefore i pray you sir , be better conceiued of my condition . gan. well then , let me aske you , how you made your walke hither ? gri. in briefe-sir , not knowing your busines , in admitting your leasure , or requiring more haste , and so fearing by teadiousnes , to be some trouble to your patience , with your good fauour sir , thus it is . after that i had past the great mountaine of mishaps , i fell into a long vaile of miserie , in which i haue wandred to the foote of this hill of hope , on which i haue not bene a little comforted , since i came into your presence . gan. come , you are so fine , but will you not be angrie , if i tell you my minde , touching your figures ? gri. not for my life sir. gan. then it may be , you were going vp holbourne-hill , and so afterwarde to tiburne : from whence , hauing escaped more by good fortune , then desert , you haue gone a begging euer since : and hauing learned your termes of arte , either at schoole , ( which you haue not forgotten , to put to an ill vse ) or among such as your selfe , that with eloquence , thinke to cosen simplicitie of a litle coine , you would draw a hand of me : but you are deceiued in me , or it may be , that i am deceiued in you , and therefore i pray you tell me what you are , your profession and purpose ? it may be for your good : for your hurt beléeue me it shall not be . gri. sir , to tel you what i am , you know what al men are , and so am i : dust and ashes and wormes meate , my profession honesty : which , if the heauens will fauour , i care for no fortune . ga. well said , but how do you professe honesty ? gri. i protest . gan. what , do you onely protest honesty ? why then , your profession is but a protestation , as thus : you protest it a thing necessarie in a common wealth , but more commendable then commodious for many men to deale withall . gri. oh no sir , no such matter : i know there is no true commoditie without it , and for my selfe , in all the courses that i haue yet runne , i haue had so great a care of it , & so great a loue to it , that i haue had rather haue lost all that i had in the world , and my selfe last of all , then haue liued without it : and without boast be it spoken , i now haue it about me , and carrie it easily without any weight or trouble . ga. and where , i pray you ? gri. truely sir , in my hart , where i hope it is too fast , for euer getting out , while i liue . gan. well then , if i must needs ( as i haue yet no reason to the contrary ) beleeue what you saie . let me heare a litle of your courses , and of your honesty in them . gri. i will tell you sir first : after i had past out crosse-rowe , speld , and put together , read without a festraw , had my grammer rules without booke , and was gone from schoole to the uniuersities , there beginning in philosophie , by gods grace to iudge betwixt good and euill : and what honour was in honestie , and what shame in the contrarie : i rather noted then loued the fallacies in arguments : and gouerning nature with reason , i was called the honest scholler : for i neuer vsed rhetorick to perswade wickednes , nor poetrye in wantonnesse , nor diuinitie in pride , nor law in couetousnesse , nor phisicke in malice , nor musicque in beggery : but held learning so honorable in all studies , that i auoyded all that i might any waie disgrace her . ga. and there-with-all you wakte . gri. why sir ? gan. why , i cannot see how being awake , you could doe so : temptations , illusions , and suggestions ( and i know not what such other trickes ) would haue put you so out of your by-ace , that you would some time haue lost the cast , had you bowled neuer so well . but let me heare you a little speake of your honesty in all your poynts of learning . gri. why , i tell you , i made no loue to wenches , i did cosen no simple trust with vntruth : i fed my flocke , vndid no clyent poysoned no patient , nor followed a fayrie with a blinde fiddle : but wonne the wilfull with good words , to a good waie : made verses in the onely honor of vertue : was true to my friends , followed my clyents case to his content , preached euery weeke in my parish church : cured soundly my patients , and made content my best musique . ga. and yet could not thriue with all this ? gri. oh no. gan. the reason ? gri. i will tell you , wordes had no weight without money , and i was poore , and the rich were couetous : therefore my good wordes onely did good , to good mindes , that benefited not a litle by my labours ; but my gaine was only a good name : so that most my enemy which wold saie , i was a foole , wold saie , that i was an honest man. my poetry belyed no mans villanie , nor laide open his shame , but reprehended vice priuately , and touched no mans name in infamy . my clyents would pray for my life , for my true pleading : and my parish all loued me , because i was contented with what they gaue me : my patients commended my medicines , and my musicque was pleasing , because it was not common . gan. wel , then sir , your rhetoricke was gratious , your potrye diuine , your diuinitie , pure , your law iustice , your physicke learned , and your musique harmonious : and yet with all these you could not thriue . gr. no , for i could not flatter nor faine , nor be idle , nor sell breath , nor beare malice , nor abide beggery . gan. well said , i like you well for this : but let me go a little farther on with you out of booke-matters . what other courses haue you past with this same honestie ? gri. truely sir , after that i had left my hard studie , i became a courtier . gan. yea marrie sir , now you come to me : let me heare a little of that poynt with you . gri. i will tell you sir , my place being not great there , i can tell you of no great matters , but thus far without offence . i loued no painting on my face , no superfluitie in my dyet nor excesse in my apparrell , nor to créepe to a thorne nor to flatter a foole , nor conuerse with a muchauilion , nor to make idle loue , nor to scoffe at vertue , nor to quarrel for trifles , nor to tell lies , nor to importune friends , nor to delay sutors : but in all poynts of courtesie , so linked honestie with modestie , that , being faithful to my god , loyall to my soueraign , carefull of my selfe and kinde vnto my friend : my hart was all daie in a good harbour , and at night , my conscience made me sléepe quietly . gan. all this i like well , and the rather , for that your estate answeres ( at this time ) to the condition of simplicity : but on a litle further for i greatly care not to talke too much of court-courses : and yet i pray you tell me the cause why you had such a care of your honesty in all your court-time ? but first , let me aske you , why you would not paint your face as many doe ? gri. because i would not offend god with setting an other collour on my face , then nature by his grace had giuen me . gan. well said , but why did you forbeare superfluitie in your diet ? gri. for that , with gluttonie and drunkennesse , i would not please the deuill . gan. uery good now why doe you mislike excesse in apparrell ? gri. because the wise that saw my fashions should not laugh at me for my folly . gan. a good care : but why would you not créepe to a thistle ? gri. for feare of pricking my knées , and making an idoll of idlenes . gan. and why doe you hate to flatter a foole ? gri. because i fret at my miserie , to tye my patience to ignorance , and i would shunne the infection of a thirsting spirit . ga. well said , but why would you not conuerse with a machauilion ? gri. for feare of a villaine . gan. why would you not make loue ? gri. because of the fashion . gan. how so ? gri. why , it is vnfit to the body , or the minde , or state , or common , or foolish , or an idle thing or an other about it , so that i was loth to loose time , about the triall of it . ga. good , but why durst you not scoffe at vertue ? gri. for feare to be hatefull both to god and man. ga. a gratious conceit : now why did you mislike of quarrels ? gri. because they are enemies to peace , dangers of death , and disquietnes of the sences . ga. uery good : now why did you hate lying ? grin . because of the deuil is the author of it , no honest man but abhorres it : no christian but may be ashamed of it : few or none but the wicked loue it : furthermore , when i tell true , i shall not be beléeued . gan. you saie well : now , why would you not importune friends ? gri. for feare to weary them , and so to loose them . gan. why would you not delaie sutors ? gri. because i would not abuse their trust , nor bee pittilesse of their misery . gan. all this i like well : but for that i like not too much to talke of court-courses , i pray you tell mee of your next course , and honestie in it . gri. uery willingly . the next was armes : i left the court and followed the field , sought by danger to winne honor : and when by deserts of seruice , i had gotten to the charge of gouernment : i did not abuse my credit , with either foolish hardines , or base cowardice . gan. what was your reason ? gri. for feare , by the first , to loose either mine honor , or my people : by the other , to loose my credite vnrecouerable . gan. well said . now to your next poynt . gri. i would not deceiue my souldier of his pay , nor make a melch-cow of a man. gan. and why ? profite goeth beyond conscience in many considerations . gri. yea , with such as thinke of no other world but this : but i haue no part in their play , for honor admitts no auarice , and it is an vnchristian humor , to make money of men . gan. well said , and what was your next care ? gri. not to forget mercie in iustice , not to fauour the vitious , nor to pardon the obstinate . gan. and why ? gri. because as iustice is the grace of iudgement , so is mercy the glory of iustice. gan. why would you not fauour the vitious ? gri. because they are the enemies of god , and the spoyle of men . gan. you saie true , but last of all , wherefore would you not pardon the obstinate ? gri. for feare of infecting of other , and growing into a greater mischiefe , if hee scape vnpunished . ga. a good consideration , for in time of warre , one mutinous villaine may marre a whole campe : these indéed were honest cares in you : but it séemes , fortune was not alwaies your friend , or else she would haue furnished you better for your preferment : but i sée , you haue learned patience , which is a great vertue in all men , and in all courses . it séemes you had no pleasure in fyring of cities , in bloudy massacres , nor in robbing of churches . gri. oh no , for god neuer prospereth the blood-thirstie , the mercilesse , nor the vngratious : and indéed , i must saie what i know , that a true souldier , is neither thiefe , murtherer , nor vnmercifull . gan. i am of your minde in this : but not to trouble you too much with enquiring after your courses in the warres : let mee a litle aske you of the next course , and as you said , of your honestie in it . gri. uery willingly . the next course i tooke was this : finding my bodie , not answerable to my minde , and the gaines of my aduentures no greater then would defraie the charges of my necessarie expences : i left the field , and tooke me to my chamber , where resolued to betake my selfe wholy to my booke : i fell soundly to the study of the law : in which , when i had so profited , that i was able to pleade a case , and iudge betwixt right and wrong . i had that care of my conscience , that , of poore men i would take no money , and of the rich , i would not be bribed : and finding by some small ordinary fées , i could hardly paie for my bookes , my chamber , and my apparell , and my out-side being farre vnfit for the comelines of that profession : i was enforced to leaue that course , to a conscience of an other kinde : and séeing the misery of clients , the quiddities in cases , and the long delayings in courts : i left the law , sold my bookes , and my chamber , and kéeping only a night-gowne to kéepe mee warme in a cold winter . i got me into the country , there intending to plaie the good husband : where , hauing taken the lease of a prettie farme , i hoped to make much of a litle . gri. well said , but let me aske you , why you would not take money of poore men for counsell ? gri. because their miserie should not curse my couetousnesse : for though therich would wrong them , i would not wring them . ga. and well saide , a signe of a good minde : but why would you receiue no bribes of the rich ? gri. because i would not sell breath for money ; and i had more care of my conscience , then their coine . ga. well spoken , a signe of a gratious spirit . and since a good conscience , is better then a golden castell , you did better to séeke a quiet life with a meane gaine , then to charge your conscience with a heape of treasure . but since the studie of the law is both tedious & costly , i hold a good pleader worthie his foe , and a reuerent iudge worthy his honor , without whose great care and trauaile , the common wealth would hardly be kept in good order : and therefore i will leaue further to talke of your law-courses , and intreat you to tell me how you fared with the farme ? gri. oh very well : as long as my purse was my friend , i had horses , bullocks , cowes , shéepe and corne , and companie enough to helpe me to spend more then i got : yet would i not mingle the fusty , ouer-growne corne , with the swéet and good . i would not sell an old shéepe for a lambe , nor an old cowe for a yong heiffor i would not forestall any markets , take any house ouer a tennants head : sell rotten trées for good timber , raise the price of graine nor of cattell , nor defraud the labourer of his hyre : but when my cattle dyed , my fruit was blasted , and my purse grew so bare , that great rents would not be paide with faire words : two or thrée yeares brought me so downe the winde , that i could neuer looke vp more to the welkin : and so in briefe , selling all that i had , hauing no charge of wife , nor children , i tooke that litle that remained after the discharge of my debts , & going into some strange place where i was not knowen , i meant to séeke my fortune , in the seruice of some such noble or honest gentleman , as would in his discretion , regard the care of my duty . ga. why , haue you euer serued ? gri. yes a while , but i haue obserued the carriage of diuerse , and not the worst wits in their places that haue serued : which , if it were my happe to come into , i would vtterly auoide . ga. i pray you tell mee some of your notes , for by your iudgement in that you haue rehearsed , i can beléeue nothing in you to be idle . gri. i thanke you sir , for your good opinion of me , but howsoeuer i prooue , i will satisfie your request . when i came into a house where i saw diuersity of seruants , and euery one make a gaine in his place : i began to cast mine eies about me , when i might sée one carrie a ring in his mouth , & it made not his téeth bléed . i heard an other claw a back , as though he would leaue no flesh on the bones : an other playe so on both hands , as if he had put downe a cunning iugler : an other playing at bo-peepe , with the eies of his mistresse : an other following iudas , in betraying his maister , and yet not one of these but made a gaine of his villanie . ga. as how i pray you ? if at least you can tell mee , and first for the king-carrier ? gri. why , when no man would challenge the stone , he should haue the gold for his labour . ga. well couched ; now , for the next : to the claw-backe , what got hee by his trade ? gri. some-what more then a lowse , when he met with a suit of satten . gan. well saide , now to the third : the ambodxeter , he that plaies an both hands ? gri. sir , iacke of both sides , got a cloke of his master , and a shirt of his mistres , when he did fit her humor , & serue his turne . gan. well hit , but , to the fourth now : wagge-wanton with his mistresse . gri. oh , hee gate his masters loue through her commendation , and her comfort through his owne diligence . ga. a necessarie seruant , it is a signe he was not idle , when he was so well occupyed . gri. exercised , you would haue said , sir i thinke at least . ga. oh you saie well : but nothing is ill-spoken that is not ill-taken . but , now to the last , the iudas , what gained he ? gri. that , which of all i praie god kéep me from . ga. why man , what was it ? gri. why sir , the gallowes , if not hell . but it is a shrewde presumption : for treason is surely the very high-waie to hell . ga. well said : then if thou wert well entertained , with a good maister , thou wouldest neither carrie a ring , clawe a backe , plaie on both hands , be no wagge-wanton , with thy mistresse , nor iudas with thy maister ? gri. no indéede sir , i would be none of these . ga. what would you then doe , or can you do , if vpon my good liking , of your behauiour , i should procure your preferment ? gri. sir , i can do many things , more thē i meane to boast of , and when i know of what title , either for honor or honesty , my maister or mistres may be , i will then tell you , how i can fit my seruice to their contentment . ga. well then , saie he were a yong lord , and i would preferre you to attend him in his chamber . gri. i would neuer be without a brush for his apparrell : i would sée his chamber neatly kept , his bed soft and finely made , his linnen cleane washed , and his chestes fast locked : i would be humble in my behauiour , and ciuill in my demeanour , go discréetly on a message , bring him word of his mistresse health , and his cosins good rest : and what time of the daie it is , &c. ga. well put off , but saie it were a fine gentlewoman , that i would put you to ? gri , oh , i would be full of curtesse , hold her glasse stedie , bring her painting vnséene , and her perriwig vncrushed : haue her taylour at a becke , runne quickly for her errand , now and then tel her a merrie tale : and once in fauour , neuer loose it againe i warrant you . ga. but will you not commend her fauorite . gri. no , i hate that vile basenes , or rather , base villanie , to make my tongue an enemie to my hart : i would rather leaue her to séeke a seruant , then i would be found in such a seruice . ga. well said : but saie that it were to a meaner person , i should put thée , i cannot saie , prefer thée to : as for example : let me saie it be some honest man of trade or traffique , or so forth ; how could you behaue your selfe , that i might hope of your credite ? gri. why sir , i would kéepe his booke of account , cast vp by his reckoning● once in foure and twēty houres , looke wel vnto his shoppe , learne the price of his wares , aske what lacke you of passers bye , vse his chap-men kindely , and euery one with courtesie : so that i would get more with good words , then some other should do with good ware . in briefe , i would be an honest man , and that is worth all . gan. good all that i yet heare : & if there be no worse matter in you , then i haue yet heard from you , nor hope to finde in you , i do not greatly care , if your case be desperate , that for lacke of entertainment , to saue the charge of an empty purse , you would venture vpon a bad maister rather then none , i le trie a litle what you can doe about my house : base actions , as filling the dung-cart , going to plough , kéeping of hogs , or washing of buckes , swéeping the houses , or making cleane shooes : these offices , i haue in my house ; boyes and girles enough , fit for the purpose . but to ouer-sée my family , to instruct my children , to be steward of my courts , kéeper of my parke , ranger of my forrest , and now and then to wait on my wife : one of these offices , if any be void , i care not if i place thée in , so that in thy good carriage , thou doest not deceiue my expectation ? gri. . sir , not to trouble you with idle ceremonies , trye me , and trust me : either you or your ladie . ga. you saie well : but by the waie , because it is aboue thrée miles to my house , and good talke passeth the time well away , let me entreat you to tell mee some-what of your fortunes in your crosse courses ; if , at least , they be not such , as you will in modestie conceale , or are not willing to call in memorie . gri. no sir , i feare not to satisfie your desire , either in respect of my follie or my fortune . for the first is excusable in youth , and the other is her selfe in all ages : and therefore let me tell you , thus it was : in my young and litle better then childish yeares , my father hauing put me to schoole , to a more furious then wise schoole-master , who by the helpe of his usher ( a better scholler then himself , ) brought vp a fewe good wits , to better vnderstanding then his owne : i hauing learn'd to spell and put together , to construe , and parce , to write my letters and to ioyne , and to make my mistresse pistles , when my maister was from home : it fell out i know not how , that he , being a man very vigilant in all his courses ; and séeing my mistresse beautie able to make a good scholler forget his lesson , imagining by his studie in astronomie , that the signe of his fortune , stood too straight vpon capricorne , meaning to crosse the fates in their powers , founde a meanes to remooue all his boorders from his house , in regarde of a meigrum in his head , which was much troubled by the noise of our pu-rulines . now i , as litle guiltie , as any of the cause of his follie , was yet among my fellowes banished his house , and shortly after , sent home to our friendes . where hauing idled it so long , that bookes were enemies to our delights , i like a good wagge among other , séeing one daie a gallant knight come home to my fathers house , finding my spirite not so dull as to dwell alwaies in one place : made all the meanes i could to preferre my selfe into his seruice . which , with my mothers entreatie , my father brought to passe : preferred i was to this gallant , and from a scholler must turne page ; when , if i should tell you the tenth part of the waggeries , that i passed thorough , i should breake mine oathe on the pantable , call olde trickes in question , and perhaps , wrong some that were my fellowes then , who would bee loath to heare of it nowe : yet will i not be so sparing of my spéech , but that i dare tell you one merrie parte , that i and my good fellowes plaide , that perhaps is worth the laughing at . gan. i pray you do . gri. i will tell you : thus it was . i being in my youth reasonably well-fauoured , of a pure complexion , and of a reasonable good stature , and hauing wit enough , vpon a litle warning to plaie the wagge in the right vaine : it was my happe among other my fellow-pages , to take knowledge , of a certaine gallant in our court , a man of no great worth any waie , and yet , a sufficient blocke for frogges to leape vppon : his yeeres about some twentie two , or there abouts , his complexion , sea , cole-sanguine , a most wicked face , and a wit correspondent : to be short , for that ill faces make no pleasant descriptions , let it suffice , that hee was euery waie a verie filthie fellow : and yet , hauing better clothes then he was worthy to weare , and more money then he could wisely vse : this lob-lollie , with slauering lips , would be making loue , and that not onely to one , but euerie daie one : & though he were scarse welcome to any , yet would be blush at no disgrace . this yonker had we founde out , and hearing of his disposition , we fitted his humor , one of vs would borrow a ladies cōmendations , to get an angell withall , for a message : an other get a nose-gaie or a baie leafe , and bring from his mistresse , which came vp with fiue , with a french crowne : an other or two of vs , haunt him at dinner , and with a song or a galliard , nibble on his purse for a piece of gold : an other of vs , somewhat towards the man , and in a manner past a page , would fall in hand with him for a rest or two , till which , some secrete tricks of our owne setting , we could diue into a few crowns worth the taking vp . now when we had fedde vpon him so long , that we feared it would come out : we deuised to laie a plot to be-foole him to the full . we had among vs one fine boie , ( i will not saie , my selfe , whose feature and beauty made him an amiable creature . ) this youth , we had agréed among our selues , to make a meanes , by which , to catch this wood-cocke in a fine spring : which , in few daies after , wee enacted , as i will tell you : we got apparrell of a gentle-woman , ( a waiting woman of a ladie ) of whom , hauing acquainted her with our intended sport , wee borrowed manie things fit for our purpose . this boye ( being now a supposed wenche ) we caused to take a lodging right ouer against this wizards hospitall : where , out of his window , beholding this beautifull obiect , his eies were no sooner lymed with blindnesse , but , his heart was so set on fire with folly , that there was no wais to quench it , but the fauour of this imagined faire ladie , gentle-woman , or mistresse , what you will. now , we that dailie vsed , ( more for our comfort , then his commoditie ) to visite him , no sooner in his chamber hauing gotten a view of her , but wee fell with admiration to commende her beyond the moone for an excellent creature : oh , what an eie ? what a lippe ? what a fore-head ? what a chéeke ? what a harie ? what a hand ? what a bodie ? for further , at the window we could not sée : thus by litle and litle , we brought him halfe madde before , with conceite , ready to hang himselfe for loue . and now must those litle wits he had , go to worke , to shew his folly . now wee must get him a poet , to make him verses in her commendation , a scholler to write his loue-letters , musique to play vnder her window , and gloues , scarfes , and fannes to bee sent for presents , which might be as it were fore-speakers for his entertainment : and thus , when we had fitted him for all turnes , wee got him such fauorable accesse , vpon promise of no dishonorable attempt , that where before he was but ouer-shooes , he was nowe ouer-head-and-eares for an asse . for now began he to thinke well of him selfe , and that he should carrie the bellawaie for beautie ; when hee should indéede carrie awaie the bable for follie . well thus , hauing a fewe daies played with his nose , & hauing agréed with thē of the house to séeme ignorant of her name and cuntrie : but that she was a suitor at the court : they knew not wherefore , when , in pittie , to pull the poore foole too lowe on his knées : with holding him off too long from his off or on : we deuised one night that he should be at great cost with a supper in her lodging , and there should be certaine gentle-women , to accompanie her & that should offer her what kindnesse might lie in their powers in the court. these we brought , as wee made him beléeue , to let them sée his fauour , and good regarde with this rare creature , but came indéed onely with a forced modestie , to conceale a laughing at this cockes-combe : not to dwell too long vpon circumstances , the supper was prouided , the guestes bidden , the musique in tune , the gentleman welcome , and the boye plaide his part in the q. hee had the kisse of the hand , vowes and protestations , gifts and presents , and what not , that might be witnesse of his folly ? now a little before supper vnderstanding ( by the imagined wench , ) that she was the next morning to go out of towne , after solemne promise to bring her on her waie ( kindly accepted on her part ) to supper they went : where there were so many healths drunk to his mistrisse , that with as much a doe as might be drunken to saue his credite , hee tooke his leaue till morning , and so got him home to his lodging : where , hauing scarce , power to stand on his féet , he fell downe on his bedde , where with the helpe of a litle tricke that was put in a cuppe of wine , he slept till next daie noone , when like a great beare , grunting and blowing , hee goeth to the window , where missing his former object ( who was now turned page againe ) ashamed of his breach of promise , got him to bed againe : where , keeping his chamber for a daie or two , and then comming into the court , séeing some of his fauours worne by one of the pages , the boye that plaide the wagge with him , ashamed to demand them , and fearing his folly to be knowen in the court : suddenly turned clown , & with a sighing song , to the tune of , wela-day , wel-adaie , got him in y e cuntrie , where wee neuer heard more of him . now sir , was not this a prettie iest , & wel handled ? ga. yea for wagges : i know since my selfe was a page , a number of such waggeries . but yet , i thanke you for this merrie tale , it hath lasted a good while . but now tell mee when you had past the page , in your next course , what merrie conceit can you remember , that maie last an other mile ? that i may thanke you for it . gri. i will sir , since you take this so well : the next course i fell into was armes : and there i remember in a towne of garrison , where i was in paie , the gouernour a man whome some ill fortune without desart , had throwen vpon an unworthy honour , bring of himselfe so tymerous of nature , as that a base note of a sagbutte would haue made him start , as if he had heard the report of a piece of ordinance . this wicked creature , by the meanes of his sister ( a minion of our generals ) gotten into this place : where , though it were farre enough from the enemie , yet , for that ( if the skie fall , wee mase haue larkes ; and so , if the souldiers were wearie of their liues , they might come thither for a hanging : for , except wee would fall out among our selues , there was no feare of any thing but sparrow-blasting ; and yet here i know not what cause more then to skarre flyes , ) wee held a strong garrison : for the gouernour being better mooued , then otherwise minded , fearing some two-legged rats , should breake into the mouthes of his bags , did not onely enuyron his feare ( for he was compounded all of litle better matter ) within some seauen walles without his castle , beside ditches of no litle breadth and déepnesse : and within , some seauentéene double and treble walles within the house : where , ( as close as a flea in a flockebed ) he kept himselfe warme from the cold winde . now , in this close cabin , ( as he vsed much to conteine himself , in casting vp of his accounts ) one night , after the receipt of money for the paye of the souldiers , locking up his bags in cheffes of iron and then laying vp the keyes vnder his beds head , trusting none to lye in his chamber , but a sonne of his owne , who was too young to be a thiefe , and yet by outward appearance séemed to be weary of the father : with this sonne , a page as it was said , ( a bastard of his by a beggar ) to whom he gaue but sire pence for a daies worke : with these two ( in a touch by his beds side ) to bedde gueth his base worship , and there , hauing made a reasonable supper tooke indifferent rest . but , after his first sléepe ( which was but a kinde of starting slumber ) he fell into a dreame : all of warres , discharging of ordinance , fyring of houses , and crye of people : in which , not a litle amazed or frighted , he started out of his bed , with crying out arme , arme. the watch ( or rather the guarde ) hearing this suddaine noyse , fearing some great rat had bitten their capitaine by the nose , ( where there was a rich breakfast for a dozen of leane mise : ) upon the suddaine brake in with , now now my lord ? well quoth he , with a hah , as though his foote being in the chamber pot , he had bene afraid of drowning : but as a man in such a maze might some-what come to himselfe , brake into this spéech . my maisters and friends , there is no inexpected great matter of importance , but , vnto carefull spirits are reuealed in their sléepes , that by the prouidence of gods discretion , they may be preuented . this towne is a place of great regard with our generall , the carefull gouernment thereof is committed vnto my honestie : i would be loath to sée the perishing of so many soules , and the secke of so manie houses , as by lacke of care may fall out , if it be not the better looked vnto : now , what stratagems are in band we know not : the enemie is subtill and strong , wee cannot be too warie of a mischiefe , you know : had-i-wist is a foole in all courses , and i would bee loath to loose my credite , in slacking my care in the charge committed vnto me : to be short , i was this night much troubled in my sléepe with sharpe warres , fyring of houses , the report of the canon , and great crie of the people : and the vision , as it was very dreadfull , so it continued long , and therefore being perswaded , that it giueth me warning of some mischiefe intended against this towne , so would i bee glad in what i may to preuent it ; and therfore call hither the capitaine of the watch vnto mee . this , when hee had stammeringly in a pitifull feare brought out , with a palsey-shaking-hand , hauing buttoned vp his doublet , called for his armour ( which all of musket proofe he put on , with al the hast y t might be ) and being furnished to méete with a whole swarme of flies , ( with his double guard ) out he goes and méetes the capitaine in his hall : where , the winde blowing high , and making a noyse in the house , he staied & asked him , harke quoth he , doe you not heare the noyse of some shot ? oh no , sir quoth he , it is the winde in the chimney . oh , is it so said he , then good enough . but let me tel you , i haue had a shrewde dreame to night : and therefore am willing to walke the round , to sée how the souldiers kéepe watch . my lord , quoth the capitaine , you shall néed to doubt nothing vpon my life i warrant you . it is now towards daie , and the watch is vpon discharge ; i praie you kéepe your chamber , and take your rest . well , quoth he , if it be so , i know you carefull and honest , and i will leaue all to your charge , till i come abroad : and so leauing the capitaine , retires himselfe into his chamber : where , kéeping on his armour , here sets him downe in a chaire , and there not trusting his bed any longer for that time , hauing taken a nappe or two ; the watch vpon their discharge , gaue the capitaine a volley of shot ; the noyse whereof awaking this gallant man of two armes : doe , quoth he , to the guard , one of ye know , what shot is this ? who bringing him word of the discharge of the watch , he was a litle at quiet . but the daie being a saints daie , when vsually the countrie people used to make such pastime , as fitted the condition of their humors : some-what early from a wood vnder a hill , which fronted the towne , and there with drummes and fifes ( and a few loose shot ) came toward the towne , to make the gouernour merrie , with a maie-game and a morris . now such a wagge as my selfe minding to make my selfe and some of my friends merrie with a iest , hauing intelligence of the same the night before , yet seeming ignorant thereof , came into the towne , with arme , arme , for the enemie is at hande . this crie being brought to the gouernour , ( he in a colde sweat , what with feare , and the weight of his armour ) called presently for his captaines , gaue euery one their charge what to doe : which done , prouiding as well as hee might for one : barricadod all his gates without , and all his doores within : and in the midst of a loue-roome , within a wall of twentie yeardes thicke of stone , barricadod himselfe within a great wall of earth , which was made for a fornace to caste mettell in for ordinance : there , ouer-head and eares in feare sits he with his two pages . the doore fast locked to him , till anone , the people being come in with their merrie shew : went a messenger from the capitaine of the watch , to entreat his lordship to bee partaker of the pastime , and to entreat the people with some kindnesse . the messenger being come to the doore and let in , before he could deliuer his message : well quoth hee , ( imagining the enemies before the walles ) what is the parlée that he offereth thée ? parley my lord , quoth the messenger , it is a pastime : there is no enemie , all friends : your poore neighbours are come to make you merrie with a morris-daunce , and a maie-game . yea , quoth he , is it none other ? and with looking in his purse , and giuing him iust nothing : it is well ; staie awhile , boie , giue me my sword and my target , that my neighbours shall sée how readie i was to méete the enemie vpon the least alarum . and with these wordes , causing the trumpet to sound a merrie dote for ioye of the deliuerance of his feare : out he comes among them , and like an asse ( as euer man was ) shewes himselfe . after , a litle gratulation ( leauing them in their sports ) got him againe into his lodging , and there calling for his breakfast , put off his armour , and went to bed againe : where , let him lye till i raise him . ga. is it possible that there is such a 〈◊〉 in the world ? gri. yes , and they wonder al that know him how hee should come to haue charge of men , that would be afraide of a shaddow , and be gouernour of a towne that would runne into a bench hole . but the iest was in the maie-game : ( if you had séene it ) for they had made a lord and a ladie : and the foole was like him as one could be like an other . but it was but a tale , and therefore i will not trouble you any further with it . ga. gramercy hartely , thou art as good as thy word , it is a merrie tale and well tolde . but if i may not trouble thée too much let me heare one more , that you light on in your next course . ga. with a good will sir. the next was , ( as i saide before ) after i left the warres , i fell againe to my booke , and studied the law , where i heard a pretty iest betwixt a lawyer and two clyents , but it was but short . ga. no matter : short or long , i will thanke thée for it , and therefore i praie thée out with it . gri. why sir , then thus it was : there were two countrie men rich farmers , fat in purses : ( how leane soeuer in the face ) these two , hauing in some twenty yeares or moe ( with kéeping of bare houses , and wearing of bad cloathes , selling of wheate , and spending of rie , ) scraped together more money then manie better men : it fell out , that ( about or a litle after mowing-time ) these two dwelling néere together , and ( as it seemed ) each one of them nigh enough vnto himselfe : fell at controuersie about a hey-cock , the value whereof ( by the iudgement of the parson , and the constable , and other of the auncients of the parish ) could not amount to aboue two and twentie-pence : yet such being the stubbornesse of both their stomackes , that no meanes would be made to bring them to agréement : to lawe they would for the tryall of their right . and now the angels that had bene long lyen in their chestes , must vse their winges for the accomplishing of their willes . counsellours were retayned , attorneyes were féede , and soliciters were not forgotten : daies of hearing delayed , demurres , and iniunctions , ( and i know not what diuises were vsed ) from one court to another to kéepe them in their courses so long , till in the ende the iudge ( of more conscience then the pleader ) noting the long-time of their sute , the nature of their controuersie , and the substance of the matter , when he had heard all that could be said on either side , made this open speech in the whole court. yee two ( maisters ) that haue made a long haruest of a little torne , and haue spent a great deale of money about a litle matter : the cause being such , as is more to be laughed at , then lamented , let me tell you a litle short tale , and so i will haue done with you . there were on a time , two men went a fishing for oysters vpon the sands at a low ebbe : the one was blinde , and the other lame : the blinde-man carried the lame-man : so when they had gone a litle waie , they found an oyster , which the lame-man espied , and shewed the blind-man , with guiding of his hand to take it vp . when he had taken it vp , the lame-man challenged it to be his , because he first saw it : the blinde-man would haue it , because he had taken it out of the sandes : thus arguing the case , in conscience who should haue it , there méetes them a lawyer , who , hearing the controuersie betwixt them , made this short ende betwixt them . giue me , quoth he the oyster , which , when he had gotten into his hands , he picked out the fish and gaue each of them a shell , and went his waie . so you two , hauing made the lawyers rich with your wilfulues , may repent ye of your follies , & go home & agrée together like neighbours , & keep your money in your purses : for i am wearie to heare more of it . the men ashamed of their follies , fulfilled his commandement : went home , cashéerd their counsaile , let fall their actions , went home & liued like honest good fellowes . now how like you of this for a lawyers iest ? ga. i will serue to warne a wise man how hee plays the foole with his purse . but one more of your next course and then i will trouble you no more . gri. well sir , i will satisfie your request : the next course was the farmer , in which time , i remember a prettie iest , which , if you haue not heard before , will surely make you laugh : but howsoeuer it be , i will tell it you , and thus it was . a neighbour of mine , in good case to liue , though not verie wealthie , and yet such a one as with his formality on a hollidaie at church , would haue bene taken for the hedborough of the parish . this honest substantiall man , drawing one daie a mill-poole , among other fish , lighted on a verie great eele : which , hauing got on lande , hee brought into his house , and put it with small eeles into a cesterne , where , féeding of it euery morning and euening , hee made ( as it were ) an idoll of it . for , there passed not a daie wherein hee had not that care of his eele , that it séemed , that hee had not of greater and better matters . this eele , being taken about candelmas ( hee meant to kéepe and féede till lent following ) when hee meant to present him to his land-lord , for a great gratulation : in the meane-time , hee neuer went out of doores without giuing warning to his wife and his seruants , to looke wel to his eele . when he came in , how doth mine eele ? when were you with mine eele ? who looked to mine eele ? i charge you looke well to mine eele . now his wife , a iollie stout dame , who made more reckoning of honestie , then either beautie or wisdome ( for she was troubled with neither ) had in her house a young pie : ( which we call a magot-a-pie ) this bird , hauing bin hatched in a neste hard vnder her chamber window , she chaunced to take into her education : and being one that loued to heare a tongue wagge ; either her owne , her gossips , her maides , or her pyes : for if one were still , the other must be walking : and when they were all vpon the going , there was no still-piece of musique : it fell out that this good-wife , ( not a little displeased at her goose-mans folly ) in such so much rare ouer the fish , that the flesh was but a litle set by : one daie ; ( when her asseband was gone forth ) sitting with her maid at the wheele : ( so full at her heart , that yet her tongue would haue swelled , if it had not broke out at her mouth , began thus to fall in hande with her maid-seruant . ) i dare not depose for her uirginitie , but , as i said , her maid : she fell thus to breake her minde vnto . wench quoth the , doest thou not sée what a sturre thy maister keepes with a scuruy eele ? in good earnest a litle thing would make me take her out of the cesterne , and put her in a pye , or eate her some waie or other : for better haue one chiding for all , then haue such a doo as we haue about her . in truth mistresse , quoth she , ( as one whose mouth hung verie fitting for such a piece of meate ) if it please you , i will quickly ridde you of this trouble . my maister is ridde to your landlords , and there i know he will tarie to night : if it please you , i will fetch her out of the cesterne , and kill her , and flea her , and put her in a pye , and you may dispatch her ere he come home ; or saue a piece for him when he is quiet after his chiding . content wench quoth she , i pray thee dispatch her quickly : i warrant you , quoth shee , for sooth with a 〈◊〉 . thus was the eeles death approching , and the matter thoroughly enacted . now the pye being made and baked , and set on the table , and betwixt the maide and her dame ( or mistresse ) brought to such a passe , that there was very little left for her master . the magot-a-pye like a vyle bird ( that would kéepe no counsaile , but duely would use her tongue , to talke of all that she saw or heard ) no sooner saw the good-man come into the house , ( but as shee was taught to speake ) began with welcome home maister : ( and then more then she was taught , she fell to pratle ) noh maister , my dame hath eaten the eele : my dame hath eaten the eele : my dame hath eaten the great eele . the goodman remembring his fish , began now to aske his wife , now doth mine eele ? what meanes the bird , to talke thus of eating the great eele tush husband , quoth she , warme you i pray you , and goe to bed . it is cold and late , talke of your eele to morrow : no quoth he , i will not goe to bed , till i haue séene mine eele : and there within a bodily feare of that which was fallen out , goes to the cesterne , and there finding his eele gonne , comes in againe , as dead at hart as a stocke-fish , ( and yet resolued to brawle out of reason ) comes out : why hoh ( the good-wife ready to burst with laughing , and yet kéeping it in with a fayned sigh ) sits downe in a chaire , and hangs the head , as though she had had the mother : the maid hauing wit enough , ( to make a foole of a tame-goose , ) méetes her maister , and catching him in her armes : cries out , but softly maister , be a man , and mooue not all . my dame you know loues you well , and it may be she breedes , and bring you a boye worth twenty bushels of eeles : saie she had a minde to it , and hath eaten it : if you should séeme to chide for it , it may be a meane to cast her awaie , and that she goes with : and therfore saie nothing of it , let it goe . for indéed it is gone : saist thou so my girle , quoth hee , i thanke thee : hold thée , there is a letter for thée , for thy good counsaile , i warrant thée all shall be well . then in a goes to his wife , & findes her in her chaire sitting as if were heauily : comes to her and takes her by the hand , with how now wife ? be of good chéere , and take no thought , much good doe thy hart with her , take the rest that are left , if thou haue a minde to them i pray thée . with this , she ( as it were awaked out of a trance ) said , i thanke you good husband , and so after a few home-complaints , to bed they went , where they agréed so well , that the next morning hee had his part ( though it were the least ) of that was left , and glad of it to , and so without more adoe , goes about his busines . but no sooner was he out of doores , but the mistresse and the maid , went to the bird the pye , and taking her out of the cage , plucked all the feathers off from her head , and left her as bare as a balde coote , which in the cold winter was very vncomfortable : which done , she was put into the cage againe , with these wordes , tell tales againe of the eele , doe : now about dinner-time , comes in againe the goodman , and brings in with him a neighbour of his , with a good face , but a balde head , that he had almost no haire on it . now the pye being let out of the cage , no sooner sées this man put off his hat , but she skips on his shoulder and sayes : oh , your head hath bene puld aswell as mine , for telling of tales . you haue told my maister , how my dame eate the great eele : ( and so she would do to any that shee saw bald , that came into the house . ) and was not this a merrie iest of the pye and an eele ? ga. i thinke i haue heard it long agoe , but not as thou hast told it : and therefore as it is , i thanke thée for it . and now since it is not farre to the towne , i pray thée let me trie a litle of thy wit , in the aunswers of a few questions that i will put vnto thée ? gri. with all my heart sir , i am for you at this time . ga. i pray thée , who was the happiest man that euer thou knewest ? gri. my lord gouernours foole. ga. and why ? gri. because his maister fauours him , and none dare hurt him : hee fares well , and sléepes well , weares good cloathes , and takes no paines . ga. countest thou this a happines ? gri. for a lazie spirit , but not for my selfe . ga. why , how wouldest thou be happie ? gri. in a feeling of gods grace , in sufficiency of abilitie , to liue without borrowing : in wit , to discerne iustly : in conscience , to deale truly : in an honest kinde wife , gratious children , honest seruants , faithfull friendes , and quiet neighbours : neither disire of life , nor feare of death , but a scorne of the one , and contented minde in the other . ga. well said : but all this while , i heare thee speake of no maister . gri. oh no sir , for to a frée spirit , there is no greater miserie then bondage : and yet , a kinde maister , is a kinde of father : where loue breeding obedience , maketh a seruant like a sonne . ga. and what sayest thou of a kinde mistresse ? gri. with a kinde maister , they are the harts comforter , and they are like vnto a paire of gloues , that fitte both hands . ga. but couldest thou please both ? gri. if i know both . gan then let me put thee in comfort , of me thou shalt haue rather a father then a friend to nourish thy good spirite & of my wife , rather a sister then a mistresse to make much of thee for my sake . gr. i thanke you sir , and for the good i see in you , and the good i hope of you , i will trie my fortune with you . ga. and do not thinke it shall be the worst . come on , you shall goe to the towne , and there dine with mee , and so home . gri. i will attend you . finis . a diuine poeme diuided into two partes: the rauisht soule, and the blessed vveeper. compiled by nicholas breton, gentle-man. breton, nicholas, ?- ? approx. kb of xml-encoded text transcribed from -bit group-iv tiff page images. text creation partnership, ann arbor, mi ; oxford (uk) : - (eebo-tcp phase ). a stc estc s this keyboarded and encoded edition of 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(eebo-tcp ; phase , no. a ) transcribed from: (early english books online ; image set ) images scanned from microfilm: (early english books, - ; : ) a diuine poeme diuided into two partes: the rauisht soule, and the blessed vveeper. compiled by nicholas breton, gentle-man. breton, nicholas, ?- ? [ ] p. [by r. bradock], for iohn browne, and iohn deane, imprinted at london : . in verse. printer's name from stc. signatures: a-f⁴. reproduction of the original in the henry e. huntington library and art gallery. created by converting tcp files to tei p using tcp tei.xsl, tei @ oxford. re-processed by university of nebraska-lincoln and northwestern, with changes to facilitate morpho-syntactic tagging. gap elements of known extent have been transformed into placeholder characters or elements to simplify the filling in of gaps by user contributors. eebo-tcp is a partnership between the universities of michigan and oxford and the publisher proquest to create accurately transcribed and encoded texts based on the image sets published by proquest via their early english books online (eebo) database (http://eebo.chadwyck.com). the general aim of eebo-tcp is to encode one copy (usually the first edition) of every monographic english-language title published between and available in eebo. eebo-tcp aimed to produce large quantities of textual data within the usual project restraints of time and funding, and therefore chose to create diplomatic transcriptions (as opposed to critical editions) with light-touch, mainly structural encoding based on the text encoding initiative (http://www.tei-c.org). the eebo-tcp project was divided into two phases. the , texts created during phase of the project have been released into the public domain as of january . anyone can now take and use these texts for their own purposes, but we respectfully request that due credit and attribution is given to their original source. users should be aware of the process of creating the tcp texts, and therefore of any assumptions that can be made about the data. text selection was based on the new cambridge bibliography of english literature (ncbel). if an author (or for an anonymous work, the title) appears in ncbel, then their works are eligible for inclusion. selection was intended to range over a wide variety of subject areas, to reflect the true nature of the print record of the period. in general, first editions of a works in english were prioritized, although there are a number of works in other languages, notably latin and welsh, included and sometimes a second or later edition of a work was chosen if there was a compelling reason to do so. image sets were sent to external keying companies for transcription and basic encoding. quality assurance was then carried out by editorial teams in oxford and michigan. % (or pages, whichever is the greater) of each text was proofread for accuracy and those which did not meet qa standards were returned to the keyers to be redone. after proofreading, the encoding was enhanced and/or corrected and characters marked as illegible were corrected where possible up to a limit of instances per text. any remaining illegibles were encoded as <gap>s. understanding these processes should make clear that, while the overall quality of tcp data is very good, some errors will remain and some readable characters will be marked as illegible. users should bear in mind that in all likelihood such instances will never have been looked at by a tcp editor. the texts were encoded and linked to page images in accordance with level of the tei in libraries guidelines. copies of the texts have been issued variously as sgml (tcp schema; ascii text with mnemonic sdata character entities); displayable xml (tcp schema; characters represented either as utf- unicode or text strings within braces); or lossless xml (tei p , characters represented either as utf- unicode or tei g elements). keying and markup guidelines are available at the text creation partnership web site . eng - tcp assigned for keying and markup - spi global keyed and coded from proquest page images - jonathan blaney sampled and proofread - jonathan blaney text and markup reviewed and edited - pfs batch review (qc) and xml conversion a diuine poeme diuided into two partes : the rauisht soule , and the blessed vveeper . compiled by nicholas breton ▪ gentle-man ▪ imprínted at london , for iohn browne , and iohn d●●ne . . ❧ to the ri●ht honourable , discreete , and vertuous lady , the nourisher of the learned , and fauourer of the godly : my singuler good lady , the lady mary , countesse of penbrooke : nich : breton wisheth all the good , that the heauens will & the world can giue , to the pleasure of the highest , and her worthy heartes desire . right honorable , matter of most worth , to most worthy mindes , is most worthily presented . what matter , in worth may compare with diuine meditation ? what minde more worthy honour , then the heauenly enclined ? and whose minde more truly worthy of that blessed title , then your ladiships , i would there were many ; but i know too fewe . being th●n , in that excellent sense , truly your selfe , whom ( for more worth , then i will speake of ) the wise admire , the learned followe , the vertuous loue , and the honest serue ; vouchsafe me leaue among those poore people , that being throwen from the world , looke only towards heauen & heauenly graces , to lay before your eyes a diuine humour of a rauisht soule : which ( being aboue it selfe caried into the heauenly meditations of the mercies of the almightie ) by the blessing of his holy spirit , hath brought forth such fruits of his praise , as i hope wil be pleasing to your good fauour . to the honour of whose commaundement auowing the duty of my hearts seruice , in al humble thāk●●lnesse for your bountifull vndeserued goodnesse , praying for your eternall happinesse , i take my leaue . your ladiships , in all humblenesse , nicholas breton . to the reader . yov , that with a zealous loue of religion , with an indifferent regard of learning , and without disdaine of poetry , will vouchsafe to bestow a little time , in the perusing of this little volume of verses ; it may be , you wil not repent you of your labour , nor thinke much of your cost , but when you haue once read it ouer , perhaps beginne it againe , and ende it without wearinesse . if you note it well , you may finde matter of comforte , and nothing to the contrarie : god truely glorified , in his manifould blessinges : and man greatly blessed , that being endued with his graces , by faithe taketh hould of his mercies : the athists confounded in their follies : and the vertuous blessed in their election . this if you finde not , blame either your selfe , or me : but if you note what i write , much good doe you in the reading , and god encrease you in his blessing . and so in the best nature of loue , leauing you to the ioy of the best life , i end ▪ your frend , nicholas breton . in auctorem . two hopefull twinnes , ●oynt issues of one braine , a ●auisht soule , and longing spirit sends , into your bosomes high and heauenly traine , that are wits k●nsemen , and the muses friends . embrace them , loue them , and with iudgements view eye them . beleeue me , re●der , thou shalt finde their limmes well measur'd , and proportions t●u● . no part dissenting from their perfect kinde . onely the fashion sits not on their clothes , to make them sightly to fantasticke eyes . pallas , not venus , did the worke dispose , cutting their garments from angellickè skies . plaine is their habite , yet diuine and sweete . fit for the wise , but for the wisest meete . h. t. gent. the rauisht soule . gloria in excelsis deo. sing , my soule , to god thy lord , all in glories highest keye : laie the aungells quier aboorde : in their highest holy daie : craue their helps , to tune thy heart , vnto praises highest parte . tell the world , no wo●ld can tell what the hand of heauen deserueth : in whose onely mercies dwell , all that heauen and earth preserueth ; deaths confounding , sinnes forgiuing ; faiths relieuing , comforts liuing . grace , and glory , life , and loue be the su●me of all thy dittie ; where a sinners teare● may proue comforts ●oy in merci●s pitty : euery note in lou● alluding , endlesse glory in concluding ▪ prayse of prayses where thou dwelles● , tell me ( if the world may know thee ) in what sense thou most ●xcellest , when thy wonder worth doeth shew thee ▪ in that state of honours story , where thou gain'st thy highest glorie ▪ ●●s not earth , nor earthly wonder , can discerne thy dearest honour : all her praises are put vnder , when thy glory lookes vpon her . no● in heauen , thy glorie dwelleth ; where thy wonder most excelleth . yet in heauen was neuer liuing virgin , saint , nor angels spirit ; vvhere thy grace may haue the giuing of thine honours highest merite . t is their glories admiration , that deserues thy commendation . since then by all consequences , in the notes of glories nature , and the graces influences , t is no earth , nor heauenly creature ; in my god alone on high , is this onely mysterie . and since in his maiestie , all , and onely euer dwelleth that most glorious deity , that all prayses praise excelleth ; say , although thy soule attend him , it can neuer comprehend him . if thou speak'st of power , all powers to his power , are in subiection : if thou speak'st of time , all houres run their course by his direction : if of wisedome , all is vanitie ; but in his diuine humanitie . if of trueth , it is his triall : if of loue , it is his treasure : if of life , it is his diall : if of grace , it is his pleasure : if of goodnesse , t is his storie : if of mercy , t is his glorie . if of iustice , iudgement sheweth his proceeding is impartiall : if of valour , all hell knoweth who is heauens high marshall : if of bountie , t is his blessing : if of place , t is his possessing . if of pat●ence , his perfection : if of comfort , t is his fauour : if of vertue , his affection : if of sweete , it is his ●auour : if of triumph , t is his merite : if perfection , t is his spirit . if aboue all these thou singest , rauisht in thy reasons glory : tell the world , what ere thou bringest , admirations wonders story , to such height my sauiour raiseth , as aboue all praises prayseth . let all kings , and princes then ▪ in submission fall before him ; virgins , angels , holy men , both in heauen and earth adore him ▪ in his onely mercie seeing ▪ all , and onely all your being . babes and children , shew his glory , in your silly soules preseruing . men and women note this storie of the life of loues deseruing : heauen and earth be euer reading of this essence of exceeding . sunne , and moone , and euery creature , in that shining starrie skie , all confesse your brightnesse feature , in the hand of mercies eye : and for all your blessed powers , shew it gods , and none of yours . and when all the world together ioyne , with angels harmonie : let my soule come singing thither , with that blessed company ; god , in mercies power victorious , be aboue all glory glorious . amen . sacred muse , that onely sittest , in the spirits of the blessed : and the faithfull onely fittest , with their thoughts to heauen addressed ; helpe my humble soule to sing ▪ to my glorious heau'nly king. all abandon earths coniecture , thinke not on so meane an instance : make thine honours architecture , but on graces glorious substance : there , in comforts confirmation , build thy heauenly habitation . study not astronomy , least to darkenesse turne thy light : but tha● high diuinitie , where the day hath neuer night : there finde out that worke of worth , that may bring thy wonder forth . in the teares of true contrition , think on mercies blessednes : and in care of loues condition , of perfections holinesse : then , in notes of graces glory , make the state of all thy story . il christiano al honore di christo. before there was a light , there was a light , which saw the world , the world could neuer see ▪ from which the world receiues his brightest sight ; yet cannot see , what brightnesse there may be . from this faire light , there came a liuing loue ; a loue , which giues the liuing all their seeing : and in the life of all th●ir seeing prooue the onely essence of their onely being . from this bright loue , there came a liuing word : a word that doeth in wisedome signifie , what heauen and earth in wonder can afford , is , but in life this loue to dignifie . for in this word was that almightie power , which was before that power was euer named : begun before the first beginning houre , framing each substance that was euer framed . and in that word , that onely wisedome dwelleth , that onely knowes , what onely may be knowne : and in that knowle●ge , knowledge all excelleth ; because it knowes , all knowledge is his owne . this worthy word of wisedomes wonderment ( to giue some notice of his powerfull nature ) in wisedome , made his will an instrument , to shew himselfe , vnto his silly creature . this holy essence of the deitie , in virgins wombe did take the vaile of flesh : bringing the dewe of blessed charitie , our withring spirits sweetly to refresh ▪ this highest height of heauenly maiestie , this word of wisedomes , gracious , glorious loue , inuested in all vertues vnitie , that perfect god , and perfect man approue , from the sweet bosome of his fathers brest , eternall babe , of all eternall blisse ; all blessed babe , that made the mother ble●t , by that sweet blessed holy loue of his ▪ from the high throne of heau'nly glories seate , vnto this world , this worthlesse world descended , with their crosse spirits kindely to intreat for their owne good , that highly him offended . this blessed infant of eternitie , and onely glorious essence of the same , by the cleare light of his all-seeing eye , beholding all things , all , so out of frame , vnto his seruants , to make knowne his loue , and to redeeme what lacke of loue had lost , in tender age , and elder yeeres did prooue how patience care might be in passions crost . when first sweet infant in the mothers armes , fed with the milke of pure virginitie , how did he scape the tyrant herods harmes ? that little knew of his diuinitie . but , oh , when first his presence sweet appear'd , vnto the silly shepheards in the field : with how much ioy , were all their spirits chear'd , whose humble eyes his heauenly face beheld . while in the heauens the angels sung for ioy , that peace by him vnto the world was come : by him , who should both death and hell destroy , and be the sauiour of his chosen summe . the virgin mother ioyed in her childe ; and in her ioy did call her sonne her sauiour : whose gracious spirit in her countenance milde , did shew the blessing of her meeke behauiou● . oh blessed sonne , the fathers best belou'd , in whom , he all and onely did delight : how many wayes his workes in wonder proou'd : he held the scepter of his fathers right . in simplenesse , all harmelesse as the doue : in learning , putting all the doctours downe : in power , the hand of highest heau'ns behoue : in state , the king of kings in glories crowne . in patience , the true proofe of su●●erance : in truth , the touch-stone of all vertues trialll : in loue , director of lifes ordinance : in life , the hande of the eternall diall . in charitie , the giuer of all good : in bountie , the bestower of all blisse : in mercie , faithes eternall blessed food : in grace , the guide , that cannot leade amisse . in wisedome , founder of all wit and sense : in will , the worker of all wonders worth : in essence , all the summe of excellence : in all , that good , that bringes all glorie forth . this essence all incomprehensible , yet , willing in his mer●ies to be knowne ; that glorie might not be offensible , that in a shadowe onely should be showne , first , in the time of feeble infancie , when natures weaknesse fled a feared force : then , in the yeeres of reasons constancie ; when gratious mercie gloried in remorse , came to the worlde , to call the worlde to come , vnto his call , that had the heauens at call : healing the sicke , the blinde , lame , deafe , and dumme , and rais'd them vp , that readie were to fall . contented with the badge of pouertie ; who might commaund both heauen and earth at wil : lodg'd in a manger in humilitie : who in himselfe , both heauen and earth did fill . threatned with death , who was the life of life : sought to be slaine , who was the death of death : the ground of peace , yet with the world at strife : and suffred death , yet gaue the liuing breath . seeke heauen and earth , and finde out such another . so might command , and so would be commanded : who was our king , yet would become our brother : might strike all dumbe , and yet wold be demanded . vvould leaue such pleasure , and endure such paine , and , for their liues , that crucified his loue : vvith losse of life , to make their liuing gaine , that prooued turkies to their turtle-doue . vvho euer crau'd his help ? and was denied : vvho loued him so ? but left him at his death : vvho euer fail'd , whose faith on him relied ? yet , who for him would spare one fauours breath ? oh lord , what madnesse could be more in men ? then when they knew the trueth , to make a doubt ; and long in darkenesse , hauing light euen then , to blinde themselues , to put the candle out . and blessed women that his death bewailed , while hearts deepe griefe , found comforts high perfection : when passions teares so much with loue preuailed , as first to them reueal'd his resurrection . the mother wept , to see her sonne so vsed : the sinner wept , to see her sauiour dying : the cousin wept , to see her kin abused : all for his death fell to a deadly crying . the sunne eclipst , the day did loose his light ; and stones did rise against their makers foes : the temple rent , the people were affright , and from the graues the troubled spirits rose . all these were tokens of his holy trueth ; to make men know , how they were woe begon them : but gracelesse spirits , voyd of gracious ruth , ventred to take the guiltlesse blood vpo● them ▪ here then behold th● m●iestie of blisse , that pray'd for them , that pre●'d vpon him so : content with all might come to him amisse , so his with him might to their comfort goe . his life , the lantherne of eternall light : his death , the p●●●age ●o eternall rest : his grace , ●h●●●rke of the most blessed sight : his loue , the life of the eternall bl●st . his miracles , the witnesse of his power : his sacraments , remembrance of his loue : his resurrection , his triumphant houre : and his ascension , angels ioyes aboue . his trauaile , all , to bring our soules to rest : his prayer , for our preseruation : his worke , to ioy the spirits of the blest : his word the assured trueth of our s●●uation . his warre a fight , but onely for our peace : his peace , th● ioy , wherin our soules doe liue ▪ his woundes , the salue , that doth our woes release : his triumph , freely of his grace to giue . oh , should i runne into that world of worth , wherin his glory duely doth increas● : i should more wonder of most worth bring forth , then thought can reach , vntill all thinking cease . but , since true loue requi●ed with vnkindnesse , grace with disgrace , comfort with miserie : wisedome with folly , truth with falshoods blin●nes ▪ honour with shame , and right with iniury : since all the contraries of true content , that wit and reason , rightly maie receiue , his heauenly mercy , truely patient , all for our good , full meekely did receiue . and being gon from our vngratious handes , vnto the right hand of his fathers rest : there in his hourely intercession standes , for our remission making lo●es request . and by his worde , the message of his will , sent by the preachers of his prooued truthe , doth call our soules , from all accursed ill , vnto the good of gracious mercies ruth . and bids our faith , to feare no hurt of sinne , and leaues vs lessons in the ●●les of grace : vvhere true repentance doth remission winne , and humble faith doth finde in heauen a place . and lets vs see each day , and euerie night , a kinde of figure , both of heauen and hell : and how that sinnes doe alwaies fly the light , vvhile blessed graces doe in brightnes dwell : and howe the vertuous in the heauens are blessed , and how the vicious in their horrors hated : and howe the iust shall haue their wrongs redressed , and how the proude shall haue their pride abated . how charitie shall be in heauen rewarded : how patience care shall richly be contented : how bribrie shall be vtterly discarded , and tyrannie shall be in hell tormented . how humble faith shall be in heau'n beloued , and gracious spirits blessedly embraced : and faithlesse spirits from all grace remooued , and gracelesse spirits vtterly disgraced . when life shall be pronounc'● to the elected ; and loue shall take the charge of the beloued : and hell receiue the soules of the reiected , to endlesse paines of gracelesse will reproued : vvhen this ( i say ) and all that can be sayd , that may reuiue the vertuous in their death : and iustly make the reprobate afraide , vvith looking downe into their hell beneath . our lo●d hath left vs in those lines of loue , that heau'nly wisedom wrote for our instruction : yet we , all carelesse of our soules be●oue , vvill headlong runne vpon our owne destruction . vvhat shall i say ? but , let the atheist frie vvithin ●he coles of his owne conscience fire : torments too true , too late will make him trie , he cannot scape the furie of gods ire . and let the faithfull in their fearelesse hope , assure their spirits of especiall grace : the breadth of heauen doeth bea●e so large a scope , that none so poore but there shall haue a place . and let the prince not glory in his crowne , but lay it at the feet of mercies loue : and let the haughtie pull those humours downe , that onely worke for wicked hels behoue . oh , let the faire leaue painting of their faces , and onely seeke the beautie of the minde : for god alon● doeth loue the inward graces , and not the shadowes , that the eye doe blinde . and let the rich not let his riches rust , but seeke the wealth , but of the spirits worth . fo● god doth know , your treasu●e is but dust , and ye but stewards for to let it forth . and let the wise , so well employ their wits ▪ they may attaine the knowle●●e to doe well : and shun the follies of those madding fits , that leauing heauen doe run the way to hell . oh , let that queene be truely angel-like , with graces scepter , holdes the sword of peace : and , by her faith , in mercies hande doth seeke a ioyfull kingdome , that shall neuer cease . and , let that ladie thinke her selfe a queene , that hath possession of her spirite so ; that she could leaue all comfo●ts she hath seene , and her owne selfe vnto her god to goe . and let that souldier most that valour loue , where god assistes the faithfull in their fight : while lacke of faith in coward feare doth prooue , each shadowe doth the faithlesse soule affright . and , let the lawyer looke on iustice lines , and knowe that god will right the poore mans wrong ; and that such lawyers , as are true diuines , doe loue the muses sing of mercies songe . and , let the marchant loue that traffique best , where trauaile findes the treasure of gods grace : vvhile greedie mindes , that fill the golden chest , shall neuer see their sauiour in the face . and , let the scholler that doth studie most , finde out the truth of lifes eternall treasure : and , thinke all labour in his studie lost , vvhere god his grace giues not the spirit pleasure . and , let the louer leaue his wanton looke , vvith such illusions as enchaunt the minde : and , onely loue the beautie of that booke , vvhere god alone is in his loue to finde . abhorre the diuell , and he will depart . grace is as neere as sinne , if you will craue it ; so faith doe begge it with repentant heart : for feare , nor pride are euer like to haue it . crie vnto christ , whome you haue crucified : in teares of loue , reueale your hate of sinne : so , in your greefe , when grace is glo●ified , be sure , in mercie doth your blisse beginne . beleeue his worde , seeke to obey his will , and know the worke is his , and none of yours : striue to doe well , and flye the way to ill : and be submissiue to supernall powe●s . be patient in the crosse of any care ; repentant in remembrance of amisse : const●nt in faith ; loue god without compare ; and giue all glory to that name of his . hate him that speakes against his maiestie , loue him in soule , that will forsake him neuer : and know , the scorners of the deity shall all be damn'd , and frie in hell for euer . goe to your closet , louely there alone , bleede forth in teares , the trueth of your beliefe : and you shall see , your smallest spirits groane will finde a grace to ease you of your griefe . for he that knowes the secrets of your thought , and knowes the natures of your sinnes disease , will neuer see your spirit ouer-wrought ; but in the instant giue you present ease . you shal be the deare daughter of his loue , and like a father he will looke vpon you : and in his mercy so much comfort proue , that you shall neuer more be woe-begon you . your soule in heauen shall halfe already be , the angels ginne to set your part to sing : your spirits eye shall , in som● grace● , se● some shadowing glory of your heauenly king . and you all rauisht with your heauenly ioy , will so his gracious , glorious name ●dore ▪ that being healed of your soules annoy , this hatefull world shall be your loue no more . and you , of men , that haue bene long admir'd , for many worthes , well worthy admiration , shall then of angels be as much desir'd ▪ for heauenly grounds of graces confirmation . and god himselfe , so neere himselfe will set you , in graces seate , where mercy so will loue you , that faiths regard will neuer more forget you ; nor ●inne , nor death , nor deuill shall remoue yo● . but where the saints and angels are reciting the heau'nly trueth of high i●houahs story : your rauisht soule , in such diuine ●●diting , shall euermore be singing of his ●lory . to the assured hope of which high grace , in humble prayer , let my poore humble penne , in your good fauour , begge that blessed place , where my poore heart , may happ'ly say , amen . gloria in excelsis deo. the blessed weeper . my thoughts amaz'd , i knowe not how , of late , halfe in a slumber , and more halfe a sleepe , my troubled senses , at a strange debate , vvhat kind of care should most my spirit keepe , me thought , i sawe a silly woman weepe , and with her weeping , as it seem'd , so pleas'd , as if her heart had with her teares beene eas'd . the place , neere which she sate , was like a graue , but all vncouer'd , and the bodie gone : vvhere , in her care , she nothinge seem'd to craue , but , that stolne bodie how to looke vpon . vvhen , weeping so , appear'd to her anon two blessed angels , and one lord of blisse , vvho came to comfort this poore wretch of his . but ere they came , how she in bitter teares bewail'd the losse , or lacke of her de●re loue : as to her words my vision witnesse beares , and my remembrance , may for truth approoue , the whole discourse , her passions seem'd to moue , in hearts deepe griefe , & soules high ●oy conceiued , was as i write ▪ were not my thoughts deceiued . if euer sorrow in a sin●ers hart liud ' , to distill those droppes of bitter teares , that to the world in passions can impart part of that paine , the troubled spirit beares ; smoothring the woes , wherein all pleasure weares , oh let her shewe the deepest of her skill , in drawing out the essence of mine ill . the losse of health the heart may somewhat craze , the losse of wealth distemper may the minde ; the losse of honou● is a fearefull maze ; the losse of freends , a care of greeuous kinde : but , all these woes , vpon one heart to winde , were much to thinke : but much more to beleeue , how it could liue , whom farre more crosses greeue . but , from the bagge of naked pouertie , to haue more wealth , then all the world can giue : and from the care of all calamitie , in all the comfort of content to liue , where settled ioy all greefe away doth driue , and sodenly , growe sicke , and poore againe , who c●n conceiue the plague of such a paine ? i wretched , i , the out-cast of all grace , and banisht for my sinne , from heauenly blisse ▪ i , that to hell , did headlong runne my race , not caring how my soule was led amisse , while i was cosoned , by the serpents hisse ; i caitiffe wretch , of all the world the worst , by sinnes iust doome ●o endlesse sorrow curst . i , wretched soule , whome sinne had bared so , as left me naked of all natures grace : i sinke of sinne , and also full of woe , as knew not how in heauen to haue a place ; and in the depth of all this desperate case , to be relieu'd , and cloth'd , grac't , and belou'd , and on the sodaine , from all these remou'd . to lose the vesture of that vertues grace , that cloth'd my naked soule , asham'd of sinne ; to lose the beautie , of that blessed face , where mercies loue did comforts life beginne : to lose the ioyes , that heauens were glad to winne ; to lose the life of such a louely freend , oh let me weepe , and neuer make an end . the child , that hath his father deerely louing , who sees his faults , and greatly doth abhorre them , yet so from wrath , will haue his thoughts remoouing , as he will neither checke , nor chide him for them ; but puts them backe , while pitie standes before them : and doth not onely all his faults forgiue , but makes him kindely in his grace to liue ▪ that happie child , that in his heart hath felt the blessed life of such a fathers loue , thinke how his heart must needes in sorrow melt , that must the losse of such a father prooue , and curse the death doth such a life remooue : and , as a creature , in all comforts freendlesse , bleede out his time , in teares of sor●ow endlesse . that wicked child of too much ill am i , that had a father held me all too deere : who from my sinnes , did turne his angrie eye , and on my sorrow shew'd a smyling cheere , and to his grace did take my soule so neere , as when asham'd to come his face before , he sayd but this , take heede thou sinne no more . my sinnes forgiuen , what ioy my soule receiu'd , none can expresse but the repentant heart : nor can that sorrow euer be conceiu'd , to see that father from that child depart ; but in that soule , that in the bitter smart of the true feeling of that fathers loue , had rather death , then his departure prooue . the carelesse seruant , that the goods misspends , which his kinde maister to his trust committ●●● ▪ and his neat house to theeues and varlets lends , and cares for nought , but what his humour fitteth , that gracious lord , that all such faults remittteth , and in his goodnesse doth so deerely loue him , that from his fauour nothing shall remooue him . so ●ll a seruant , that doth finde the loue of such a lord , as neuer like was found ▪ and in the midst of all his ioy must prooue the death , to see his comfort all a ground , his blessed lord , by theeues and varlets bound , scoft , scourg'd , & beaten , sorrowing , sighing , dying ; how can that seruant cease continuall crying ? that wicked seruant , w●etched wretch am i : that louing maister , was my liuing lord : whose gratious giftes , abus'd vngratiously , vvhose house , my soule , fowle spirits laide aboard , fild full of sinnes , of graces all abhord : yet for all this , and all that i ●ould doe , my lord forgaue me , and did loue me too . he cleans'd my soule , from all my filthy sinne : and with my teares , did wash it cleane againe , draue out the feends , and kindly entred in , with grace to heale , that sorrow would haue slaine : and in his loue , did so my teares retaine , that euerie droppe that fell vpon his feete , vnto my soule did giue a heauenly ●weet . now , such a maister , as was neuer such ; so good , vnto a seruant , none so ill : so much abus'd , abuses , oh too much ; a cursed crue , to worke their hellish will , like rauening vvoolues , a silly lambe to kill , foule darkenesse so , to gouerne ouer light , vvho would not weepe to death at such a sight ? a sorrie sister that hath such a brother , as for her loue would venter losse of life , and her vnkindnesse so in kindnesse smother , as twixt their lo●es , should kill all cause of strife ; though her ill course were his hearts cutting knife : to see that brother lose his liuing breath , how can that sister choose but weepe to death ? that sister i , that brother was my lord , vvho in his loue laide downe his life for me . vvhose death , oh c●osse of crosses to record , ah wretch that euer i was borne to see : though by his death , my life must onely be . to lose a father , maister , brother such , child , seruant , sister , how ca● i weepe too much ? shame bad me weepe ynough , to see how sinne besmeered had my soule with ougly spottes , and weepe to feele how i was feltred in the wretched snarles of wicked natures knots , and weepe to looke vpon those loathsome blots , that fild me so with greefe of all disgrace , i durst not see my sauiour in the face . at whose sweete feete i kneeling wept with feare , i had offended to presume so neere , but , sinne so fled away at euerie teare , that grace beganne my heauie heart to cheere : when my deere lord sayd not , vvhat dost thou here ? or get thee hence : or like a dogge out spurne mee : but from my sinne vnto his mercie turne me . he felt my tea●es , though no man heard my weeping , and gaue me grace , though no man for me mou'd him . which made me know , he had my soule in keeping ▪ though sinne too long , too far from me remou'd him . for sinne once fled , how deare in soule i lou'd him , his words can witnesse , that my soule did tuch , much is forgiuen her , for she loued much . he loued much that me so much forgaue . such my forgiuer how much should i loue ? forgaue my sinnes , and from the feend did saue my wounded soule that could no comfort prooue , till grace and mercie did my greefe remooue . but , when i felt my paine of sinne once past , in mercies grace , i wept with ioy as fast . but , oh my soule , vnworthy of this sweete , could not enioy these ioyfull teares too long : for sinne and sorrow did so soundly meete , as made my heart to sing another songe , vvhen i beheld , the too apparant wronge , my lord , my loue , my life , my king and god , for my poore soule , and for my sinnes abode . to see the lambe , that bleated but our blisse , brought all by woolues , vnto a bleeding end : to see that cruell shamefull death of his , vvho did his course but for our comfort bend , and held our foe , that was our deerest freend : vvho did such good , and to receiue such ill , vveepe heart to death , and die in weeping still . vngratefull wretches , worthlesse of al grace , rebellious subiects , traytours to your king , could yee behold his workes before your face , vvhat choise of good his charitie did bring ? and from your hearts could so much venom springe , as with the lord of peace , to stirre such strife , to seeke his death , who onely gaue you life ? slaues , dogg●s , and diuels , worse if i could call yee , that so haue showne the malice of your mindes , i cannot wish more ill then shall befall yee , that are the impes of such accursed kindes , as ougly sathan with illusions blindes : i weepe not for your sorrow ; but to see , that all yee did not die , to set him free . and better had it beene for yee to die , then haue beene borne to bringe him to his death , and by your deeds to die eternally , or liue in death within the hell beneath , where neuer ayer shal breath you wholesome breath : but by your choise of torments make you know , vvhat yee haue done to breede my weeping so . alas , what sinne but did my soule possesse ? but that accursed crucifying sinne , that would not let your wicked soules confesse his glorious grace , whose grace did first beginne , by true desert , all glorie due to winne : and by such grace did winne my soule so to him , my death were sweete if it might seruice doe him . oh that my teares , kept number with my sinnes : or that my sinnes were drowned in my teares : then should my weeping shew how ioy beginnes , in faithfull heart , where fearefull sorrow weares , and comforts blisse , so much contentment beares , that hope shold shew , that halfe a heauen do●h win ; better to weepe in grace , then laugh in sinne . but , what speake i of either sinne or grace ? my sinnes too greeuous , and my gace is gone : my life ●s dead , the earth is all too base , for my loues lord , to deigne to looke vpon , where liues not one good creature , no not one ▪ and what should i but weepe to liue to see , i cannot see where my sweete lord may be . but since mine eyes haue liued to behold the heauenly substance of my life and loue , wherein my faith doth gratiously vnfould the onely blessing of my soules behoue , all in the glorie of the heauens aboue , why should i liue and looke vpon the light ? now i haue lost the ioy of such a sight . no , i doe hope my darkenesse will not hold , the night will passe and sunne againe will shine . although my heart in comfort be a cold , my soule doth tell me , that these teares of mine shall all be dri'd vp by his hand diuine : who so will cure me of my sinfull sore , that i shall ioy in grace , and weepe no more . but he is gone , my spirits onely sweete ▪ and i am left , a wretched sinner heere : oh that my teares could with my comfort meete , and i might see my sauing health so neere , as with his sight my heauie heart might cheere : then should i loue mine eyes for such a seeing : without which sight , they ioy not in their being . let me then seeke , where i may hope to see the onely substance of my ioying sight : and neuer rest nor euer wearie be , vntill i come vnto that starre of light , which may direct my heart and spirit right , vnto that place , where gracious loue will show my soule his presence , that it loueth so . to clime to heauen it is too high a place : sinne weighes me downe to loue , to seeke him there : for hell , it is vnworthy of such grace : and for the world , my sorrow witnesse beare , it is not worthy of his name to heare . then since , nor heere , nor there ▪ without all doubt , within the graue i must goe seeke him ou● . oh ground , more gracious then the world besides , which do'st enclose that all the world commaundes : and blessed earth , that in thy center hides his corpse , for whom my weeping soule demaunds : tell me , oh heauens , into what holy handes , he is conuey'd , and where he now may be , vvhome thus my heart with teares desires to see ? thus weeping still , two angels did appeare , vvho , as it seem'd , desirous for to know the monefull cause of this her mourning cheere , wherefore she wept , and what she sought for so ; briefely she thus her greefe beganne to shewe ( wringing her hands , with many a bitter teare ) her lord was stolne , and laid she knew not where . o blessed angels ▪ blessed as yee be , tell me where is my highest blisse become ? your lord and mine , oh tell me where is he , may cheere the heart that sorrow doth benumme : starue not my teares , vouchsafe my soule one crumme of comforts care , to let me truely know , vvhere is my lo●d , that i lament for so . but doe yee aske me whome i seeke for so ? or why i weepe ? because i cannot finde him . o heauenly creature helpe my soule to knowe but where he is , that i may come behinde him , that he may know , but how my loue doth mind him : if dead , i may vnto his tombe restore him , and if aliue , i may on knees adore him . oh happie gardiner of this holy ground , blest art thou borne , if thou hast liu'd to see that blessed bodie where it may be found , that here lay buried : tell me ( if thou be , sent from my lord to come and comfort me ) vvho hence hath stolne the substance of my blisse ▪ and where bestowed that holy corps of his . but doe you aske me why i weepe so much ? and what i ●eeke ? i seeke my soules delight : and weepe , because i finde not any such , as can direct me to so sweete a sight : this is the cause of my hearts heauie plight . oh tell me then , and put me out of doubt , dead , or aliue , where i may finde him out . thus while her ey●s continuall weeping kept , came christ himselfe , although a while vnknowne : vvho askt her what she sought , and why she wept : she , as before vnto the angels showne , began in teares to make her pitious mone ; her lord wa● stoln , & born● she knew not whither , but if he knew , he would di●ect her thither . but , while the lord of all her life and loue , beheld her teares , the witnes of her truth , to make her faith in heauenly fauour prooue the sweete reward of mercies sacred ruth , and know what life of such a loue ensueth , spake but one word , but that word was so sweete , as would haue made her soule to kisse his feete . marie , quoth he , oh maister , blessed voice , from which my heart recei●es so sweet a sound , as makes my soule in rauisht ioy reioyce , to thinke to liue , that i my lord haue found : oh let my sinnes be in my te●●es so drown'd , that in my ioyes , my ●oule be eue● weeping , to haue thy presence in my comforts keeping . i will not presse one foote beyond the line of thy loues leaue , vouchsafe me but a looke of that sweete heauenly holy eye of thine , of my deere loue the euer-●iuing booke : vvherein my teares haue such t●●● comfort tooke , that , let the world torment 〈◊〉 nere so sore , let me see thee , and i desire no more . oh , sight more pretious then tongue can expresse , vvherein the eye doth comfort so the heart , the heart , the soule , and all in their distresse , doe find an ease , and end of euerie smart , vvhen ●ie and heart , and soule and euerie part conclude in ioy , that comfort did beginne ; better to weepe in grace , then laugh in sinne . and with that word , she vanisht so away , as if that no such woman there had beene . but yet me thought , her weeping seem'd to say , the spirit was of marie magdalen ; vvhose bodie now , although not to be seene , yet by her speech , it seemed it was she , that wisht all women might such vveepers be . finis . diuine considerations of the soule concerning the excellencie of god, and the vilenesse of man. verie necessarie and profitable for euerie true christian seriously looke into. by n.b. g. breton, nicholas, ?- ? approx. kb of xml-encoded text transcribed from -bit group-iv tiff page images. text creation partnership, ann arbor, mi ; oxford (uk) : - (eebo-tcp phase ). a stc estc s this keyboarded and encoded edition of the work described above is co-owned by the institutions providing financial support to the early english books online text creation partnership. this phase i text is available for reuse, according to the terms of creative commons . universal . the text can be copied, modified, distributed and performed, even for commercial purposes, all without asking permission. early english books online. (eebo-tcp ; phase , no. a ) transcribed from: (early english books online ; image set ) images scanned from microfilm: (early english books, - ; : ) diuine considerations of the soule concerning the excellencie of god, and the vilenesse of man. verie necessarie and profitable for euerie true christian seriously looke into. by n.b. g. breton, nicholas, ?- ? 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emma (leeson) huber text and markup reviewed and edited - pfs batch review (qc) and xml conversion divine considerations of the soule , concerning the excellencie of god , and the vilenesse of man. verie necessarie and profitable for euerie true christian seriously to looke into . by n. b. g. london printed by e a. for iohn tappe and are to be solde at his shop on the tower-hill , nere the bulwarke gate . to the right worshipfull and worthy knight , sir thomas lake , one of the clarkes of his maieiesties signet : health , happinesse and heauen . worthy knight the longe affectionate duty , wherin i haue followed your vndeserued fauour , hath made me study how to prooue some parte of my protestation : but finding my spirite by the crosses of fortune , vnable to be it selfe , in the best nature of thankfulnesse , i haue yet , by gods greate blessing , laboured in the vineyard of a vertuous loue , where hauing gathered those fruites , that are both pleasant and holsome , bounde vp this little handfull , i presente them to your patience , knowing that your loue to learning , your zeale in religion , and your wisdome in iudgement ( being able in diuine considerations , to finde comforte aboue the worlde ) will vouchafe to make that good vse of them , that maie giue me comforte in your regarde of them : but least tediousnesse maie prooue displeasing yea in matter of much worth , i wil leaue my labour to your liking , and my seruice to your imploimēt , in which i humblye rest in heartie prayer for your much happinesse . yours deuoted and obliged at commande : nich. breton . to the reader . manye reade they knowe not what , too many they care not what , but how necessarie is it for all men before they reade , to consider what they reade , and to what end they bestowe both time & labour in that excercise , i refer to the iudgement of their discretions , who are able to finde the difference betwixt good & euill : you then that reade this little worke to your greate good , if you well disgest the considerations contained in the same , let mee intreate you what you finde for your good , to esteem of as you haue cause , and what may be to your dislike to correct in your kinde patience ; in a little room is matter enough for the good consideration of a cōtemplatiue sperit , which looking towards heauen , and longing to bee there , shall finde such comfort in these considerations , as i hope shal giue cause to gloriefie god the author of all good , and not thinke a misse of me , that by his goodnes haue set them downe for the good of all his seruants : of which number , not doubting you to be one , i leaue you in this and all your good labours , to his onely gratious blessing . your well wishing friend , n. b in praise of these diuine considerations . goe little booke , the iewell of delight : the heauenly organ , of true vertues glory : which like a christall mirror sets in sight : the truest tract of high iehouahes story : which who so reades , shall finde within the same gods powerfull loue , to those that feare his name , i reading of it did much comfort finde : and so no doubt , may euery christian doe : that is to vertue any whit inclind : such right directions doth it lead him to . read then ( dear friend ) for heere i dare well say : to know god truely is the ready way . and more , within this lttle volume heere who so doth read with due consideration , his owne estate most vilely will appeare : if not reformed by heauenly meditation . consider then ▪ and doe aplaud his paine : that thus directs . true knwledge to obtaine . and for my selfe , as hauing gain'd therby : these few lines of my loue shall specifie : pleasure attend the author that did write it : heauens happinesse the heart that did indite it : true comfort be to him , that loues to read it , and ioy betide his soule : that truely treads it i. t. a diuine poem . o lord that knewst me ere that i was knowne , and sawst the cloath before the thred was spunne and framd'st the substance , ere the thought was growne from which my being in this world begunne : oh glorious god , that onely of thy grace : didst all and onely to thy seruice make me : and hauing giuen me heere an earthly place : vnto the guard of thy faire grace dist take me . of all pure bright , and euer-seeing eye : that seest the secret thoughts of euerie heart , before whose presence doth apparantlie , heauen , earth , sea , hell , in all and euerie part . in wisdome more o then wit can comprehend ! that mak'st and iudgest , gouern'st euerie thing ▪ power of all powers , on whome all powers attend , spring of all grace from whence all glories spring from that high , holy , heauenly throane of thine : where mercy liues to giue thy glorie grace . looke downe a little on this soule of mine , that vnto thee complaines her heauie cace . oh sweetest sweete of my soules purest sence , that in thy mercie , madst me first a creature ! and in the truth of loues intelligence , the neerest image to thy heauenly nature . and hauing framde me to thy fauours eye , didst with thy finger fairely write me out , in holy writ of heauenly misterie , how i should bring a blessed life about . forbidding onely what might be my harme , commaunding onely what might doe me good : preseruing me by thy almigtie arme and feeding me with a celestiall foode . thou madst the ayre to feede the life of nature , that i might see how weake a thing it is ▪ the earth , the labour of the sinfull creature , which beares no fruite but onely by thy blisse . thou madst the water but to clense or coole , or serue thy creatures in their sundrie vse : that carefull wit , might reason not befoole in vsing nature to the soules abuse . the fire thou madst to c●eere the chilling colde , with a reuiuing heate of natures ne●de ; that reason might in natures ruine holde how farre that force might stand the life instead . thus vnder heauen , thou madst these elements to maintaine all those creatures thou hast made , but so , that nature with her ornaments shall haue a time to flourish , or to fade but that same heauenly fire that doth enflame the heart and soule with a continuall heate : whose loue doth liue but in thy holy name , where faith doth mercy but for grace intreate . where that did kindle , or that cole to finde , or smallest peice or sparckle of the same : i found the eye of nature was too blinde , to finde the sence , or whence thee secret came . till by the inspiration of that grace , that to thy seruants doth thy goodnesse showe : i found thy loue the euer liuing place , from whence the substance of this sweete doth flowe and when i saw within this soule of mine , how farre thy loue exceedes the life of nature , and natures life , but in that loue of thine , which is the being of each blessed creature : then i beg●n to finde the foile of sinne , and onely long'd to liue in mercies grace , and hate the world , that doth their hel begin , that doe not long to see thy heauenly face . and thus perplexed in that passions griefe : that hath no ease but in thy mercies eye to thee that art the faithfull soules releife haue i laide open all my misery : the first part of consideration concerning god. consider : this word consider , in a few letters containeth a large volume , wherein the eies of iudgement may read what is necessarie for the vnderstanding of humaine reason : yea , and the best parte parte of the moste perfect and diuine contemplation , of the moste gracious and blessed spirites in the worlde : for if it please the almightie god of his infinite goodnes , so farre to inspire the soule of man with the grace of his holy spirite , as that being by the heauenly power thereof , drawen from the worlde to beholde the courses of higher comforts , when leauing the delights of fading vanities , he shall be rauished with the pleasures of eternall life . then may he saye with the prophet dauid ( entring into the contemplatiue consideration that may well be called the admiration of the greatnes and goodnes of god ) as it is written , in the . psalme verse . lord when i consider the heauens , the moone and the starres that thou hast made , what is man ( say i ) that thou wilt looke vpon him ? yea let me saye vnto thee ( oh man ) if thou couldest with an humble spirit looke into the greatnes of the goodnes of god in the power of his creation , in the wisdome of his workemanshippe , in the preseruation by his grace , and in the increase , by his blessing : if with all this thou couldest note the difference of heauen and earth , the brightnesse of the heauens , & the darkenesse of the world : the purenesse of the sunne and moone and starres , and the dimnes of the obscured light of earthly natures : the perfection of the angells , and the corruption of man ; the glorie of the diuine , and the disgrace of our humaine nature : well mightest thou say to thy selfe , oh what am i ? a worme , dust & ashes , & a substance of all foule and filthy corruption , that my god , the pure and bright , gratious , holy , good , and glotious essence of the incomprehensible deitie , will vouchsafe to cast downe the least looke of his mercie vppon me ? since therfore there is nothing that can be so truely pleasing to the spirit of man , as knowledge , neither is there any thing well knowne but by the true consideration of the substance , nature or qualitie thereof : let me begin to enter into this necessary course of consideration , in which we shall finde what is most necessary , fit and conuenient , for the vse , profit , pleasure , and honor of man ; that the obiect of the eye , considered by the sence of the spirit , the substance digested by the power of reason , nature may finde most comfort in the vertue of the application . touching consideration in generall . first , and aboue all things , we are to consider what is aboue all things to be considered ; then for the excellencie of the goodnes in it selfe ; and last , for the good that from it wee receiue : for in the instinct of nature wee haue planted in ourselues an insatiable desire of knowledge , whereby we finde in our selues , somewhat more then our selues , leading vs to a longing after somewhat aboue our selues , which if by a light inlightning our mindes we be led out of the darkenes of our blinded sence of nature , to the cleare beholding of the glorious brightnes of gods graces , wee shall see that in him onely and altogether , is the infinite goodnes and incomprehensible greatnes of all perfect knowledge , and knowledge of all perfection ; and that so much neerer cōmeth our nature vnto the diuine : as by the light of grace wee feele in our selues , an apprehension or participation of those graces , that essentially doe onely dwell , and are inheritant in the diuine nature . to come to a plainer explanatiō of the first due point of consideration : euery thing is to be desired for some good that it doth containe in it selfe , and may bring vnto other : the goodnes therefore of euery thing , must be considered before the thing it selfe be effected . then if good be for the goodnes desired ; the better that the good is , the more it is to be desired , and so the best good for the best goodnes to be best and most desired . now who is so euill , that hath the least sparkle of gods grace , but by the light of the same , doth see in the wonder of his works , the glory of his goodnes ? but leauing al doubts , ther is no doubt to be made , that god is in himselfe the essence of all goodnes , the first moouer , the continuall actor , and the infinite furnisher of all good , in thought , word & deed ; where , when , & in whatsoeuer : this first position thē grāted that god is only good & the onely essence of al goodnes , what obiection can be made , why he should not be aboue all things to be desired , humblie to be affected , faithfully to be loued , louingly to be serued , duly to be obeyed , and infinitely to be glorified ? for the athists , whom the psalmist calleth fooles , psalme , . verse . that said in their hearts there is no god , because they knowe no good , i saie nothing to them , but their soules shal finde there a deuill that taught them , and will reward them for their euill● but for them that knowe there is a god , and haue a feeling of his goodnesse , in the comfort of his grace : let me a little speake vnto them touching the pointes that i meane to speake of in the considaration of the greatnesse of god aboue all thinges , and for which for all thinges in all , & aboue all thinges hee is to be admired , loued , and honoured : and first touching the greatnesse of god. the first consideration touching the greatnesse of of god. to consider the greatnesse of god , at least that greatnesse in which himselfe only knoweth himselfe is incomprehensible , & therfore aboue the power of cōtemplation , meditation , & consideration of man or angelles whatsoeuer ; for in the maiestie of his power , hee is incōprehensible in his wisdome ; vnsearchable in his graces ; incomparable , and in his glorye infinite : in all which he doth so far exceede the compasse of all consideration , as in the humilitie of confession must be left only to admiration ; but for so much as of his mercie he hath left to our contemplation , let vs with such humilitie consider thereof , as may be to his glory and our comfort . touching therefore his greatnesse , let vs humbly lift vp the eyes of our hearts to the beholding of those thinges , that in the excellent great workmanship of the same , wee may finde that there is a further greatnes , then wee can euer finde againe . let vs consider in the creation of al creatures , his admirable power , who but spak the word & they were made ; oh powerfull word , by which all thinges were created ; and if his word was so powerfull , how much more powerfull is he that gaue such power vnto his word ? loath i am to enter into particularities , to set downe the greatenesse of his power , though the least of his workes shewe not a little , and the greatest of his workes shew but a little of that greatnes which his glory doth contain ; where such varieties as well of the formes , as natures of creatures , aswell in their differences as agreement , in number so innumerable , as prooue an infinitenes in the power of their creation , yet when the greatest of all things vnder the heauens , yea the heauens themselues shall waxe olde as doth a garment , and ( as a vesture ) shal be chāged , how great is his power , who shall loose no part of his grace , but increase infinitely in his glory ? who hath spand the heauēs but the finger of his hand ? who hath settled the earth but the word of his mouth ? who hath digged the greate deep , but the wisdome of his will ? looke vp the heauens , they are the works of his hands : look downe to the earth , it is the worke of his word : beholde the seas how they are obedient to his will : now to beholde in the sunne the light of the daye , the moone and the starres ; as it were the lampes of the night ; yet these so keepe their courses in a continuall order , that one is not hurtfull to another , but all and euery one in their seruice to man , performe their dueties to their creator : doth not the consideration of these obiectes to our eyes , strike an impression in our hearts of an admirable power in the greatnesse of his workmanship ? again , to behold the thicke cloudes , whereby the sun is obscured , the boisterous & tempestious windes , wherby the highest caedars are shaken , and the terrible lightning and thunders , that amaze the hearts of the beholders : are not these great proofes of a great power ? but let vs looke downe a little lower vppon the earth , and consider how it is possible that so great and huge a masse shold be carried in such a circūference ; again , the world of great & huge trees in the woods , with great and strange wilde beastes in the wildernes ; the one to beare fruit , the other to feede and breede , as it were to an infinite increase , & yet place and foode enough for all . again , to beholde the raging seas how they roare against the bankes of the earth , to whose boundes they are limitted : & to cōsider of the great & huge fishes that make their walks in these watry pathes : are not all these , spectacles , great aparāt proofes , of a moste great and admirable power ? again , to note the great and stout foules , that with the force of their winges make their passage through the ayre , & yet neither the lights of the heauēs , the creatures in the earth , nor seas , nor birds in the ayre , shall lōger retain their places , then stādeth with the pleasure of the almightie : oh how admirable is that greatnes to whom all things are in such obedience , which in him onely hauing their being , are onely at his will in their disposing ? but let me come a little lower to thee : oh man , compounded of the worst matter , the very slyme of the earth , how great a power is in thy god that hath created thee , not by his worde onely ( as he did all other creatures in the earth ) but aboue them all in a diuine nature of grace ; so neere vnto himselfe , as that he woulde in the greatnes of his loue , cal thee his image , & to this image of himselfe , giue so great a power ouer all his creatures , that both sunne , moone , and starres in the heauens , the beasts in the fielde , the birdes in the aire , the fishes in the sea , the trees in the woods , and the mineralles in the earth , shoulde all be subiect to the disposing of thy discretiō & obedient to thy commaund . hath he not made the great horse to cary thee , the great lyon to be led by thee , the beare , the wolfe , the tygre and the dogge , yea withall other beastes , to stand affraid at the frowne of thy countenance ? yea doth he not coward their spirits to become seruiceable to thy cōmaund ? doth not the faulcon stoope her pitch to come downe to thy fist , and make her fight at the fowle , to feede thy hunger or pleasure ? doth not the dog leaue his kennell , and make his course at the deere for thy food or thy sport ? doth not the fish come out of the deepe waters and hang vppon thy baite , for thy profit or thy pleasures ? & what a greatnesse is this to haue this commaund ouer so many creatures ? but againe , consider withall how much greater is that infinite greatnesse in thy creator , that hath giuen such greatnesse to his creature . againe , consider withall , the greatnesse of his glorie , and glorye of his greatnesse , that his angelles tremble at his brightnesse : if hee touch the hilles they shall smoake , and the mountaines shall melt at his presence , and no man can see him and liue : so greate is his brightnesse , as no eye can beholde : so pure his essence , as exceedes the sence of nature : so deepe his wisdome , as is vnsearchable in reason : & so infinit his perfection , as surpasseth the power of consideration : and therefore let vs consider , that in regarde of that almightie power , in his greatnesse the greatest : yea , and all power without him is so greate a smalnesse as nothing can be lesse . againe , let vs in admiration of his greatnes , and knowledge of his goodnes , consider whom we are to thinke on , how we are to thinke of him , what we are to thinke of our selues without him , and what we are onely in him : for the first , whō we are to thinke on , is the incomprehensible maiestie of all powers , the biginner of all times , the creator of all thinges , the cōmaunder of al natures , the disposer of al properties , the life of all beings , and the endles glory of al graces : absolute in his power , resolute in his will , incomparable in his wisdome , and admirable in his worke : thus i saye , let vs consider whome wee are to thinke of , not a creature but a creator : not a king , but a king of kinges ; not a power , but a power of powers ; and not an angell but god : now howe shall wee thinke of him ? with feare and trembling , and remember the sayings of mathew , chapter . verse . feare not him that can destroy the bodie , but feare him that can destroye both body and soule . and therefore when wee fall into sinne , let vs feare the greatnesse of his wrath , and the greate power in his furie : for though hee fedde elias in the wildernesse by the rauens , and preserued daniel in the den from the lyons , made the dogges licke the sores of lazarus , and made the sunne to stay his course at the prayer of iosuah , yet , with the wicked he maketh his creature in the vengeance of his wrath , tooke another course , for the lyons deuoured the false prophets : the beares came out of the wood to destroy the children that mocked the prophet : the dogs fed vppon iesabell , and the darkenesse blinded the sodomites , till fire came downe from heauen to consume them . consider therfore ( i say ) whom wee are to thinke on ? in one word which concludeth all that can be spoken , god & not man : for in god is all greatnesse , without whome the greatest of all powers , is but the power of all smallnesse : but since so great is his greatnesse euerie way , as is no way to be comprehended , let vs onely know and acknowledge his infinitenes therin to be such , as we must humbly leaue to admiration , and say with the prophet dauid , psalme . ● . vers . . praise yee the god of heauen for his mercie endureth for euer . now let vs see what wee are without him ; as bubbles of water that breakes in an instant : or a blasted flower ere it bee out of the bud : the shame of nature : meate for dogges : fuell for fire : out-lawes from heauen , and prisoners for hell. oh fearefull state of such as feare not god : feare therefore the greatnes of his wrath , least you be consumed in the greatnes of his fury . now what are wee to thinke of our selues in him , the chosen vessels of grace , the comaunders of all earthly powers , the compagnions of his saints ▪ coheires in the heauenly kingdome , & brethren with his blessed sonne and our sauiour iesus christ : thus greate doth his greatnes make his , both in this world , & in the worlde to come : and thus much for the first pointe of consideration of the greatnes of god. touching the goodnesse of god the second consideration . it is a position infallible , that of goodnes can come nothing but good : god then being the onely & euer true and pure essence of al goodnes , of him what can be spoken but all good ? is it not written , that whatsoeuer he created , hee sawe that it was good ? and hauing made man to his owne image , the best good , how did he shew to him his exceeding goodnes , in giuing him dominion ouer al his good creatures ? onely the tree of life excepted , which though in it selfe it was good , yet in that he knew it was not good for man to meddle with , hee forbad him to taste of the fruite therof ; & this good warning his good god gaue him , that there might nothing but good come to him : but we may well say there is nothing good but god ; it is the worde of truth spoken by the lord of life . our sauiour iesus christ , when the pharises called him good maister , his answer was , why call you me good ? there is none good but god : and if the only begotten son of god wold not be called good , how can this title of good , be properly giuen to any of his creatures ? though it pleased him to say that he sawe euery thing was good that hee created , yet it was good onely respectiuely as it came from his goodnes , and onely effectiuely as might serue to his glory : for though the spirite of man by the grace of the holy ghost doe participate with the great blessing of god , which from his goodnes proceeding , cannot be but good ; yet onely and altogether in god doth abide and dwell that pure essence & eternall goodnes , which may onely make him be iustly and properly called good . now all goodnes being in him and of him , and whatsoeuer is or may be in any part thought , or called good , must be onely in respect of god , the onely giuer of the same : and whatsoeuer good we receiue , is things good , & all the good that he created for the good vse of man , that good knowledge , knowledge of goodnes , and goodnes of knowledge , the perfection whereof is onely in himselfe , and the participation wherof shold be in none but the image of himselfe : this image did hee chuse to make in man , and this good onely to bestowe vpon man : now howsoeuer the deuill by corruption of temptation , hath drawen away the hearts of those outward men which retaine in their soules small or no parte of the image of god , vnto the delight of euill , yet those men that are touched with the least parte of gods grace , haue not onely a hatefull loathing of the nature of euill , but a longing desire after good , and a delight in the good of the desire of that good that they long after : man being therefore by the goodnes of god elected for his best creature , his best seruant and coheire with his onely beloued sonne in his heauenly kingdome : hee hath also elected him to that knowledge of god , that by the good thereof , may breede in him the greefe of sinne , vnto which by corruption he is a subiect , and a neuer-satisfied desire to enioye the good that by faith he is assured to come vnto : now as he hath elected man onely , and aboue all his creatures to this knowledge of good , which he did as it were chuse out of all his blessings , to bestow onely vpon man , so did he withall giue him knowledge how to come to the possession of that good , to which onely he is elected : oh how infinit a goodnes is this in god towards vs , in this gratious benefit of our election ! oh what heart can ( without the rauishing ioy of the soule ) think vpon this goodnes of god towards man , that ( as i aforesaid ) hauing chosen him for his best creature , his best seruant and coheire , with his bestand onely beloued son , he did not only inspire his soule with an especiall knowledge aboue all other creatures , but with this knowledge of good , a knowledge likewise of a direct way to come vnto it ; which waie is not to be sought in a strange country , nor among the saints or angells , but euen here at home , and in his holy word , and that waie to be onely founde , by the faith of that grace , that in the good creatures of god doth onely worke to his glorie : in somme , when hee himselfe is both the waie to life , and the life of the faithfull . what an excellent comfort is this in one worde , one truth , and one christe ; to seeke and finde the waie to our is from the aboundance of his mercie , and for the which wee are bounde in all humilitie to giue him glory : let vs acknowledge all goodnes to be onely in him , and himselfe the glorious essence of the same : consider with thankefulness the good that vnworthylye wee receiue from him . first let vs thinke on the goodnes of god , in out election , that being the worst matter to worke vpon , hee would show the best of his working , in framing a substance to the image of himselfe : can there be any thing so good vnto man as to be made the image of god ? and when in the righteousness of the soule , which is the best goodnes in man , wee be most like vnto god ? what glory are we to giue vnto him , who ingrafteth in our hearts such a loue vnto righteousnes , and such a righteous loue vnto his grace , as that by the vertue thereof we become as it were members of his sacred body , & branches of the tree of life : consider i say thus , first the goodnes of god in our election from the slime of the earth , the worst matter in the world to worke vpon , to be the best and fairest of his works in the world : and all earthly things to endure but their time , in the course of their liues , man onely in his grace to liue for euer : in himselfe , he is onely all goodnesse , and from whome onely being onely good , we receiue this first good of our election : how great a proofe of the glorious essence of the goodnesse in god is this ? that not by perswasion of angelles , nor the merrite of any power of nature , this free election of man aboue all creatures , & vnder him to be lord ouer them , fell vnto vs by the onely gratious working of his holy wil to his onely infinite glory & our vnspeakable comfort : now let vs againe consider a further goodnes , that from his grace we receiue in our election , not onely to be made the best best of his creatures , but to serue him with such loue that wee maic liue with him in glory : he hath not onely chosen vs for his best creatures , but also for his best seruants ; yea his beloued sonnes , and not onely sonnes , but coheires with his blessed sonne in the heauenly kingdome : he hath chosen vs before the worlde , to preserue vs in the worlde , and to take vs out of the worlde to eternall ioyes aboue the worlde : oh what tongue can expresse the greatnes of this his goodnes towards vs , besides the infinite comforts , graces and blessings , that euer in this life he bestoweth vpon vs ? hee created all things could giue him nothng to perswade or allure him to make vs to his image , being created : we were so poore , that wee had nothing but what he gaue vs , & therfore could giue him nothing for our creation : when hee had giuen vs dominion ouer his creatures , what could wee giue him but what was his owne , and whereof he had no neede , but might commaunde at his will ? naie more , what did man giue him but vnthankfulnesse in being disobedient to his commaundement ? and lastly being fallen through sinne , so farre from the state of grace that there was no meanes but the death of his dearest sonne and our sauiour , for our redemtion : what could wee giue him hauing nothing ? and if we had had al the worlde it was but his owne , and as nothing to recompence this admirable point of his goodnes in our redemption : consider then for our election we could giue him nothing , and therefore it was only of his grace : for our creation we had nothing to giue him , for we had nothing but what he gaue vs : for our redemtion the least drop of the pretious bloud of his deere beloued sonne , was more worth then the whole worlde : oh then thinke wee coulde giue him nothing worthy of so greate a loue as to dye for vs : with the grace of his holy spirite hee doth sanctifie vs , and who can thinke or dare presume to buy that glorious blessing of him , shall with symon magus perish in the horror of such a sinne , the least sparke of his grace , being more worth then the whole worlde ; and the worlde all his , and man but a creature in the worlde . againe , for our iustification , his onely righteousnesse in his life and death , his patience , and his passion , is the onely substance of our iustification : for as wee are iustified by faith in his bloud , an effect of grace in the inspiration of his holy spirite : so is that pretious bloud of his , the glorious ground of our beleife , whereby onely wee are iustified : our election then from grace , our creation in grace , our redemption by grace , out sanctification by grace , our iustification by grace , and our glorification by grace : what hath the world , or man , if he had the whole worlde to purchase the least parte of the glory that the onely goodnesse of god hath in his mercie ordained and reserued for the good of man ? let then no man be so blinde or blinded with the mist of arrogancie , as to runne into merite in himselfe , or to mingle our saluation ? oh let vs a little consider , how many are the sundry , yea and infinite varieties of god , that by the goodnes of our election wee receiue from the mercie of the almightie : first to be created to his owne image , to be inspired with a diuine knowledge aboue all his creatures , to haue dominion ouer so many creatures , to be feareles of damnation by the assurance of our election to saluation , to vse the things of the world , as if wee had them not , to accompt the worlde with all the pompe and pride thereof , but as vanitie , to haue a loathing of sinne , and a loue to vertue , to be furnished of what is necessarie to be deffended from euill , preserued from hurt , to dread no danger , to be weary of the worlde , and longe to be with christ : to speake of the goodnes of his bountie dayly bestowed vpon his creatures , as beautie to some , strength to other , to other wealth , to other wisdome , to other honour , to other diuine inspirations ; these i say are no small causes to make vs consider of his goodnesse towards vs : but aboue all , to giue vs himselfe , in his loue to bee with vs , with his grace to guide vs , with his power to defend vs , with his word to instruct vs , & with his holy spirit to inspite vs : to finde the way made for vs to our eternal ioyes that none shall take from vs , to which before the worldes & world without end , he hath only elected vs : oh man how canst thou thinke humblie enough , thankfully enough , and ioyfully enough of the goodnes of thy god , in this good of thy electiō ? in summe what goodnes can be greater vnto vs , then to know y t god to his dearest loue through his beloued only dearly son iesus christ , hath elected vs , & as it were chosen his loue aboue al his creatures , in his son iesus christ our lord and sauiour , to be bestowed vpon vs ; i● that loue to liue with vs , and that euer-liuing loue neuer to leaue vs here on earth ; with his infinite blessings in his gratious goodness to comfort vs , and in heauen to reserue a crowne of glory for vs , to create vs when we were not , to redeeme vs being lost , to preserue vs from destruction , to giue his deerest sonne to death for our sinnes , to assure vs of saluation , and to receiue vs to glory . all this did hee , and all good that euer was , is , or euer will or can be , for vs , to shew and make vs consider of his goodnes towards vs : for let vs in breefe a littltle consider how freely , and onely of his grace hee hath thus made manifest his vnspe●kable goodnes in this our election , when wee were not : wee gle his corrupt actions with the pure merite of christe iesus for his saluation ; but say with iob all our righteousnesse is as a filthie cloth , and with the prophet dauid , psalme . verses . . meditating vppon the greatnesse of his goodnes towards him , what shall i giue the lord for all that hee hath done vnto me ? i will take the cuppe of saluation , and be thankfull to the lord : see here all that wee are , and all that wee can giue him for all the good that wee receiue from him , bare thanks : and yet as much as hee requireth , and more then from a great many ( the more their shame ) hee receiueth . but let those that feele these great effects of grace in the goodnes of the liuing god , say with the holy prophet , psalme . verse . be thankfull to the lord , and speake good of his name , for his mercie endureth for euer : but since so infinite is his goodnes in all things and to al things , and specially to man aboue all things , let me onely wish al men for their own good , to acknowledge all goodnes onely to bee in the lord , the onely author and substance thereof ; & whatsoeuer is good in heauen or earth , is onely a free guifte of his grace , that must onely work to his glory ; the election of man to be an effect of loue in the grace of his goodnes , and not to dreame of merite , but to giue glory vnto mercie , for the benefit of such a blessing , as being freely giuen to man , through our lord iesus christ by his merite , is onely confirmed to the eternitie of his glory : and thus much touching the goodnes of god. touching the wisdome of god the third consideration . to speake of the wisdome of god , is so farre aboue the capacitie of man , that it is rather with all humble reuerence to be honored and admired , then either to be spoken of or considered : yet for so much as the creature doth giue glorye to his creator , in praising and with admiration beholding the excellent workmanshippe in the varietie of his workes , and finding it so farre aboue the reach of reason , as must noedes proceede from a vertue of diuine grace , hee doth in contemplation acknowledge a wisdome of that excellencie , that maketh him saie with the prophet dauid , in the . psalme . verse , oh how wonderfull are thy workes ? in wisdome hast thou made them : but though the wisdome of god as it is in it selfe , is an other himselfe , and not to be comprehended of any but himselfe , yet the effectes thereof in all things , doe giue him so greate a praise , as make him aboue all things , to receiue the highest of all glory : for to enter into particulers , let vs beginne to looke into his creation , in the power whereof hee sheweth no small parte of wisdome : as in the brightnes of the sun , moon , & stars , and the cleernesse of the skie , the courses of the planets , & the motions of the celestiall powers : in the opperations of the elements , in the perfection of proportiōs , in the diuersity of creatures , in the wōder of arte , and quicknesse in working : what excellent arte hath he taught nature , in painting all the trees , fruits , and flowres of the earth ? yea and all the haires , skinnes , feathers , and scales of beasts , fowles , and fishes ? the eeuennes & purenes of euery one , of whome being truly considered , wil startle the best witts in the due consideration of that onely point of wisdome . againe , what a further secret cunning hath he taught nature , in perfuming so many trees , hearbs , and flowres , all growing out of this darke and dusky earth : by what wisdome he doth vnite the people , and hauing deuided the languages , how hee giues the meanes of vnderstanding : how hee makes the fishes paths , and the shippes passages through the seas , the birds walkes through the ayre , and the salamanders dwelling in the fire , and the wormes howses in the earth : how admirable is this wisdome that so worketh all things by it selfe ? to speake of the excellency of arts , in the secrecie of their working , what can it finally approoue but an admiration of knowledge in the maister of them ? but hauing with salomon found by the light of grace , and experience of labor , that al things are vanity , except onely the vertue of that grace , that enricheth the soule with inestimable treasure : what a pointe in wisdome is this , not onely to instruct the soule of man in knowledge of natures , with their qualities and effects , but through the power of it selfe to breede a kinde of spirituall knowledge in the apprehension of faith , that in contemplation of heauenly treasure , maketh trash of the whole worlde . oh superexellent exllencie in wisdome , that frameth the heart vnto the soule , to seeke out the waie of life , and in the prison of the flesh , preserues it from the perill of infection ; that man being created the image of perfection , can neuer be destroyed by the venome of corruption , but in the daies of iniquitie , being guided by grace , escaping the snares of hel , shall fly to the ioyes of heauen . consider that if man by the wisdome of god attaine to this excellent knowledge , how to walke through the passages of nature , to make vse of them for his seruice , to withstand the temptation of sinne , to receiue the instructions of grace , to dispise the delights of the worlde , to bridle the affections of the flesh , and ouercomming the power of death , to finde the path vnto life ; if this i say , and more then can be said , by the instruction of the diuine wisdome , man hath power to attaine vnto , thinke how infinite is that wisdome from whome only commeth the essence of this , and all knowledge : in whome it onely liueth , and without onely whome all is but meere ignorance : and since it is written , that the beginning of wisdome , is the feare of god ; learne onely that lesson , and feare to be otherwise learned : paule thought he knew enough in christ , & him crucified : and enough wise shalt thou be , if thou canst applie his knowledge to thy comfort . but to returne breifely to speake of the wisdome of god , it is in the heauens so highe , in the earth so large , in the water so deep , in the aier so secret , and in the fire so powerfull ; in all things so exquisite , and in perfectiōs so infinite , that i will onely in the admiration thereof , giue glory to the same , and saie with the apostle . corin. chapter . verse . the wisdome of the worlde is foolishnesse before god ; and againe , with the prophet dauid , psalme . verse oh lord how excellent are thy workes in wisdome hast thou made them all . psalme . verse . such knowledge is too excellent for mee . o all ye workes of the lorde , praise him and magnifie him for euer : but since so many and so infinite are the praises that may worthyly bee giuen vnto it : i cannot so leaue off , but i must speake a little more of the consideration of it , for the power of it : it maketh all things for the knowledge of it , it knoweth all things for the direction of it , it ordereth all thinges for the goodnesse of it , it is good in , and to all things , for the greatnesse of it , it comprehendeth all things for the grace of it , it is gratious in all good things , and for the maiestie of it , it is glorious aboue all things : for in the power of it is the life of vertue ; in the life of it is the mercie of loue ; in the loue of it is the blessing of grace ; and in the grace of it , is the eternitie of glorie : who seeketh it shall finde it , who findeth it shall loue it , who loueth it , shall liue in it , who liueth in it , shall ioy in it , and who so ioyeth in it , shall be blessed by it . it is brighter then the sunne , purer then golde , sweeter then the honie and the honie combe , and for the worth of it , it is more worth then the whole worlde : it beautifies nature , it rectifieth reason , it magnifies grace , and glorifieth loue : it loueth humilitie , it aduanc●th vertue , it enricheth knowledge , and maintaineth honour : it laboureth in heauen for such as from heauen are preserued for heauen , to bring them to heauen : in somme , it is where it is the blisse of nature , the honour of reason , the light of life , and the ioye of loue . the elect loue her , the saints honour her , & god onely hath her : in summe , so much may be said of her , and so much more good thē can be said or thought is in her , that fearing with the deuine light of my praise , to obscure the glory of her worthynesse , i will onely wish the worlde to seeke her , the godly to finde her , the gratious to loue her , the vertuous to serue her , the faithfull to honour her , and all the creatures in heauen and earth to praise her : and so much , touching the consideration of the wisdome of god. the fourth consideration touching the loue of god. oh : who coulde with the eyes of wisdome , in the humilitie of the hearte , looke into the vertue of that grace that liueth in the loue of the almightie , should finde that sence of sweetnes , that should rauish the soule of vnderstanding : but though it bee in it selfe so gracious , and in grace so glorious as exceedeth the exceeding o● all praise , yet as a mole-hill t● a mountaine , a flie to an eagle or an ante to an elephant , le● me with the poore widdow put in my myte into the treasurie , in humilitie of my hear● to speake of the life of my soule , which being onely in the loue of the liuing god , let me speake a little in the cōsideration of the same , that the vngratefull world seeing their lacke of grace , may blush at their blindnes , & be ioyful of a better light , where beholding the beautie that rauisheth the soules of the beloued , they shall find the loue that is the ioy of the blessed : touching the which , let me by degrees speake of such points as i find most necessarie in this consideration : ●et vs first i say consider this first ●oint of the loue of god , that ●efore we were created for his ●eruice , wee were elected in his ●oue , then to make an image to it selfe , yea & as it were another it selfe , for the first , romans . iacob haue i loued , euen before he had done good or euill ; there is election prooued in loue . when the angell saluted elizabeth , with the message of her conception , was it not of iohn the baptist , who was sent to pronounce the word of the lord , to make streight his way before him ? and what greater proofe of loue , then to electe him to such a message ? againe , doth not christ the sonne of god praye to his father , that as hee is one with his father , so his maye be one with him ? oh how can there be so greate a proofe of the election of loue in christe , as by his loue to be made one with him : looke i saie into the excellencie of this incomparable loue in god towards man : first to make him to his image , and not onely by his worde ( as by which he made all other creatures ) but as it were by a consent , or consultation of the trinitie about an especiall worke , to the pleasing of the deitie , as it is written : let vs make man in our owne image according to our likenesse . but well may it bee saide that nullum simile est idē , for though he were perfect in respect of our corruption , yet by his fall , it appeareth that the creature was farre shorte of the perfection of the creator : but being falne from that perfection , by the venome of temptation , into the state of damnation , how greate was the loue of god , to effect againe by himselfe the blessed worke of his saluation ? for as it is written : god so loued the worlde , that hee gaue his onely begotten sonne to death , that all that beleiue in him shal be saued : againe , looke into the admirable loue of christe to his beloued , to come from the bosome of his father in heauen , to his graue in the earth : to leaue the seruice of angelles , to be skoffed of diuelish creatures ; to leaue the ioyes of paradise for the sorrowes of the worlde ; to leaue his throane in heauen , for a maunger on the earth ; to leaue his seate of iudgemente , to suffer death vpon the crosse : well might hee say as in respect of his sorrowes for the sinnes of the worlde , with the punishement that hee was to endure for the sinnes of others , himselfe without sinne , when hee felte the extremitie of those paines that in the sweate of bloud and water , prooued the passion of true patience , and the life of true loue . vt , non est dolor sicut meus , sic non est amor sicut meus ; for indeede he knoweth not , nor can he iudge , what loue is that in his heart cannot saie in honour of his loue , neuer such loue : the freinde to die for his enemies ; the maister to die for his seruants ; the king to die for beggers ; the sonne of god , to dye for the sonne of man : well maye it be saide neuer such loue : to leaue all pleasures to bringe thee to all pleasures ; to endure all crosses to worke thee all comforts ; to leaue heauen for a time to bring thee to heauen for euer . what art thou that in the thought of such loue , canst not saie in thy heart , in the ioye of thy soule , as nullus dolor sicut eius , sic nullus amor sicuteius : as no sorrowe is like to his , so no loue is like to his : doth not hee truely saie that can say nothing but truth ? loue one another as i haue loued you : greater loue then this cannot be , for a man to lay downe lyfe for his beloued : oh let vs a little meditate vpon this excellent comforte that is vnspeakable in god towards man , through his loue was man created the goodlest creature : & where al other creatures haue their eyes bēt downward ( to the earth , where they seeke their foode ) man hath a face , looking vpwards toward heauen , where the soule seeketh foode aboue the flesh : againe , through the loue of god was man made the wisest creature , to know the varieties of natures , to giue names vnto creatures , to note the courses of the heauens , to till the earth , and make his pathes through the seas , to deuide the times , to distinguish of doubts , to search into knowledge , and to know the giuer and glory thereof : againe , through the loue of god , man was made commaunder of all creatures vnder the sunne , lord of all the earth , foreseer of after-times , messenger of the worde of god , student of diuine misteries , cheife seruant to the lord of lords , freinde to the king of kings , and coheire in the heauenly kingdome , through the loue of god ; hee was made a seruante , but as a friend , a brother and a coheire : now hee that thinks on these pointes of loue , is worthy of no loue if he cannot say in his heart there was neuer such loue : hee loued man in himselfe , when there was none to perswade him to loue him but himselfe ; he loued man as himselfe , that he wold haue him one with himselfe ; yea he loued man more if more could be then himself , that for man to death would giue himselfe : hee made man louingly , he blest man louingly , hee came to man louingly , and dyed for man most louingly : in the beginning hee shewed his loue without beginning , and in the end will shew his loue without ending , he made him better then his creatures , for hee made him lord ouer them : hee made them better then his angells , for hee made them to serue him alittle lower then himselfe . psalme . verse . that himself might chiefly loue him : see further his loue vnto man as it is writen , i say . : can a mother forget her children , yet wil i neuer forget thee . se heere loue more tender then of a mother , and more carefull then of any other father : o loue of loues , what loue is like to this loue ? a kingly loue , which defendeth his subiects ; a lordly loue , which rewardeth his seruants ; a friendly loue , that is kind to his friēds ; a brotherly loue y t is kinde to his brothers ; a motherly loue , that is tender to her children ; a fatherly loue , that is carefull of his sonnes ; and a godly loue , that is gratious to his creatures ; a faithfull loue that neuer fainteth ; a bountifull loue that euer giueth ; a mercifull loue that neuer grudgeth , a pitifull loue that euer releiueth ; a mindefull loue , that neuer forgetteth ; a gracefull loue that euer loueth . now who can enter into the true and due consideration of loue , worthy louing , & in the thought of this loue , will not euer confesse there was neuer such loue ? which regardeth nothing but loue : oh how did god loue abraham for shewing his loue in isaack ? where god regarding more his will then his worke , would not suffer the sacrifice of his son , but so loued him , as besides many other great fauours that he did him , could say within himselfe ( when he had determined a destructiō of his enemies ) shal i hide from my seruant abraham what i will doe ? as thogh he wold keep nothing frō his beloued that he knew fit for his knowledge : againe , how loued he eliah that he wold neuer let him see death ? how loued he his seruant dauid that he made him to his owne heart ? how loued he the blessed virgine to make her the mother of his blesssed sonne ? how loued hee iohn the euangeliste , to let him leane in is bosome ? how loued hee paule to bringe him from idolatry ? & how loued he peter to forgiue him whē he had denyed him ? how loued hee lazarus when he wept ouer him , how loued he mary magdalen when he disposs est her of fowle spirits , and at his resurrection let her beholde him ? and how loued he the theife when hee carried him into heauen with him ? to recite all the pointes of his particuler loue to a worlde of vnworthy persons , were more then a worlde could set downe but for so much as i haue said , and more then may bee saide of his loue , i am perswaded , that if wee consider the power , the grace , the wisdome , the bountie , the pittie , the maiestie , the mercie , the patience , the passion , the sorrow , the labour , the life , and the torments of his loue , for our loue ; he hath no feeling of loue , or is worthie of no loue , that will not in the ioye of his soules loue , giue all glory to this loue , and say with the prophet dauid . psalm . verse . loue him all ye his saints , praise him and magnifie him for euer . for as there was neuer such a sorrowe as he hath endured for vs , so is there no such loue as he hath to vs , and in his mercie dooth euer shew vs. when he came first into the world , he came as an infant , to shewe vs the mildenes of his loue in further yeares : he came as a doctor in the wisdom of his loue , to teach vs the way vnto eternall life , in the vertue of his loue : he came as a phisition to cure vs of all diseases : in the power of his loue , he came like himselfe as a god to driue out the deuils from vs : and in the meekenes of his loue , came as a lambe to be sacrifised for vs : & in the care of his loue , at the right hand of his father , is now a mediator for vs , & in the glorie of his loue , into the possession of our inheritance , that hee hath purchased for vs : will receiue vs : oh milde ! oh wise ! oh vertuous ! oh powerfull ! oh meeke ! oh carefull ! oh glorious loue ! who can thinke of this loue , and in the true glorie of true loue , cannot most truely say , there was neuer such loue ! no , as non est dolor sicut eius , so non est amor sicut eius . and thus much touching the consideration of the loue god. the fift consideration of the mercy of god. in this admirable vertue of the loue of god , i finde the greate and gratious worke of his mercie towards man , which considering the wickednesse of our nature , and the wofulnesse of our estate , is necessary to be considered : for so farre had the temtation of the diuill poysoned the heart of man , as through the sinne of pride , sought not onely to driue him out of paradice , but ( in as much as he might ) to throwe him downe into hell , when the angell of his wrath was sent to giue him punishment , yet wrought his mercie so with his iustice , as saued him from perdition : yea , though hee cursed the earth for the sins of his creature , yet he blessed his labour with the fruite of his patience , and reserued for his beleefe a ioy in his mercie : looke through the whole course of the scripture , how his mercie euer wrought with his iustice , yea , & as it were had oftētimes the vpper hand of it : as in the time of noah , when sinne had made as it were the whole world hateful in his sight , that he saide within himselfe he repented that he had made man , yet in his mercie hee made an arke to saue noah and his children , yea , and of all liuing creatures , reserued some for generation : in sodome and gomora he saued lot & his daughters : & yet adam deserued nothing but destruction for his disobedience . noah deserued no grace for his drunkennes , not lot any fauour for his incest , & yet mercy so wrought with iustice , that god not onely for gaue their sins , but blessed their repētance : such hath enerbene , is , and euer will be the mercye of god vnto mā , as so far doth mit●igate the furie of his iustice , as reserueth comfort for the penitent . oh how sweete are the reports and proofes of the mercie of god vnto man in all the world ! for is it not written by the prophet dauid , psa. . vers . . his mercy is ouer al his works ? and again , speaking of his mercy , ps. . as a father pittieth his owne children , so is the lord merciful vnto all that feare him , and in psa. . vers . as far as the east is from the west , so far hath he set our sins from vs : and in the . psalme , through euerie verse , speaking to all his workes , both in heauen & earth , he vseth these words . blesse him and praise him , for his mercie endureth for euer . in mercie hee turned his wrath frō y e israelits whē moyses stood in the gap : in mercy hee saued moyses floating in the reedes : in mercy he preserued the children in the surnace of fire : in mercye hee preserued the the israelites from the hoste of pharaoh : in mercy hee preserued dauid , and deliuered him from all his troubles : in mercy he deliuered ioseph from the pit and the prison : in mercy he sent ▪ his prophets to warne the world of their wickednesse , and to pronounce comfort to the penitent : in mercy he sent iohn baptist , to deliuer the tydings of saluation : and in mercie hee sent his onely sonne iesus christ to be a sauiour of all his people : oh infinite mercie , worthy of infinite glorie ! consider againe how powerfull is his mercie in all his workes , to feede fiue thousand people with a few loaues and fishes , and with the fragments to fill more baskets then the loaues when they were whole : to heale the disseased that touch ed but the hem of his garment : to giue sight to the blinde , knowledge to the simple , health to the sicke , soundnesse to the lame , comfort to the penitent : to driue the diuells from the possessed : to giue life to the deade , and ioy to the faithfull . these words of glorious mercy , doth the moste gratious and glorious word of truth plainely and truly lay before vs , to make vs with the holy prophets iustly say : oh the infinite light and bottomles depth of the mercies of our god! glorie be to the lord , for his mercy indureth for euer . againe , how absolute he is in his mercie , where he saith , i will haue mercie , where i will haue mercie , and therefore be free both in his power and will , hath mercye for all that will humblye and faithfullye call vppon him : and againe , all are vnder sinne , that all may come to mercie : oh how all glorious is that mercie which is extended ouer all ! let vs therefore looke a little into the blindenesse of man , in the immagination of his owne merrit , of the mercy of the liuing god , which is onelye a fruite or effect of grace , or free guift of his onely glorious loue . how did adam merit mercie , when hee fled from his presence ? what merited moyses when hee angred the lord ? what merrited noah when hee was drunkens ? what merrited lot when hee committed incest ? what merited the israelites with their goulden calle ? what merited dauid when he comitted murther and adulterie ? againe , what merited mary magdalen that had seauen deuils within her ? what merited paul that persecuted christ in his people ? what merited peter that denyed his maister ? & what merited the world to work y e death of the son of god ? all & euerie one ( in the iudgement of iustice ) nothing but dānation . look thē into the inexplicable glorye of y e mercie of god , which not only forgaue all these , but saued all , and blessed all , and so will euer , al those whom and whersoeuer , that ashamed are of their sinnes , and confessing their merrit of nothing but wrath and destruction , in the humble faith of repentance , flye onely to the mercie of god in the merrit of christ iesus for theyr saluation . oh the powerfull mercy in the loue of god , that will not suffer his iustice to execute his wrath vpon sinne ! and though such be the pure and glorious brightnes of his grace , as cannot endure the foule and filthie obiect of sinne , yet doth his mercy so rule the power of his wrath , as will not let him destroye the sinner with his sinne : many are the afflictions that hee layeth vppon his belooued : many are the corrections that hee vseth to his children : manye are the sorrowes that hee inflicteth vppon his elect , but all is for sinne ) in the loue of a father , in the care of a maister , & mercy of a god ) as onely meanes to purge them of those euills that are hinder ances to their good ; and being healed of their corruption , to bring them to their first , and a far better perfection . for in the correction of mercy , is the sinner saued from destruction ; & by the regeneration of grace , brought to eternall saluation : oh the vertuous , gratious , and glorious nature of mercye , which hath such power with god in the preseruation of his people ! it keekeepeth the fire that it fall not from heauen to consume vs : it keepeth the water that it riseth not to drown vs : it keepeth the ayre that it doth not infect vs : & keepeth y e earth that it doth not swallow vs : it keepeth vs in peace that discention do not spoile vs : it keepeth vs in plenty that want doe not pinch vs : it keepeth vs in loue that mallice cannot hurt vs : and keepeth vs to god that the deuill cannot confound vs. in summe , it is a gift of grace , a worke of glorie , a bountie in god , & a blessing to man , to speake of these daies wherin we liue , and of the late times which we cannot forget : let vs a little consider the mercies of god towards vs , how often were we preserued from forraine enemies by sea , and ciuill or vnciuil enemies at home ; when not the pollicy of mā , but the only mercy of god did break the forces of the one , and reueale the deuises of the other ? and while our neighbor countries by continuall warres haue shed a world of blood , we haue beene preserued in increase of people : and while they haue bin mourning in the punnishmēt of sinne , wee haue beene singing in the ioy of grace : oh how are wee bound to giue glorye vnto god for the aboundance of his mercie , and say with the prophet dauid , psal. . verse . , great is the god of heauen , for his mercie endureth for euer . but as i said of loue , the life of mercy ; so of mercy the glory of loue : since it is so infinite in goodnesse , as exceedeth in worthinesse the height of all praise that the heart of mā can think , or the tongue of man can expresse , i will onely say with the prophet , psalme . . verse . . to all powers whatsoeuer . blesse ye the lord and praise him , for his mercie endureth for euer . and thus much touching the consideration of the mercy of god. the sixt consideration of the grace of god. in the mercy of god , finding so great a measure of his grace as in the bountie of his goodnes deserueth no little glory , i cannot but with admiration speake of that grace , that through his loue made him haue such a fauour vnto man , as to elect him to his loue , to frame him to his image , to inspire him with his spirit , to instruct him in his word , to defend him with his power , to preserue him in his mercie : to dye for him in his loue , and to receiue him to glorie : all these and what euer other good wee receiue , either through the loue or mercye of god , are free guifts of his grace , and not for any merrit in man , how can this beame of glorious brightnes bee beheld with the cies of humilitie , but that the soule wold be rauished with the contemplation therof ? and say with the psalmist , psalme . . verse . . gratious is the lord , and mercifull , long suffering , and of great goodnesse . furthermore , of so great effect in the working of comfort in the hearts of the faithfull , is this vertue of grace in god , that wee finde the writings of the apostles in their epistles , commonlye to begin with this word grace : grace , mercie and peace from our lord and sauiour iesus christ : as if from grace came mercie , and from mercie peace . oh consider the works of grace , our election out of a speciall fauour : our creation out of a gratious wisdome : our vocation out of a gratious kindenes : our sanctification out of a gratious holines : our iustification out of a gratious merit : our redemptiō out of a gratious loue , & our glorification out of a gratious mercy . so that still we see that grace worketh in all thinges to the onelye glorie of god , in whome it worketh to the good of man. oh how sweet a salutation was deliuered to the blessed virgin mary by the angell gabriell , haile mary full of grace , god is with thee . so that if god be with any soule , it is full of grace , & where the fulnes of grace is , there is surely god : but as it is written of christ iesus , psalme . . vers . . that hee was annointed with the oyle of grace aboue his fellowes , so may wee well say of the grace of god , it is so excellent in working to the glorie of god , that as it is infinite in goodnes , so must it haue the same measure in glorie , i say , to be glorified aboue all things . note a little the varieties of the guiftes of this grace of god vnto his seruants : moyses hee made a leader of his people , and gaue him the tables of the law : to abraham he gaue the blessing that should follow in his seede : in isaack shall the seede be called : at the prayer of eliah , hee sent raine after a long drought : to dauid hee gaue a kingdome , and a treasure more worth then many kingdomes , the enlightning knowledge of his holy loue , the spirit of prophesie , the confession of sinne , the repentance of offence , the passion of true patiēce , the constancie of faith , and the humility of loue . to salomon he gaue especiall wisdome to sit in the throane of iudgement with the greatest maiestie and wealth of any earthlye creature in the world , to the blessed virgin marie hee gaue the fulnesse of grace , in the conception of his only sonne ; but to him he gaue that grace that filled heauen and earth with his glorie . let vs then consider not only the vertue , goodnesse and glory of grace , but with all , the height and glorie therof ; which being only in iesus christ our onely lord and sauiour , let vs in him onely beholde the summe and substance , the beautie & brightnesse , the goodnesse and glorie thereof , & forsaking our selues in the shame of our sinnes , only flie to his mercie for the comforte of those blessings , that receiuing onelye from him , may make vs giue all honour and glorie to him . and so much for consideration vpon the grace of god. the seauenth consideration of the glorie of god. hauing thus considered of the greatnes , the goodnes , the wisdom , the loue , the mercy & grace of god towards man , i cannot but finde in this good god , an admirable glory , who containing all these excellencies in himselfe , and beeing indeede the verie essence of the same , doth in the vertue of his bountie , appeare so gratious vnto this people : but since to speake or thinke of the glory of god , or the least part thereof , is ●o farre aboue the reach of the power of reason , as in all confession must be onely left to admiration : let me onely say with the apostle , glory only belongeth vnto the lord , in his presence so glorious is his brightnesse as nothing can see him and liue : and therefore in a bush of fire hee spake , but not apeared vnto moyses : vpon the mount in a cloud and a piller went before his people in the wildernesse : was as it were inclosed in the arke ; in an angell did appeare vnto his prophets , and in his sonne iesus christ , so farre as he would and might be seene to his apostles and disciples , but for his glory , his diuine essence cannot be seene of any but himselfe , verified by his own word , iohn . chap. verse . no man hath seene the father but hee that came from the father , euen the sonne of man that hath reuealed him : and againe , verse i came from the father , and i goe to the father , for the father & i am one , with his glory he filleth both heauen & earth , as it is written , heauen and earth are ful of the maiestie of thy glory : and againe , in the psalme . verse . the heauens declare the glory of god , and the firmament sheweth his handy worke , his workes speake of his glorie , his saintes write of his glorye , his angelles sing of his glorie , and all powers doe acknowledge his glorie . it is higher then the heauens , larger then the earth , deeper then the sea , purer then the fire , cleerer then the skye , brighter then the sunne : the power of strength , the life of loue , the vertue of mercie , the beautie of grace , the honour of wisdome , and the essence of maiestie : the angelles tremble before it , the saintes fall at the feete of it , the prophets beholde it a farre off , and the soules of the elected doe adore it : and being then so farre aboue the power of man , to come neerer the thought of it : how can the heart of man but in admiration speake of it ? it liues in the wisdome of the wise , in the vertue of the valyant , in the liberalitie of the charitable , in the patience of the temperate , in the virginitie of the chaste , in the constancye of the faithfull , in the humilitye of the louing , & in the truth of the religious : it dyrects the will of the trinitie in the vnitie of the deitie : it commaundes the seruice of the angells , it blesseth the prayers of the saints , it pardoneth the sinnes of the repentant , it prospereth the labours of the vertuous , and loueth the soules of the righteous : in summe , it is the maiestie of maiesties , the power of powers , the vertue of vertues , the grace of graces , the honour of honors , the treasure of treasures , the blessing of blessings , and the being of beings : and in all effects so neere vnto god himself , that as he is in his glory incomprehensible , so is the same for the infinite perfection of all worthines inexplicable ; it droue out of paradise the disobediente to the comaund of it ; it made the earth swallowe the murmurers against the will of it ; it sent fire from heauen , to consume the captaines that came against the seruant of it ; it deuided the sea to make a walke for the chosen of it ; it made the same sea to drowne the hoast of the enemies of it ; it sent destruction vpon the cities that wrought abhomination in the sight of it ; it drowned the world for sinning against it ; and hath cursed the iewes for the death of the beloued of it : in summe , it is in all so farre beyond all that can be said or thought of it , in the infinitenes of excellēce , that in humilitie of adoration i will leaue it to the seruice of the wise , the loue of the vertuous , the honour of the blessed , and the admiration of all . and thus much for consideration of the glorie of god. the second part of consideration concerning man : and first touching the weakenesse or smallnesse of man. hauing now set downe a few notes touching the necessarie consideration of the greatnesse , goodnesse , wisdom , loue , mercie , grace and glory of god , let mee a little speake of the contrarieties in man , in mine opinion not vnnecessarie to be considered : and first , of the weakenesse or smallnesse of man : first of his smallenesse touching the substance of his creation , it was of the slime of the earth , then what could bee lesse , or of lesse force , quantitye or esteeme ? next for the substance of generation , what was man before the meeting of his parents ? not so much as a thought , then which nothing could bee lesse , then by the effect of consent , what was his substance ? as in his creation a matter of like moment , the quantitie not greate , and the force little , contained in a little roome : bred vp in darkenes with paine and sorrowe , fed by the nauil● without vse of sence or member . then come into the world , is in quantitie little , in strength meere weaknes , naked and feeble like anowne adiectiue that cannot stand alone , cryeth for it knoweth not what , either paine that it cannot expresse , or for want of that it cannot aske for : now continuing long time in this weaknes , being come to further yeares , what doth it finde but it owne imbecillitie , desiring that it cannot haue , beholding that it cannot compre hend , and enduring that it cannot helpe . subiect to sinne , by the corruption of nature , by temptation of the flesh , by the enchantment of the worlde , and the iclousnesse of the deuill : subiect to the burning of the fire , to the drowning of the water , to the infection of the aire , to the swallowing of the earth : subiect to sicknesse , subiect to care , to sorrow , to want , to wronge , to oppression , to penurye , to ignorance , to presumption , to tyranye , to death : so vnable to defend himselfe , that a flea will byte him , a fly will blinde him , a worme will wound him , and a gnat will choake him . and for his sences , his hearing may greeue him , his sight may annoye him , his speeche may hurt him , his feeling may distemper him , his smelling may infect him , and his tasting may kill him : in summe , poore thing proud of nothing , come of little better then nothing , and shall returne to ( almoste ) as little a● nothing : muste hunger , must thirst , must labour , must sleepe , must loose the vse of his sences , and committe himselfe to trust : must waxe olde , must die , cannot chuse , hath no power to withstand any of these : and though hee haue the commaund of creatures , is but himselfe a creature , and can no longer liue then to the will of the creator : sees the sunne , cannot behold the brightnesse : heare 's the windes , knowes not whence they blowe : feeles the ayre , knowes not how to lay holde of it : sees the fire , dares not touch it : sees a world of earth , but possesseth little of it , perhappes none of it : lookes at heauen , but cannot come at it : and in summe , as a substance of nothing , or if anye thing , like a clocke , that no longer mooueth then by the will of the clockemaker : so no longer man then in the wil of his maker : what shall this little , weake , small creature think , when he shal in the glasse of true sence beholde the obiect of himselfe , and then think vpon the greatnes of his god , in whome not onely himselfe but all creatures in heauen & earth haue their being , and without him haue no being ? in how little a compasse himselfe , withall his is contained , while such is the greatnesse of his god , as filleth heauen and earth with his glory ; who comprehendeth all things , not comprehended in any , nor all ; but aboue all in himself , in the infinitenes of himselfe . oh poore man what canst thou doe , but with iob lay thy finger on thy mouth , and say : i haue spoken once and twise , but i will speake no more : i thought i was something , but i see i am nothing , at least so little a thing , as in it selfe is nothing : my righteousnesse is as a filthy cloth , my strength is weakenes , my dayes as a shaddowe , my life but a spanne , and my substance so smal , as but in thee my god is as nothing or worse then nothing at al : thus i say wilt thou say when beholding the least of gods creatures , thou shalt consider thyne owne smalnesse ; and looking on the one and the other with the prophet dauid , say in the admiration of his glorious goodnes , psalme . vers . . o god what is man that thou doest vouchsafe to looke vpon him ? and thus much touching the smalnesse or weaknes of man. the second consideration , touching the vilenes or wickednes of man. now i haue a litle spoken of this smalnesse or small strength of man , a thing doubtles most necessary for euery mā to think vppon , least finding his greatnes in commaund ouer the creatures of the earth , he forget the creator both of heauen and earth , & al things in the same : so let me tell him , that finding his smalnes to bee so great , and his greatnes to be so smal , as maketh him nothing more then in the wil of the almightie , hee must withal looke into the vilenes of his nature , in y e wilfull offending of his moste good and glorious god ▪ for in his first offence , how much did he shew the vile wickednes or wicked vilenesse of his conditiō , in forgeting the goodnes of his god , in framing him of so vile a matter as y e slime of the earth , a liuing creture to his own glorious image ? then to plāt him in paradice , a place of so much pleasure , to giue him so large a possessiō , as of al his ground , his fruit , yea & commaund of al his creatures vpon the earth : thus not like a lord , but like himself lord of lords , to giue him a world of earth , & there onely to except one tree , with a sharpe warning of death , in the touching of the same , when neither his loue in his creatiō , his bountie in his possession , nor his care in his commaund regarded , but either carelesly forgotten , or wilfully disobeyed : oh what greater vilenes could be shewed then in such vnthankfulnes ? and what greater greater wickednesse , then to shake handes with the deuill , to offend the god of so much goodnesse ? but more to make him blush at his owne shame , in beholding the foulenesse of his abhominable filthynesse , let man in the glasse of truth see the leprosie of his soule , by the infection of sinne . pryde hath defiled humilitie , couetousnesse charitie , lecherie chastitie , wrath patience , sloath labour , enuie loue , and murther pity : so that whereas man was before in these vertues a creature of gods loue , and in whose presence hee tooke pleasure , now through these vices is hee become a most vglye and hatefull creature in the sight of the creator : what peacock more proude of his taile then man is of his trumpery ? what tyger is more cruell to any beaste , then one man to another ? what goate more lecherous then the licentious libertins ? what dogge more couetous in hiding of meate , then the dogged miser in hoording vp of money ? what snake more venemous then the tonge of the enuious ? and what dormouse so sleepie as the slouthfull epicure ? consider then if there bee a vile nature in any of these , how much more vile is man , that hath the condition of all these ? oh should a man haue his image or proportion drawne according to his condition , how monstrous would he finde himselfe ? with a tygers head , a goates bearde , a snakes tong , a hogs belly , a dormouse cie , and a beares hand : but let the image goe , and looke into the vilenes of man , and see if it bee not such as passeth the power of discription : when god is forgotten , the deuill shal be remembred ; when grace is forsaken , sinne shal be entertained ; and when christ shal be crucified , iudas shal be monyed . a dogge will fawne on his maister , oh how much worse then a dogg was man that was the death of his maister ? an elephant is a monstrous beast , and yet is pitifull to man , & wil lead him out of the wildernes : but man more monstrous then any beast , will leade man into wickednes : the goate hath his time , wherin to shew the heate of his nature , but man spareth no time to follow the filthinesse of his lust : the dogge will bee satisfied with a little that hee hath hidden , but the vsurer is neuer satisfied till hee bee choaked with his golde : the lyon will not praie vpon the bloud of a lambe , when the murtherer will not spare the bloud of the infante : the ante will worke for prouision for his foode , while the epicure will burst in the bed of his ease . see then ( oh man ) the vile substance of thy condition , whereby , of the best creature in thy creation thou art become the worst in thy corruption : & therfore looking on the goodnes of thy god , and the vilenesse of thy selfe , thou maiest well saie with peter : luke chap. . verse . lord come not neere mee , for i am a poluted creature , and with the prophet dauid , psa . ver . . shame hath couered my face , yea and beholding the leprosie of thy soule by the spottes of thy sinne , stand without the gates of grace , that the angells may not abhorre thee , nor the saincts be infected by thee , till thy heauenly phisitian with the bloude of the lambe haue cured thee of thy corruptiō : look i say ( oh vile man ) vpon the wickednesse of thy will , to offend thy good god , to bee a seruant to sinne , the ruine of thy selfe , and the plague of thy posteritie . in thy riches see the rust of coueteousnesse ; in thy pryde see the fall of lucifer ; in thy lechery see the fire of lust ; in thy wrath see the bloud of murther ; in thy sloath see the filth of drosse : and thus beholding thy besmeered soule , see if thou canst see so vile a creature , vile in vnthankfulnes , vile in haughtines , vile in coueteousnes , vile in sloathfulnes , vile in furiousnes , vile in filthines , and so vile , in all vilenes . thus i say looke into thy selfe , and see what thou arte , and if such thou be not , think of the greatnes of the goodnes in thy god , that by the vertue of his power in the mercie of his loue , hath healed thee of thy sinne , & made thee fit for his seruice , which till thou findest in thy selfe , thinke there is not so vile a creature as thy selfe . and thus much touching the vilenes or wickednes of man. the third consideration , touching the folly or ignorance of man. the smalnesse and vilenes of man thus considered , we are now to looke a little vpon the folly or ignorance of man , not a little needfull with the precedēts & what shall follow to be considered : first , to the first point of folly ; could there bee a greater folly thought vpon , then to lose the benefit of paradise , for the bit of an apple , for touching one tree to loose all , to loose the plesure of ease , to labor for food , to forget god , to listē to women , to distrust god and to beleiue the deuill ; to loose the beautie of perfection , for the foulnesse of corruption ; and as much as in him lay , to leaue heauen for hell : are not these ( without comparison ) so high pointes in ignorance , as make a ful point in folly ? but leauing the first folly of the first offender , oh what a swarme of follyes hath this ignorance begotten in the worlde ? which like snakes in a bee-hiue , sting the takers of misstaken hony ? what a folly is it in man to worship a golden calfe , which at the houre of his death , can giue his body no breath , but in the time of his life , may hasten his soule into hell ? for example reade , the history of diues , and see the fruite of such a folly . againe , what a follye is it for man to make an idoll of his fancie , when sampson with his dalila may shew the fruite of wantonnesse ? againe , what a folly it is to execute the vengeance of wrath , let the murther of cain speake in the bloud of his brother abell : what a folly is enuie , let the swallowing of coran , datha● and abiram speake in their murmering against moses : what a folly is pride , looke in the fall of lucifer : but as there are many great follyes in the world , so there are many and great fooles ; but aboue all , one most great foole which wee may iustly call foole by the word of god , psalme . verse . the foole hath said in his heart , there is no god : this foole doe i holde the foole of al fooles , who hath ben so long with the deuil that he hath forgotten god , for he is more foole then the deuil , who will acknowledge god , tremble at his maiestie , and be obedient to his commaund ; & therefore i may well say , that he is not only a deuilish foole , but worse then a deuill foole , and so the foole of al fooles : now to speake of follyes in particular , nor of a number of idle fooles , such as when they are gay , thinke they are rich , or when they can prate they are wise , or when they are proude they are noble , or when they are prodigall they are liberall , or when they are miserable they are thriftie , or when they can swagger they are valiant , and when they are rich they are honest : these and a world of such idle fooles , least i should be thought too much a foole , for standing too much vpon the foole , i leaue further to talke of , & hoping that the wise will confesse , that all the wisdome of the worlde is foolishnesse before god ; and therefore man finding in himself so little touch of true wisdome , as may make him then confesse all the wit hee hath to be but meere foolishnesse without the grace of god , in the direction thereof . i will leaue what i haue written vniustly to the correction of the wise , and for the vnwise , to the amendement of their indiscretion : and thus much touching the consideration of the folly of man. the fourth consideration , touching mallice or hate in man. now hauing spoken myne oppinion , touching the foolishnes of man , i finde that follye or ignorance of better iudgement , to haue begotten in him a kinde of malice or hate , as it were opposite or contrary to the loue of god , or at the least contrary to that loue which god commaundeth to bee in man , where hee saith : iohn chap. . verse . loue one another as i haue loued you : for in some wicked people it is too apparant , which i may rather terme deuills then men , those atheisticall villains , that if they haue not their wills will not onely murmure against god , but with iobs wife seeme to curse god ; and with the deuill blaspheme god : may not these iustly be called the reprobate , that but looking towards heauen , dare stirre vp athought against the glory thereof : and being themselues but earth , dare mooue against the great or of heauen and earth . oh how hath the deuill had power with man , so to poyson his soule with the venome of temptation , as by the power of the corruption , to bring him to etrrnall confusion ? but as the deuill through his malice at the greatnes of god , was cast downe from heauen , so hath hee euer since and during his time will , by the same poison , in as much as he can , keepe man from heauen : but leauing to speake of the vngratious , vngratefull and malicious nature in some man towards god , most grieuous to be spoken of : let me come to y e malice or hate of man to mā , when there were but two brethren in the world cain and abel , one so maliced another , that he sought his death , & not for the hurt he did him , but for that god was pleased in his brother , and not in him : oh pestiferous poison , to wound the soule vnto eternall death ! gen. chap. . ver . . what need i to alleage examples , either in the booke of god , or wordes of bookes in the worlde , touching that vile & hellish nature or humor of malice in the corrupted nature of man , when it is dayly seene euē almost in al kingdōes , countries , cyties , and townes , to be an occasion of ciuill discorde , yea and sometime of greate and long warres , to the vtter spoile of many a common wealth : doe not wee see euen sometime before our eyes , how many are hated euen for the good that is in them ? and for the good that they intend to them that hate them ? when a wise man reprooueth a foole of his folly , will not the foole hate him for being wiser then himselfe , or for telling him of his folly ? yea , will he not carry it in minde many a day , and worke him a mischeefe if hee can , for his good , and as the iewes did with christ , put him to death for teaching them the waie of life , hate him for his loue , and kill him for his comforte ? oh malicious nature in the hearte of man ! if the lawe giue land to the right heyre , will not the wrong possessor hate both the heyre for his right , and the lawe for giuing it him , though himselfe would be glad if the case were his own to haue it so ? if two freindes bee suiters for one fortune , if the one carry it , is it not often seene , that the other will hate him for it ? yea , of a friend become a foe , for enioyning that he should euer haue had if the other had missed it ? is it not often seene that vpon a humor of ielouzie a man wil hate his wife , and the wife her husband , the sonne the father , and the mother the daughter , brother and sister , neighbor and neighbor , and al one another sometimes for a tryfle , & that with such a fire of malice , as is almost vnquenchable . oh how too full are the chronicles of the worlde , of the horrible and miserable tragedies , that haue proceeded out of that hellish spirite of malice , that hath spit her poyson through the hearts of a great part of the whole worlde , to the destruction of a worlde of the inhabitans therin ? let me a litle speake of this wicked spirite , and how it wrought the fall of lucifer from heauen ( through his malice ) at the maiestie of the almightie : againe , being falne from heauen , how it wrought in him the fall of adam , enuying his blessed happines in paradise , and therefore by temptation , sought in as much as hee could , his destruction : in cain it wrought an vnnaturall hatred to the death of abell : in esawe it wrought an vnbrotherly hatred to the great feare of iacob : in pharaoh it wrought an vnkindly hatred to the poore isralites , because they throue by their labors vnder him & increased in his kingdome : it wrough a hate in the children of iacob to their brother ioseph , because their father loued him in breife , you shall finde in the whole scripture the hate of the wicked vnto the godly , because god blesseth them : and as in the diuine writ , euen in these our daies , do we not see the good ha ted of the euill ? which being the spirite of so much wickednesse , as worketh so much mischeefe , what doth it differ from the deuill ? truly i thinke i may well say , that as it is written , god is charity and hee that dwelleth in charity dwelleth in god , and god in him : so contrarily the deuill is malice and hee taht dwelleth in malice dwelleth in the deuill , & the diuill in hlm : but where god entereth with his grace , the deuill hath no powre with his malice , and though hee droue adam out of paradice , yet hee could not keepe him out of heauen : and therefore of greater power is the mercy of god , then the malice of the deuill : but seeing such is the vile nature of malice , as doth figure nothing more truly then the deuill , let no man that can truly iudge of it , but hate it as the deuill , which maketh a man , in whom it is hatefull vnto god , wicked vnto man , throwen downe out of heauen , and cast into hell , from which god of his mercie blesse all his seruants for euermore : and thus much touching the consideration of the hate or malice in man. the fifth consideration of the crueltie in man. now as it is euident by too many proofes , that one euill begetteth another , so in this it appeareth that from the hate or malice of man , procedeth the crueltie or tyrannye executed vpon man : for what beast in the world was euer found so tyrannous vnto another , as one man hath ben to another ? yea such a power hath tyrannye in the hearts of some men , as hath bene the spoile and death of many a thousand : what tyrannye did the iewes shewe in the crucifiing of our blessed sauiour iesus christ , which did proceed , not out of any desert in him ( who deserued all loue and honour of all people ) but out of a malicious humour yfused into their soules by the power of the wicked finde ? examples of this vile and pestilent humour , not onely the books of god , as well in the olde as the new testament , as in many lamentable histories extant to the whole worlde , is too ful of the persecution of the prophets and the chosen people of god , by the wicked and vnbeleeuing princes , and people of the worlde ; some their eyes put out , other their tongues cut out , some broyled vpon hott iron , other boyled in skalding lead : some torne in peeces with horses , some flead quicke , some starued to death , other tortured with vnspeakable torments , in some for the displeasure conceiued of some one , how many thousands haue suffered either death , or vndoing , or both : when whole howses , whole cities , yea and almost whole kingdomes , by the bloudy execution of tyrany , haue ben brought almost to vtter confusion : a lyon when hee hath licked his lippes after warme bloud , returnes to his den and takes his rest : the dog if he fight with his match , if hee runne away from him , and cry , he seldome pursues him , and if he kill him , he leaues him , and as it were mourning goeth from him , that hee hath bene the death of him : & so of many other beasts , wolues , tygres , and such like death , or flight satisfies their crueltie : but man more feirce then the lyō , more bloudie then the wolfe , more tyranous then the tygre , and more dogged then the dogge , will neuer be satisfied , till he see the death and seeke the ruine of the father , childe , wife , and seruant , kinred and generation , and neuer taketh rest through feare of reuenge , so that he is not onely tyranous vnto other , but through the vexatiō of his spirit , is become euen a torment vnto him-selfe , whyle feare and wrath keepe him in continuall perplexities : oh how vnaturall , how monstrous in this horrible disposition haue many bene in the world , some murthering their own children , yea in the time of their infancy , some their parents , some their bretheren , some their princes , some their prophets , some their maisters , some their seruants ? what crueltie , yea more then in any beast , will many such a one shew to another in pride , malice , orrevenge ? the examples wherof the world is euery day too full of : what butcher can more cruelly teare in peeces the limmes of a beast , then one mā in his malice will the very heart of another ? what scourges , what terrors , what tortures and what vnhumaine kinde of mortall punishments , hath mā deuised for man no lesse intolerable then inexplicable ? in some the cryes , the blood , the sorrowes , the miseries of the murthered , the imprisoned , the afflicted , and the distressed , through the oppression of pryde , and the tyrannye of wrath , may very well euen from abell to christ , and from him to the worlds end , sufficiently conclude the condemnation of man , for the greatest tyrant in the worlde . and thus much touching the consideration of the cruelty or tyranny in man. the sixt consideration of the basenes of man. hauing now spoken of the smalnesse , the vilenesse , the foolishnesse , the hate , and the crueltie in man , let me a litle shew him the basenesse of his condition , in going from that nature of grace wherin he was created , vnto that horror of sinne by which hee is confounded-god in his gracious nature made him like vnto himselfe in holinesse , purenesse , and righteousnesse , and through these graces , amiable in his sight , sociable for his angells , and coheire with his blessed sonne in the paradise of the soule : what greater title of honour , then to weare a crowne ? what crowne so rich as of grace ? what grace so high as in heauen ? and what glory so great as to bee gracious in the sight of god : all which was man ? ( through grace ) assured of , and through the lacke , carlesse , wherof , hath not only lost all , but through sinne is become vgly in the sight of god , banished the courte of heauen , and through the drossy loue of the worlde become a slaue to the deuill in hell . what basenesse can be more then man by sinne hath thus drawne vpon himselfe ? who while hee should looke towards heauen , is digging in the earth , while hee shoulde thinke vpon heauen is puzled in the world , and while he should be soaring towards heauen , is sinking into hell : oh base wretch , that seeing the shamefull nature of sinne , will yet so be meire his soule with the filth thereof , that of the best and noblest creature , hee becometh the worst and most base of all other . will the spaniels leaue their maister to carry the tinkers budget ? will the horse leaue the warlike rider to drawe in a carte ? and will man leaue the king of heauen to serue a slaue in hell ? oh basenes of all basenes ! in heauen is man a companion for the saintes , the virgins , the martyrs and the angells : in hell for the fiends , ougly spirits , and horrible deuills . and is not hee of a base spirit , that will leaue the heauenly for the hellish company ? fie vpon the basenesse of man , that by sinne will bee brought vnto so base a nature : there is no place so base as hell , which is called the bottomlesse pit , the receptacle of all filthinesse , the caue of the accursed , the denne of the desperate , the habitation of the reprobate , the horror of nature , the terror of reason , the torment of sinne , the misery of time , the night of darknesse , and the endles torture , where serpents , dragons , night-rauens , and shrich-owles , make the best musique in the eares of the damned ; where all obiects are so ougly , all substances so filthy , all voyces so frightfull , all torments so continuall , all paines so pitiles , all care so comfortles , and all hurte so helplesse , that if a man through sin were not worse then a beast , hee would not shew more basenesse then in the most beastly nature of the most beastly creature : what shall i say ? such is the basenesse of sinne in the imbasing of our spirits , and so base are our spirits in the yeelding to the basenesse of sinne , that i must conclude with the prophet dauid ( thinking of the glory of god , and the basenesse of man ) oh what is man that thou o god wilt vouchsafe to looke vpon him ? and so much in breife touching the consideration of the basenesse of man. the seauenth consideration touching the ignominie or defame of man. it is an olde prouerbe ( and too often true ) that hee who hath an euill name is halfe hanged : and surely that man that delighteth in sinne , by the name of a reprobate , is more then halfe damned before hee come in hell , to bee called a villaine is a name of great infamy , and doth not sinne make a man a villaine to god ? to be called a dogge is most hatefull to man , and is not man called a hell-hound by the hate of his sinne ? would not man bee loath to be tearmed a serpent , and hath not sinne made man become of a serpent like nature ? oh the filth of sinne , how hath it fouled , and defiled the nature of man ? the vtter infamy of his name , the election of loue , the image of god ? the lord of the best of creatures , to become the hated of grace , the substance of drosse , the worste of creatures , and the slaue of hell ? what a shame is this to man ( by sinne ) to fall into so foule an infamy ? is it not a name of great disgrace to be called a disobedient sonne or a faithlesse feruant ? a rebellious subiect , or vnthankfull freinde ? an vnkinde brother , and an vnnaturall childe ? and is not man by sinne become all this vnto god ? to bee stubborne to so louing a father , false to so good a maister , rebellious to so gratious a king , vnkinde to so kinde a brother , and vnthankfull to so bountifull a lorde ? it is a shame to liue to beare the iust blotts of such blames : one of these faults were enough , but altogether , are too too much . the dogg will follow his maister , the horse will cary his maister , and will man runne from his maister ? the oxe knowes his stall , and the asse his cribbe , and shall not man know his place of rest after his labours ? then more vile then the dogg , more vnkinde then the horse , more foolish then either oxe or asse . fie what an infamy is this vnto man ? a seruant to entertaine his maister vnkindly , to vse him villanously , and to kill him shamefully , were not this a horrible infamy , and did not the iewes so with christ ? to forget a kindnesse , to distruste a truth , and to abuse a blessing ? is not he infamous that doth so , and what sinner but doth so ? so that still i see infamy vpon infamy ▪ one followeth another by the venome of sinne to the shame of man : to leaue robes of silke for rotten raggs , sweete wine for puddle water , and a pleasant walke for a filthy hole : what foole would doe this , and doth not sinneful man doe this ? leaue the rich graces ( the comly vestures of the soule ) for the poore fading pleasures of the flesh ? the sweete water of life for the puddle watter of death ? the filthy pleasures of this world , and the comfortable way to heauen , for the miserable way to hell ? oh wretched , blinded , sencelesse , & bewitched foole , that doost suffer sinne so much to be-foole thy vnderstanding ! looke i say what a name thou iustly gettest , by yeelding thy seruice vnto sinne : a slaue , a foole , a beast , a serpent , a monster , and of the best , the worste creature in the worlde . loose the beautie wherein thou werte created , the honour wherwith thou werte intitled , the riches whereof thou werte possessed , the libertie that thou enioyedst , the loue wherein thou liuedst , and the life wherein thou reioycedst ; to put on deformitie in nature , basenes in ciuilitie , beggery in wante of grace , bondage in slauery , hate hate wherin thou diest , and death wherin thou arte euer accursed ; and all this through sin : who now could in the glasse of truth , beholde this vglye obiecte of sinne , and would gaine himselfe so foule an infamy , as to be called an obiect ? through the loue thereof , hath not cain from the beginning , bene iustly called a murtherer ? laban a cozener , sampson a foole , achitophel a knaue , salomon an idolator , symon magus a sorcerer , diues an epicure , and iudas a traytor , and the deuill a lyar ? and wilt thou ( oh man ) that readest and beleeuest all this , bee infected , nay delighted in all these sinnes ? to receiue the name of a murtherer , acozener , a foole , a knaue , an idolator , a a sorcerer , a traytor , and a lyar ? oh most hellish titles to set out the flagge of infamye ! which to auoyde , seeing thy vildenes , and knowing thy weaknesse , praye to thy god , the god of goodnesse , to draw thee from the delight of wickednesse , vnto that delight of goodnesse , that may recouer thy credit lost , blot out the spots of thy shame in thy sinne , and through the dropps of the pretious bloud of his deere beloued sonne iesus ▪ to wash thee cleane from thyn● iniquities , make thee capabl● of his graces , thankfull for his blessings , and ioyfull in receiuing the gratious name of his faithfull seruant : and so much touching the consideration of the infamye orignominy of man. finis . conclusio . to conclude as a chirurgian , that hath receiued a woūd , hath many medicines & salues , which well applyed might giue him ease , and restore him to health ( though he haue knowledge how to make vse of them ) yet if he put not his knowledge in practise , shall either languish or perish through want of helpe , so in this woun● of the soule made by sinne whereas euery man must ▪ b● vnder god , his owne chirurgian and helper , though hee heare , reade , beleeue , and feele the goodnes of god many wayes , in his power , wisdome , loue , grace , and glorious mercy towards him , yet if hee do not meditate vpon the same thankfully , consider and truely confesse his vnworthinesse of the least part thereof , hee may either languish or pertish in the consuming paine of sinne , or dispaire of grace or mercy : looke then vpon the greatnes of god and the smalnesse of man ; the goodnes of god , and the vilenesse of man ; the wisdome of god , and the folly of man ; the loue of god , and the hate of man ; the grace of god , and the disgrace of man ; the mercy of god , and the tyranny of man ; and the glory of god , and the infamy of man : and fixing the eye of the heart vpon the one and the other , how canst thou but to the glory of god , and shame of thy selfe , with ablushing face , & trēbling spirit , falling prostrate at the feete of his mercy , in admiration of the greatnesse , kindnes , and goodnes , that the lord in his mercy hath extended vnto thee , but cry with the prophet dauid , oh lord what is man that thou doest visit him ? which comfortable visitation , when thou findest in thy soule , acknowledge in the greatnesse of his goodnesse , the wisdome of his loue , and glory of his mercy , that of so small , so vile , so foolish , so hateful , so tyranous , so disgracefull , so infamous a creature , by the infection of sinne , his glorious maiestie out of his mere mercy , will vouchsafe in the pretious bloud of his deare and onely beloued sonne iesus christ , to wash thee cleane from thy filthinesse , admit thee into his prefence , take thee into his seruice , loue thee as his sonne , and make thee coheire in that heauenly inheritance , which no power shall take from thee : but in ioyes euerlasting with his saints & angels , thou shalt cōtinually sing the true and due halleluiah , to his holy maiestie . thus i say , apply these spirituall considerations , to thy spirituall comforts , that god may the better blesse thee , thy reading well considered may the better profit thee , and my labour may bee the better bestowed vpon thee : which with praier for thy good , leauing to thy best cōsideratiō wishing the acknowledging the goodnes of god in all things , aboue all things to giue him all glory , i end with the prophet dauid ▪ o al ye works of the lord , blesse ye the lord , praise him & magnifie him for euer . finis . a prayer . o most gratious , almighty , most mercifull and holye , glorious & euer louing god , who from the highest throne of thy heauenly mercie , doost vouchsafe to beholde the meanest creature on the earth ! & aboue all , with a comfortable eye of a fatherly kindenesse , doost beholde man as the chiefe matter of thy workmanship ! and considering since his first fall by temptatiō , his weaknes in resisting the like assault , doost by the light of thy grace , make him see the difference betwixt good and euill , and by the inspiration of thy holye spirit , doost leade him from the traine of sinne , the true way to eternall happinesse : glorious god , that knowest whereof we are made , that our daies are but as a shadow , and we are as nothing without thee , who hath reuealed to the simple , and hid from the wise the secret wisdome of thy wil , & to me thy most vnworthy seruant hast so often shewed those fruits of thy loue , that makes mee asham'd to think of my vnthankfulnesse to thy holy maiestie , my forgetfulnesse of thy grace , and vnworthinesse of thy mercy : oh my lord , when i consider these things , with all other the manifolde blessings that from time to time i haue receiued from the onelye bountie of thy blessed hand , what can i doe but in admiration of thy greatnesse and contemplation of thy goodnesse , giue glorie to thy holy maiesty , & with thy chosen seruant dauid in the griefe and shame of my sinne , and only hope of thy mercie , in true contrition of heart , fall prostrate at thy feete , and flie only to thy mercie for my comfort : beseeching thee so to direct me in the waies of thy holy will , that seeing thy greatnes in thy good nes , & thy wisdom in thy loue , thy grace in thy mercie , and thy glorie in thy grace ; and confessing my weakenesse , vilenesse , folly , malice , sloath , & basenes , attend the worke of thy will , in working mee to thy holye will : giue me power to cōsider , that although i read neuer so much , beleeue all i reade , and remember all i beleeue , yet without one drop of the deawe of thy grace it will take no root in my heart : but good lord consider the corruption of nature through the infection of sinne , in which i accuse , not excuse my selfe vnto thee : make me to know thy will , let me rather crie before thee hosanna , with the little babes , then with the pharisies make boast of my righteousnesse , and as it hath pleased thy holy maiestie to make mee consider of thy mercies , so let these considerations ( by taking root in my hart ) be so comfortable to my soule , that loathing the world with al the vanities therof , i may in the teares of true penitence , shewe the sorrow of my sin , and in the ioy of thy mercie , i may sing to thy glory . amen . finis . errata . first consideration , page line for looke vp the heauens , reade looke vp to the heauens . the second consideration page . . line . for god reade good . the last page of the third consideration , the tenth line , for deuine reade dimme . strange nevves out of diuers countries neuer discouered till of late, by a strange pilgrime in those parts. breton, nicholas, ?- ? 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(eebo-tcp ; phase , no. a ) transcribed from: (early english books online ; image set ) images scanned from microfilm: (early english books, - ; : ) strange nevves out of diuers countries neuer discouered till of late, by a strange pilgrime in those parts. breton, nicholas, ?- ? [ ] p. printed by w. iones for george fayerbeard, and are to be sold at his shop at the royall exchange, london : . "to the reader" signed: b.n., i.e. nicholas breton. partly in verse. with a title-page woodcut. signatures: a-d⁴ (-a , d ). identified as stc on umi microfilm. reproduction of the original in the henry e. huntington library and art gallery. created by converting tcp files to tei p using tcp tei.xsl, tei @ oxford. re-processed by university of nebraska-lincoln and northwestern, with changes to facilitate morpho-syntactic tagging. gap elements of known extent have been transformed into placeholder characters or elements to simplify the filling in of gaps by user contributors. eebo-tcp is a partnership between the universities of michigan and oxford and the publisher proquest to create accurately transcribed and encoded texts based on the image sets published by proquest via their early english books online (eebo) database (http://eebo.chadwyck.com). the general aim of eebo-tcp is to encode one copy (usually the first edition) of every monographic english-language title published between and available in eebo. eebo-tcp aimed to produce large quantities of textual data within the usual project restraints of time and funding, and therefore chose to create diplomatic transcriptions (as opposed to critical editions) with light-touch, mainly structural encoding based on the text encoding initiative (http://www.tei-c.org). the eebo-tcp project was divided into two phases. the , texts created during phase of the project have been released into the public domain as of january . anyone can now take and use these texts for their own purposes, but we respectfully request that due credit and attribution is given to their original source. users should be aware of the process of creating the tcp texts, and therefore of any assumptions that can be made about the data. text selection was based on the new cambridge bibliography of english literature (ncbel). if an author (or for an anonymous work, the title) appears in ncbel, then their works are eligible for inclusion. selection was intended to range over a wide variety of subject areas, to reflect the true nature of the print record of the period. in general, first editions of a works in english were prioritized, although there are a number of works in other languages, notably latin and welsh, included and sometimes a second or later edition of a work was chosen if there was a compelling reason to do so. image sets were sent to external keying companies for transcription and basic encoding. quality assurance was then carried out by editorial teams in oxford and michigan. % (or pages, whichever is the greater) of each text was proofread for accuracy and those which did not meet qa standards were returned to the keyers to be redone. after proofreading, the encoding was enhanced and/or corrected and characters marked as illegible were corrected where possible up to a limit of instances per text. any remaining illegibles were encoded as <gap>s. understanding these processes should make clear that, while the overall quality of tcp data is very good, some errors will remain and some readable characters will be marked as illegible. users should bear in mind that in all likelihood such instances will never have been looked at by a tcp editor. the texts were encoded and linked to page images in accordance with level of the tei in libraries guidelines. copies of the texts have been issued variously as sgml (tcp schema; ascii text with mnemonic sdata character entities); displayable xml (tcp schema; characters represented either as utf- unicode or text strings within braces); or lossless xml (tei p , characters represented either as utf- unicode or tei g elements). keying and markup guidelines are available at the text creation partnership web site . eng - tcp assigned for keying and markup - aptara keyed and coded from proquest page images - paul schaffner sampled and proofread - paul schaffner text and markup reviewed and edited - pfs batch review (qc) and xml conversion strange newes ovt of divers covntries , neuer discouered till of late , by a strange pilgrime in those parts . the pilgrimes london , printed by w. iones for george fayerbeard , and are to be sold at his shop at the royall exchange . . to the reader . newes are more tolde then true , especially if they come farre off ; and if they be of state , they are dangerous to meddle with ; if of home-spunne threed , it is held little worth . stale newes are not worth the telling ; but a new matter neuer heard of before , will be hearkned after , though they be not worth the hearing : but yet a new thing of small price may be euery mans monie , especially if it take a liking in the humors of common people . such ware i haue sent to the market , newes from a strange countrie , of strange matters and stranze people , and among all , of one chiefe ruler of the vnruly . what is to be read and vnderstood , followes in the leaues following ; which if your patience will giue you leaue to peruse , you may finde more matter to laugh at , then imitate . such as it is , i leaue it to your censure , and so rest your wel-wishing friend , b. n. strange newes ovt of divers covntries , neuer discouered till of late , by a strange pilgrime in those parts . in a strange land , neuer found out till now of late in this present time , there was a kind of people that had great heads and litle wits , & strong bodies , but weake hearts . the men were onely knowne by their shapes from monsters , and the women onely by their tongues from pictures : the aged spent their time most in wearinesse , and the youthfull in wantonnes : their cities and townes were of ancient buildings ; their houses large within , and without beautiful , many roomes richly furnished , and with many pictures but few people : their gardens and orchards so full of flowers and fruites , and so finely dressed , planted and pruned , and weeded , that it seemed they made their pallaces their paradise : for by their hellish courses it seemed that they thought of no other heauen . nature being ( as it were ) the goddesse of their worship , when supernatural was too high for their capacities their apparel of diuers colours according to the varietie of their humors their churches like shops , and their wares bables ; their inuentions apish , and their fashions foolish ; while their wisdome going no further then the world , kept them from the wealth aboue the world . their language more full of eloquence then truth , and their actions of more craft then conscience . their priests reade a language , that often gauelleth their owne vnderstandings ; and their religion is without rule of grace . their deuotion is full of darknesse ; for they cannot see in the day time without a candle : and their prayers are by the dozen , when if they miss-tell one , they thinke all the rest lost . and for saints , they haue so many to serue , that the diuell wil not let them come at god. meetings they haue many , vpon small matters . their musicke is most in a iewes trumpe , and their dances are all without measure . feasts they make many times , when their flesh is guls , and their fish gudgeons . the rich are for the most part couetous , and the poore patient : for punishment is much more common then charitie . cuckolds they haue in communitie ; for they are not so wise as to account of honestie : and for wittals , they haue it growne to such a custome , that it neuer troubles their conceit . their wooing is like bargaining ; for their purses make their matches : and iealousie so holds in loue , as kils the comfort of kindnes ; when the agents for flesh , breake the order of fasting dayes . warres they haue seldom , and their quarels most vpon the cup ; their great ordinance are pot-guns , and their small shot halfe cans . their fields are commonly cellers , where they are so ouercome with kindnesse , that their forces are all ouerthrowne . when they are to trauell , they haue horses , but most of them hobbies , which commonly they buy at faires for small prices : and some few hackneys , that are such t●●s , that they will start at euery butterflie , and fall downe ere a man be well mounted . their riding is without spurres ; for their nagges are willing enough for their way . asses they haue many , which beare great burthens ; and when they haue laboured them all day , they walke them at night ; and they feed them poorely . their dogs are commonly little ones , and they are most of them called fancies , which when they grow olde they knocke them on the heads . cattell they haue store , and most of them cowes ; for there is hardly a house without a calfe : and swine a world ; for euery stie hath a sow or two in her . birds they haue many , but their chiefe pleasure is in wagtailes , that are pretie fowles , and euer pidling in water plashes . cuckoes they haue great store , but they sing onely in may ; and parrots very many , that talke strange things in their languages : and cock-sparrowes so many , that they can scarce find hens for their treading . duckes and geese in abundance , and they breed out of measure . other birds they haue , as tittimouses and robin red-breasts , larks and buntings , which were often caried to the markets , and bought for small prices . ringdoues they had many , but turtles very few . exercises they haue many but chiefly wrestling , when they haue more foiles then faire falls . sometime they vse riding of the wilde mare , shooing of the goose , and sho●ting at the conie . hunting they vse little , but to finde a hare at squat , a doe at laire , a foxe in a snare , a mouse in a trap , a woodcocke in a springe , or a blackbird in a pitfall . some strange trickes they haue to get mony with , as to make a begger speake like a lord , a foole like a wise man , a cobler like a captaine , and a boy like a wench ; but that is but for a time ; for when the date of the letter is past , the counterfet is conceiued , and the metamorphosis returneth to his owne shape . when there are any burials , they mourne much ; for the youthfull , because they die so soone ; for the aged , because they liued so long : for the wise , because there is so few left ; and for the foolish , because they want companie : for the rich , that they had no more for them , and for the poore , that they might haue prayed for them : wiues for their husbands , because they are vnprouided of new ; husbands for their wiues , because seldome comes the better : parents for children , because of the losse of hope of their goodnesse ; children for their parents , for losse of hope of the more goods . but their mournings were not long , for they lasted not so long as their apparell ; for out of sight , out of minde ; and they knew they must liue by the liuing , and not by the dead . the mony-men are very couetous , for they will not lose the scraping of a kettle ; and the women are very miserable , for when they make broth , though it be very thin , they will not lose the dropping of their noses . for the yong things , they are as wanton as kitlings , for they will play with a mouse , till they haue wearied her of her life : and for the aged , they are so melancholik , that the youthfull haue no pleasure in them . for louers , they are so foolish that they will weepe if they haue not their wils ; but if the groome get his bride , he will so pranke it , and she so prinke it , that while it is hony moone there wil be such ioy , as if summer should neuer heare of winter . languages they haue not many , and few that speake one wel : and for learning , it is most in obseruation ; for as the gander goes , the geese follow . their husbandrie is most in turning vp of fat earth ; and their corne is rie and oates , which they sow in the spring , and reape in the fall. diseases they haue not many , for labour sweates out ill humors but for their womē they are ful of qualmes , especially when they haue declined with the masculine gender . their trafficke is much for trumpery , and if they saue their stockes whole , they thinke they haue made a good market . their aduentures are fearfull , for they endanger the body for the soule : and their mindes are so fantasticke , that their wits are like weathercocks . friendship they regard not , but take it as they finde it : and for loue , it is so light , that they know not how to take hold of it . they haue among them certaine fortune tellers , which vse commonly among fooles : and for knaues , they are so cunning , that they go vnder the shadow of honest men . some odde shauers they haue among them , called die doppers , whose diuing or dopping somtimes proues deadly ; for they will diue so closely into your pocket for your purse , that you can hardly see them till they be vpon the gallowes . other kinde of close mates there are , that cary rings in their mouthes , to keepe their tongues within their teeth ; and they are called squiers , but they are onely of the order of the apple : their names are often recorded in a court of correction , where the registrer of rogues makes no little gaine of rascabilians . other kind of subtill companions there are , which are called setters , which finding yong heads that are too narrow in the browes , will feed their humors with such follies , as may either bring them to beggery , or in the height of an idle braine , for words aboue wit , breake the backs of their estates , or send them to heauen in a string . now these , they say , are great with the diuell , for they do a great deale of mischiefe in the world : their names are onely found in the notes of destruction , for by their hellish courses they sell themselues to damnation . other kind of knick-knackers there are , which betwixt knaue and foole can make an ilfauourd passage through the world . schollers they haue many , that are perfect in the home-book , who when they were yong , were taught their crosse-row , and to spell and put together , before they could well reade . they had moreouer a kind of rimers , which were great proficients to the players and pedlers , which are the fooles of poets , for they taste little of poetry , more then the last two letters : but for the pot , they may well challenge that badge , for it is the maintainer of their muses . now among all these , they haue a kinde of naturals , which get the start of better wits , for they are prouided for the backe and the belly , without care or labour ; and somtime haue accesse where better braines are barred out : and if they be she-fooles , they are kept fine and cleanly , to come and play with children and aged people . but among all these , it is set downe ▪ that there is one great foole of their owne chusing , that for a certaine time hath the commandement of most part of them , who during his time may do very much in little matters ; who with his copesmates , hauing in his hand the staffe of smal strength , and willing to shew the greatnesse of his little wit , for to make a stable of his gouernment , to the subiects of his supernoditie , set downe certaine articles to be obserued and carefooly to be lookt vnto , as they would answer it at their pleasure , and those scarce worth the printing ; yet were to be read in markets , faires , wakes , and merrie meetings , vpon such dayes as should be thought fit for such a purpose . first , that no sword should be carried before any of his magistrates , for all should be obeyed for good fellowship . secondly , that no man without legs should haue armes , lest a coate without sleeues should make a iacke an apes a gentleman . thirdly , that no man should keep two men in one liuery , lest the coate should not be fit when it came to wearing . fourthly , that no man should blush at the telling of a lie , because it was more common then truth . . no man must commit any secrets to a woman , lest it burst her heart before she haue reuealed it . . no man must kneele to a dead image , while there is one aliue for the purpose . . no man must go on foote if he may ride , lest his horse be founderd in the stable . . no landlord must let his trees grow too long , lest they proue dotards . . no widow must be afraid to marry , because one man may be like another . . no man must die for loue , lest a goose graze on his graue . . no man must denie his neighbours goose his gander , for feare of wanting goslings at goose faire . . no tradesman must be idle , for feare his wife be oue●busie● in prouiding for implements . . no sea-man must keepe his frigot vntrimd , lest she lose the opportunitie of a good voyage . . no man must be iealous of his wife , for feare it should not be without cause . . euery childe should know is owne father , if he could . . euery woman should know her husband from another man , if she likt him . . no foule woman should weare any mask , for feare of abusing the hope of beautie . . no faire woman should be painted , lest art should put downe nature . . euery woman must keepe close her husbands secrets , for feare of losing the comfort of her knowledge . . women must be honored for their wit , when they make fooles of the wisest men . . women must be pited for their trauell , for they take more paines in bearing of one childe , then a man doth in getting of twentie . . no man must be too learned , for feare he be thought to coniure . . no man must be too wise , lest he be troubled with too many fooles . no man must marry a scold , for feare he disquiet his neighbours , and be put to the height of his patience . . no man must lend any mony , to thinke euer to haue it againe . . no man must borrow more then he can pay , for feare of the losse of libertie and credit . . no man must meddle with an vsurer , for feare that interest eate out the whole stake . . no man must grow inward with a theefe , for feare of execution after infection . . no man must build castles in the aire , for feare they breake his necke in the falling . . no man mustly open his wiues secrets , lest she commit them rather to a wise friend then a foolish husband . no man must leaue an old friend for a new , for feare he lose by the exchange of his credit . no wise man must marry a foole , lest shee waste his goods , and corrupt the perfection of his capacitie . beggers must keepe from the alehouse , for feare they drinke out the reuenue of charitie . . rich men must not counterfet pouertie , lest the thiefe discouer the truth of their dissembling . . no man must be wise in his owne conceit , lest he proue a foole ere he be aware . . no man must talke to himselfe as he walkes , lest he be thought to be mad , or making verses . . no bankerout must purchase land , lest hee be thought to cozen his creditors with his breaking . . no man must conuerse with a witch , for feare he go to the diuell by atturney . . no man must put his land into mony , lest the bankerout runne away with his inheritance . . no man must cary two faces in a hood , for feare that the diuell be in one of them . . no woman must crie when she weepes , lest it be thought more for curst heart then any other cause . . no man must haue two wiues , lest one proue too much to be well managed . . no meetings but for meriment . . no bargaines but for a bag-pudding . . friends must not fall out . . neighbours must be friends . . patience was neuer angrie , and quietnesse was a goodly hearing . . fathers darling and mothers nowne childe , must be brethren and sisters children ; and cousin varmins remoued , must trust to the world as they finde it . these were the chiefe articles agreed vpon among his ninnihammers , which being published among poore fo●l●s , were kept as well as they could hit on it . now to the purpose , such a commonwealth for a dog , being gouerned by apes and asses , the great foole of all must needs be a strange beast , and yet in the shape of a man he walkes strangely through the world : and one thing among other he hit on strangely to saue charges in charitie , hee tooke this order for beggers , that rather then they should lacke lodging , they should sit in the stockes , and in stead of almes perswade them to fasting , because abstinence is a fit preparation to prayer . this little worshipful iohn a nods , in stead of a mistakē gentleman , hath bin in his youth brought vp in learning how to reade ilfauouredly , and to write worse , and yet with much adoe , after his schoolemistris an old woman with spectacles had taught him his primer , and the clerke of a country church had taught him to write a copie or two , and put his name to a bill lobligatorie , he grew to such a delight in reading of ballads and hearing of olde stories , that he bought at the second hand out of the librarie of little learning , some few bookes of his mothers language , which hauing kept long in an old chest did now serue him for his librarie : which bookes sometime asse he was able to finde idle time , which at the best is little better , he would now and then take out of his course cabbinet , and reade by peece-meales as it came into his addle braine : the names whereof , as i found them set downe , were these , i meane chiefly those whom his little vnderstanding tooke most pleasure in : presidents of imperfections , newes of no importance , and labour in vaine . and first for presidents of imperfections : he that would put out his eyes , because he would see no vanities , would be a blind man , and so an imperfect man. he that would cut out his tongue , because he would tell no vntruthe , should be a dumbe man , and so an imperfect man. he that would cut off his hands , because he would take no bribes , should be a lame man , and so an imperfect man. and as of men , so of women . a maide is no perfect woman , because without the helpe of man , she is onely called a maide , and not a woman . a widow is an imperfect woman , because with the losse of her man , she loseth the title of a woman , and is onely called a widow , but not a woman . a barren woman is no perfect woman ; for a woman was created to increase an multiply : till therefore she haue brought forth children , she is an imperfect woman , except the fault be in the man , and then he is an imperfect man , to put such imperfection vpon a woman . a whore is no perfect woman ; for euery woman is either a maide , a wise , or a widow ; and being neither of these , she must needs be a monster , and so an imperfect woman . a painted woman is no perfect woman , for all women by nature are either faire or foule : but if an artificial faire be set vpon a foule complexion , it makes but a speaking picture , and a picture is no perfect woman . these and such like were his presidents of imperfections , which for his poore instruction he would take some idle humors to bestow his blind sight vpon . the next booke was intituled , newes of no importance , which i found set downe as followeth . first , in the gulfe of small grace , neare to the coast of comgligrande , vpon the fourteenth day of the fifteenth moneth , in the strange yeare of foule weather , it is said , that in the passage boate betweene verola and gon●ria , two dangerous places for infection , the boate entring into the lake of lasciuiousnes , a very vnwholsome harbor , with ouercharging the vessell , perished a great number of poore people , who bringing but common ware to the market , and their greatest losses being asses and galled hackneys it seemed there was no great misse of them , for i find nothing worthy nothing written of them , and therefore being newes of no importance , they serued onely for a tale of a tub , to exercise the braines of such a hogshead . secondly , from the land of vnluckinesse , in the citie of sinfulnesse , it was reported that sir henrie had land , sir lawrence litle wit , and sir ninny nothing worth , three knights of the order of saint-asse , men of infamous memorie , after that they had runne through the courses of expences , without euer hope of recouerie of either coine or credit , going in the gulfe of canavery , to see a beare hunt a wilde ducke , fell by chance into a but of malligo , where they were drowned horse and foot : what became of their funerals , or epitophs vpon their deaths , hauing no matter in their liues to be recorded , i can say nothing , but that the newes being of no great importance , it is no matter for their passage out of life , but for feare of their passage to no better ; and so let them go , and as many fooles as will follow them . thirdly , in the iland of saint elfe , the great ladie of little worth , which was no lesse kinde to her neighbours , then readie to entertaine strangers , and for her recreation had set vp many may-poles in diuers places neare to her dwelling place . now for her diet , she vsed most to feede vpon such morsels as most fitted her appetite , especially such nourishing meates as best agreed with the constitution of her complexion ; when in an idle humour one euening she was so busie with a lobstart , that with a surfet vpon the same , she fell quezie stomackt , and so inflam'd her blood , that she grew fantasticke , and in a few nights after set many of her maypoles on fire , and in a little time after , with the extremitie of passion , fell into the falling sicknesse , which in a short time brought her carkas into a consumption , and so in a few dayes after into her last lodging in the earth : but for any great memoriall of her , i reade nothing , but that in her life time she had the breaking vp of youth , who since her death haue continued their course to their vtter condemnation ; but since that for any matter of great note , more then that shee was a notorious peece of pedlers stuffe , the newes being of no importance , it is no matter what became of her . . in the valley of saint grineums , the great lord of lo●zie bush , venturing to ride late in the night , and not seeing his way , fell into a deepe bog , where he was so bemir'd , that with a cold after a heate , he caught such a relapse , as that many of his copartners in his passages were greatly afraid that he would fall into a consumption both of bodie and goods : a great infirmitie , and hardly to be helped . but hearing no matter of worth in the man , nor any thing , but that he liued in all vnworthinesse , and died nothing worth ; the newes being of no importance , it is no matter what became of him , onely as a lord of langdebie●e , let him be well boiled , and serued in a messe of bruesse at a beggers table , and so let him go . . from the coast of careaway neare the cape of ill hope , there came newes of a little knight of great valour , sir walter whet whistle , who was of that force , that whosoeuer encountred with him , if he stood long with him , in the end he was ouerthrowne now there dwelt neare him one sir dogbolt driebread , who did oftentimes make a roade into his countrey , and vpon a time set vpon him with all his forces , thinking at vnawares to surprise with him ; of which an euill neighbour to them both , sir swines head great swallow hauing intelligence , with his armie came vpon them both , and so stoutly followed his fortune , that he tooke them both prisoners in the field , and made them both tributaries to his greatnesse . whether the newes be true or no , it is of no importance , and therefore onely fit for the great foole to feede his humour withall . . in the vnknowne iland , some twelue thousand miles from the great bay of port de pouero , where the watrie monsters keepe their court vnder water , it is reported , that in that land were great store of flesh , but little wholesome for the vse of man , sauing onely hares and conies , which well dressed would now and then serue the ●urne for a strong stomacke : for most of their other beasts were foxes , wolues , and badgers and polcats , which were the spoile of many yong lambs and sucking rabbets , yea and sometime of elder game . they had also in that country great store of foule and birds of diuers fethers , but few of them wholesome or toothsome , as dawes , rookes , crowes , night rauens , shrich owles , cormorants and guls , which feed vpon lambs , rabbets , mice , wormes , fish , carion and garbidge , but few of them whose flesh was fit to be serued at any table of account ; but among many other fetherd creatures , they had many balde buzzards which fed much vpon titrimouses and hedge sparrowes , which were no sooner out of the hedge , but they would be vpon them , and sometime so ouergorge themselues with them , that with foule feeding and ouerfeeding , they would fall flat on their backes , with their heeles vpward , so weake and faint , that euery crow might haue a picke at them . now the traueller into that country , who brought the newes from thence , being vnhappily by ill weather cast vpon that coast , and finding little or nothing to trade for , that might giue him hope of any gaine , hauing vpon a cold night lien watching at a coniborough , and scarce well , and wearie , in the morning making haste to get on boord , with a fit gale for his purpose , put out of an ill harbour , and gate roundly to sea , and safely returned home againe , sauing that he gat such a numnesse in his ioynts and stiffnesse in his elbowes , that he could scarce put his hand to his head , to take off his hat at the deliuery of his trauell of which hearing nothing worth any thing , being of no great importance , i found it serued onely for an idle foole , to fit the great humour of his little wit. . in the iland of a merricat , vnder the equinoctial line , in the straits of margerian in a swift current between the lake maudelina and the mouth of the riuer of allitia , by reason of certaine vnwholesome vapors that arose out of certaine sulphurous mines neare vnto the sea , diuers passage-boates perished , or grew so rotten , that if any of the passengers made shift to get home again , though with losse of their ware , and danger of their liues , yet neither they nor the vessels were euer fit for any good emploiment , or to any seruice of worth ; but being likely that either they were olde vessels that could abide no foule weather , or some small barkes that were swallowed vp in some swelling billowes , since the certaintie thereof is not yet knowne , and being doubted that some of them haue bin hotly shot at betwixt wind and water , till the returne of the next gazette , there is little to be said to it ; and being newes of no importance , it may passe for a fable among the like fancies to fit the fancie of such a foole. . from the desert of arabia it was reported that the people of that country liue strangely , neither by trade nor trafficke , fishing nor fowling , nor yet by cheating nor cozening , but by plaine theeuing ; so that betwixt them and the turkes there is such hauocke with killing and spoiling , that the poore friers in diuers places among them or neare vnto them are in pitifull feare of their liues : a great deale of land they haue , but ill inhabited , and fruit trees but few , and the fruit very watrie , and of little or no good nourishment . they are commonly well horsed , and weaponed for bowes and arrowes , darts and swords , but peeces few or none : and therefore being no matter of importance , the newes are not worth the noting , more then that it is a wonder that they should haue a king among them , that may be called the king of theeues : for being all outlawes , they must haue a strange kind of gouernment , which it should seeme is but during pleasure . now to these and such other toyes , hee had some odde discourses of labour in vaine , which were not many , but as they came to my hands i haue set them downe , which were as followeth . . in time out of minde , when beasts and birds could speake , and windes could whisle wondrous things , there was in a strange country a great bird like an eagle , that flying vp and downe in diuers places of the world ▪ espied by chance a far off a faire bird like a phenix , vpon a high rocks , sitting among a number of faire foules and sweete singing birds round about her , but she sat in a great maiestie aboue them all : now this other great bird in his pride scorning all birds but himselfe , and enuying the greatnesse of this faire blessed bird , called a councell of his kites together , to find out some deuice or other , wherby to seeke the death and ouerthrow , not onely of her , but of all the goodly foules and sweete birds about her . much talke there was how to bring this matter to effect , and the better to set it on work , before the enterprize was attempted , the great bird sent out certaine buzzards as spies to flicker about the coast of the country , where the faire bird kept her high flight , who being returned with matter of such maiestie , as bred increase of malice in the heart of the proud bird , he standing so much vpon his strength , that he thought no bird should be able to beare a fether in his frowne , commanded forthwith a number of cages to be made , in which he put a number of peacocks , woodcocks , dawes , rauens and crowes , guls and kites , to make warre with this faire bird and her fowles : which were no sooner put to sea , but a chattering pie in all places where she flew , cried , victorie , victorie : but hauing passed along the seas , neare the coast , they were encountred with such a flight of braue birds , as put the cages with all their forces to such a flight , as so draue them vpon the rocks and sands , that few of them were able to get home , with the hard newes of their heauie fortune : but when the great birde beheld the wofull spectacle of his drouping flight , hee fell into such an agonie , through a passion in his disgraced pride , finding his labor all in vain , stoupt his traine , hung downe his head , and shortly after turned vp his heeles . and thus ended his discourse of labour in vaine ; a tale of a tub without head or foote : and therefore , like a fable of the foxe and the goose , i leaue it to the gander with whom i found it . . in the iland of terra lorida , a place of great merchandize of small wares , neare the chiefe citie of nullibi , in an vniuersalitie , in stead of an vntuersitie , where schollers were as ill read as taught , there was a deepe studient in the secrets of nature , which labouring much to bring all to nothing , wrought day and night for the moone-shine in the water , when hauing spent both time and meanes , to worke wonders out of imaginations , finding nature not so subiect to art , but to keep her owne power in all properties , when his fire lacked fuell , his eyes were ouermatched , and a long hope of great substance went away all in smoke ; and while he laboured to marry the sunne and the moone together , there was such a cloud betweene his wit and the light of wisedome , that he could effect nothing to his purpose ; and that with the stone of philosophie , many braines had bin beaten long , and the head nere the better , with a great deale of griefe , and little hope of amends , walking one day to the sea side , and studying how to find out the cause of the ebbing and flowing of the sea , but neuer able to finde it out , saw as it were a vision , or rather some conceited apparition of a man lading of water into a pot , which though it was full and ranne ouer , yet he still laded in water : when this little well learned scholler wondring at his worke , asked him what he meant to do ? quoth he , as you doe , labour in vaine ; and so vpon the sudden vanished out of his sight , and left him so perplexed , that with very pittie to see the passion of the poore man , i awaked . . in the old time when hobgoblin and robin good fellow made country wenches keepe their houses cleane ouernight ▪ for feare of walking spirits should get into their chambers , and ere they were aware slip into their beds , and get them with child before morning . in a country village called lobkin the large , there dwelt a plaine dealing man , who with his wife a good breeding creature , with eating of mummada pudding and the inward of a beast , with the helpe of a pot of ale and ginger , found the means to fill the world with beggers : the poore man hauing passed many dayes in no small purgatorie with her intollerable tongue , which would call him by many more names then belonged to a christian , sought all the meanes to bring that vnquiet creature into some more peaceable course , pleasd her humor in all he could , but all would not suffice , but an eios hawke would euer be prating ; but when she was either at iacke or at feeding ; so this tatling gossip that tooke a continuall pleasure to heare her selfe speake , though seldome to any good purpose ; the poore man so tired out with trying all meanes he could to stay the ringing of this house bell , and finding his labour all in vaine , resolued to put on such a patience as was past all vnderstanding , and to let her talke till she was weary , which could be neuer while she had breath , and letting her haue her swinge till he could no longer suffer it , knowing a day appointed when they should ride to a wake or a wassell , a merry meeting of gossips and their assebands , her mare that she vsde to ride to market on , being then in the stable and fed with the best hey and oates , to please his dame , but little to her knowledge kept her from water a day and a night before she was to ride : but when the day came , and she was mounted and vpon her way , it fell out that they were to go through a deepe riuer , where the mare greedy of water to quench her thirst , as almost or rather stronger headed then her dame , ranne into the deepe , and stumbling in a hole , floundring out with much ado , threw her into the poole , and with much ado saued her selfe . when the poore man looking backe and not hearing her speake , who all the way before neuer held her peace , but was euer finding fault with the ill setting of her pannell , or the raines of her bridle , or the shooing of her neere foote , because she would now and then trip somewhat low , and so with one thing or other be euer finding fault to keepe her tongue wagging ; but when he could not heare her speake , and seeing onely her clothes appeare a little in the water , after he had got out his mare , called for helpe to get out his dame , in a maner dead ; which being layed on the bank , and the water powred out of her belly by her mouth , she gaue three or foure gasps , and opened her mouth as if she would haue spoken : whereat the poore man affrighted , started , and falling backward , me thought fell vpon me , and therewithall i awaked . and thus ended the dreame of the labour in vaine , to quiet an vnquiet and an intollerable scold . now this great foole had also in his librarie , in the bottome of his olde chest , certaine poeticall , or rather potticall dreames put into time , but for reason , more then for naturall capacities , i find little ; yet such as they were , and fitted the humour of his noddle pate , as i found them after his death , left for a legacie to his cousins loblollies , i thought good to set them downe in maner and forme following . and first , a dreame of a monkey and a bee. a kind of bee ( me thought ) did get into a monkies eare , who was more half horn mad to heare her kind of humming there : he pickt , he puld , he clawd , he scratcht , he mopt , he mowd , and cried , as if his vgly mastership would presently haue died . but as the bee came creeping out , he caught her by the wing , who for his labour in his hand did leaue a cruell sting : wherewith enrag'd , be eate her vp ; but yet did feele such pain , he wisht his hand were well , and she were in his head againe : when such a face the vrchin mads , with such a rufull looke , that with a laughter at the iest , i suddenly aw●●ke . a dreame of an oister and a crab. vpon the shore neare to the sea , an oister gaping wide , ley looking for a little food to come in with the tide : but hard by lay a crauling crab who watcht his time before , and threw a stone betweene the shels , that they could shut no more . the oister cride , ho neighbours , theeues : but ere the neighbours came , the crab had murtherd the poore fish , and fed vpon the same . when wondring that such craft did liue with creatures in the deepe , with troubling of my braines withall , i wakt out of my sleepe . a dreame of a foxe and a goose. a foxe came to a gooses pen , where she all brooding sat , and like a gossip sought with her to haue some friendly chat : and askt her how she did , and how her swelling grew so much , and he would helpe her if that he might but her temples tuch . i pray , quoth she , put in your head , that i may heare you speake : yea , thought the foxe , i le teach the goose and gander how to keake . when putting in his head , a dog that closely hidden lay , did quickly catch him by the snout , and pluckt a peece away . when home ran rainard to his bitch that lurked in his den , and told her that the goose had bit his nose off in the pen : out slaue , quoth she , get out of doores , doest thou come bleeding hether ? and say a goose bit off thy nose , and bring home nere a fether ? when laughing at this mad conceit , my thoughts so ran vpon , i wakt and saw nor foxe nor goose , but all were fled and gone . a dreame of a iack an apes , buls , beares and dogs . me thought within a bearards charge , among the dogs and beares , a sudden mastiffe set them all together by the eares : the beares vnmuzzld , dogs vnchaind , they fought and roar'd & cride , some ran away , and some to death the bloody quarell tride . the bearards scar'd to heare the noise , came out with clubs and staues , the master came out after them , and calld them carelesse slaues : when in among them brake the bull , in midst of all the fray , and as he met them , with his hornes he tost them euery way . the master berard gat him home , away the bearards ran , and iack an apes came onely in , to play the gentleman , who skipping vp vpon the bull , so bit him by the eares , that he had more ado with him , then either dogs or beares : for , to their house the beares gat home , the dogs in kennell coucht , and neither dog , nor bull , nor beare , that one another toucht : but iack an apes vpon the bull did so bestir himselfe , that i awakt with laughing at the knauery of the elfe . a dreame of a chough , a pie , and a parrot . me thought i saw a cornish chough stand chattring with a pie , dishuting on their colourd coates , which had the purest die . the pie she spake of iet and snow , and pitch , and milke and chalke , of blacke as inke , and lilly white , and thus her tongue did walke . to whom the chough replide , who knew what stuffe was best to hold ; what left would staine , and what would best abide both heate and cold ; spake onely for the russet coate , which country maidens ware , good huswiues and good husbandmen , and such as thriftie are : and how it makes the souldiers clothes , and courtiers winter weed , at lest such as vpon their clothes will spend no more then need . but as they thus did chattring stand , a parrot in a tree , cride , hah , hah , hah , ye foolish birds , be still , and looke on me : behold the colours of my coate , how gay i am and fine ; your russet , and your blacke and white , are liueries vnto mine . with that the chough cride , haw , away , and magpie chattring , cride , let vs away , this is some witch , or wanton child of pride ; or else some stranger , that so much vpon his colours stands , and bring in gaudes for giddie heads , to make them sell their lands . with that the parrot spide a foole , and flew downe to his fist . who strokt her fethers , calld her loue , and her most kindly kist . whereat the chough in feare or chafe , away did take their flight : and with their stuttring i awakt , and all were out of sight . a dreame of three cocks and a hen. me thought i saw two dunghill cocks were fighting for a hen , and by them stood a right bred cocke put vp within a pen : their gils were both as red as blood , their heads were both bent downe , and neither of them but did beare a cocks combe on his crowne : but as they spurd , it seemd their spight was nothing neare to death , they strucke so seldome , and twixt blowes they tooke so long a breath : the hen did cackle ( as it seemd to laugh ) to see the sight : when chaunticleere in chafe to see so base a coward fight , put ope the pen doore , and flew out and beate them both away , and trod the hen , and crow'd to shew how he did end the fray ; and with his hen he walkes and crowes with such a lustie cheere , that not a crauen cocke durst crow , at least , if he were neere . with that the cock-master came in , or he that kept the pen , tooke vp the cocke and put him vp , and shought away the hen. when to her came the dungbell cocks when chaunticleere was gone , who chucking laught within his pen , his sport to thinke vpon , and crowa so loud , that with the sound , the crauens were afright : and i awakt out of my sleepe , and all were out of fight . a dreame of a ducke and a goose. me thought i saw a little ducke into a brooke let loose , who in his pride did offer to swim wagers with a goose : the match was made , the gander keakt to see the ducke so catcht , and thought her but a simple thing to be so ouermatcht ; and on they went , but in their way , the ducke with diuing skill , when that then goose did looke for her , would be afore her still : the goose was strong , the ducke was quicke and nimble in her art , so much that many a foule did feare to take the gooses part : but ere they came vnto the place to win or lose the match , for feare the ducke with some odde craft , the goose might ouercatch , the gander ran vnto the cranes and cormorants , and praid , before the match was won and lost , the wager might be staid : who being sent for , quickly came before the greater birds , who bad them on their loues and liues , to listen to their word : and that all quarels might haue end , that had bin brought in thither , it was agreed the ducke and goose should kindly swim together : with that the gander keckt for ioy , the ducke as fast did quacke , and i with laughing at the sport , out of my dreame did wake . a dreame of a swan and a goose. me thought i saw a faire cock swan that had a hen swan such , as if a swan knew how to loue , he could not loue too much : for she was faire and smoothe and white , and to her cocke as true , as any creature of her kinde , or any bird that flue : he trod her oft , and had by her a faire and kindly breed , and in the streame they kindly did together swim and feed : but in a mistie day by chance a goose came swimming by , and at the swan did seeme to cast full many a wanton eye : he trod her , and along the streame away with her went he , and left his hen , a thousand times a goodlier bird then she . but when the owners of the swans did come their birds to marke , and like good birders kindly knew a bunting from a larke : seeing the goose swim with the swan , they tooke her by the necke , and gaue her such a twinge that she scarce able was to kecke ; they pluckt her bare , and cut her wings , and after let her go , and let her gander aske the cause why she was handled so : but as she swam a buzzard kite did beate at her so sore , that with her keaking i awakt , and saw the goose no more . a dreame of a bucke casting of his hornes . me thought i saw a gallant bucke had newly cast a horne , which made him seeme a goodly beast when it was brauely borne : and rubbing of the other horne which did disgrace him so , that of a faire and goodly beast , he did ilfauourd grow : he lost the beautie of his head , and his defensiue armes , which both did grace him , and oft times preserue him from great harms . now as i will beh●ld the beast , me thought a keeper came , and said , my friend , now may you see how nature hath her shame , of beautie and of armes at once to leaue him naked so , that now among his gallant mates he hath no heart to go : but if it be such valour be and beautie in a horne , why should they blush that beare the horne ? and haue it so in scorne ? when smiling at the sudden ierke , and closing of the iest , i wakt , and 〈◊〉 it but to be a vision of a beast . a dreame of a peacocke and an asse . me thought i saw within a field , where i along did passe , two creatures that each other fac't , a peacocke and an asse : the peacocke spred abroad his taile , the asse set vp his eares ; the peacocke leerd vpon his traine , the asse did licke his heares : but at they thus each other brau'd , the asse began to bray , wherewith the peacocke sore afright did take her flight away ; wherewith the asse did smile that he his valour did so trie , that with a word but of his mouth he made the peacocke flie : but when the peacocke sang his song , he scared so the asse , that he to go as all amaz'd , he knew not where he was : but what with tone and tothers noise , they did such musicke make , that i awakt out of my dreame , and glad i was awake . a dreame of a wilde boare and a huntsman . me thought within a forrest wide i saw a great wilde bore , who as the common people said , annoid the country sore : he brake into their fields of corne , and spoild their wheate and rie , and rooted vp their pasture grounds , and on their pease would lie , tore vp their hedges , rend their pales , and spoild their gard●●s grounds , and when they set their dogs at him , would kill their little hounds : when from a high wood issued out both men and dogs apace , and with a crie of mastiffe curres did take the bore in chase , who scouling set his bristles vp , and champed with his chaps , and with his tusks vpon the ribs , full many a curre he claps , and ouer hedge and ditch he goes , and all the chase withstood , and fumes and fomes and suuffes as he were master of the wood : but close behind a tree there stood a huntsman with a dart , who twixt the shoulders and the rib did strike him to the heart : when vp the bore turnd both his heeles , the huntsman all came in , and all the mastiues and the curres did such a crie begin , and such a shout the people made , as if the aire had rent , wherewith i wakt , and marueld what this kind of hunting meant , finis . a merrie dialogue betvvixt the taker and mistaker breton, nicholas, ?- ? approx. kb of xml-encoded text transcribed from -bit group-iv tiff page images. text creation partnership, ann arbor, mi ; 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(eebo-tcp ; phase , no. a ) transcribed from: (early english books online ; image set ) images scanned from microfilm: (early english books, - ; : ) a merrie dialogue betvvixt the taker and mistaker breton, nicholas, ?- ? [ ], p. [by r. field] for iames shaw, and are to be sold at his shop neare lud-gate, imprinted at london : . dedication signed: nicholas breton. printer's name from stc. reproduction of the original in the henry e. huntington library and art gallery. created by converting tcp files to tei p using tcp tei.xsl, tei @ oxford. re-processed by university of nebraska-lincoln and northwestern, with changes to facilitate morpho-syntactic tagging. gap elements of known extent have been transformed into placeholder characters or elements to simplify the filling in of gaps by user contributors. eebo-tcp is a partnership between the universities of michigan and oxford and the publisher proquest to create accurately transcribed and encoded texts based on the image sets published by proquest via their early english books online (eebo) database (http://eebo.chadwyck.com). the general aim of eebo-tcp is to encode one copy (usually the first edition) of every monographic english-language title published between and available in eebo. eebo-tcp aimed to produce large quantities of textual data within the usual project restraints of time and funding, and therefore chose to create diplomatic transcriptions (as opposed to critical editions) with light-touch, mainly structural encoding based on the text encoding initiative (http://www.tei-c.org). the eebo-tcp project was divided into two phases. the , texts created during phase of the project have been released into the public domain as of january . anyone can now take and use these texts for their own purposes, but we respectfully request that due credit and attribution is given to their original source. users should be aware of the process of creating the tcp texts, and therefore of any assumptions that can be made about the data. text selection was based on the new cambridge bibliography of english literature (ncbel). if an author (or for an anonymous work, the title) appears in ncbel, then their works are eligible for inclusion. selection was intended to range over a wide variety of subject areas, to reflect the true nature of the print record of the period. in general, first editions of a works in english were prioritized, although there are a number of works in other languages, notably latin and welsh, included and sometimes a second or later edition of a work was chosen if there was a compelling reason to do so. image sets were sent to external keying companies for transcription and basic encoding. quality assurance was then carried out by editorial teams in oxford and michigan. % (or pages, whichever is the greater) of each text was proofread for accuracy and those which did not meet qa standards were returned to the keyers to be redone. after proofreading, the encoding was enhanced and/or corrected and characters marked as illegible were corrected where possible up to a limit of instances per text. any remaining illegibles were encoded as <gap>s. understanding these processes should make clear that, while the overall quality of tcp data is very good, some errors will remain and some readable characters will be marked as illegible. users should bear in mind that in all likelihood such instances will never have been looked at by a tcp editor. the texts were encoded and linked to page images in accordance with level of the tei in libraries guidelines. copies of the texts have been issued variously as sgml (tcp schema; ascii text with mnemonic sdata character entities); displayable xml (tcp schema; characters represented either as utf- unicode or text strings within braces); or lossless xml (tei p , characters represented either as utf- unicode or tei g elements). keying and markup guidelines are available at the text creation partnership web site . eng - tcp assigned for keying and markup - apex covantage keyed and coded from proquest page images - emma (leeson) huber sampled and proofread - emma (leeson) huber text and markup reviewed and edited - pfs batch review (qc) and xml conversion a merrie dialogve betvvixt the taker and mistaker . imprinted at london for iames shaw , and are to be sold at his shop neare lud-gate . . to my verie loving , and approved good friend , the lover of all vertves and labourer in good studies , signor iohn florio , per fect reader of the italian language , nicholas breton wisheth , worthy aduancement of many good de serts , encrease of comforts , and eternall happinesse . vnthankfulnesse is too great an vnkindnesse to come neare the nature of any good disposition ; and therfore , to auoide the desert of so ill a touch , to manifest my good will in more desire then ability , i haue giuen you a token of my loue , in a litle fruit of my labour : wherein if i be not mistaken in my conceipt , you shall find somewhat worth the taking view of . the dialogue is not tedious , nor the matter so serious , but it may passe the musters of a merry humor : wherein the taker shall find how he may be mistaken , and the mistaker , how he may be taken . my hope is you will take all in good part , and smile at them that are so mistaken in their wits , that they know not well , what to take well . but lest i take too long a time , in troubling you with a longer preface , then either the matter requireth , or your patience will admit : with many thankes for your many vndeserued kind passages ( of which , i haue taken such remembrance , as i hope shal one day be better considered ) leauing my booke to your kind patronage , and my loue to your like employment ; i rest alwayes your affectionate poore friend , nicholas breton . to the reader . if i be not mistaken , there are many takers & mistakers in this world , who take themselues to be wise with a litle wit , & rich with a litle welth . some are taken for religious , that with their hipocrisie cousin a number of simple people : other are taken for good men , that haue a litle more wealth then honestie : and some are taken for fooles , that haue more conscience then cunning : but happie are they , who take the right course to their soules comfort . in this discourse following , you shall see diuerse pretie passages betwixt the taker and the mistaker , perhaps as pleasing for the mirth , as prof●●●ble for the matter . now how euery one will take it , i know not . the best mindes i know will take nothing ill , that is meant well ; and for the worst , they know not how to take any thing well , how good so ere it be : and therfore intreating euery man to take it as he list , lest i should be beholding to i know not whom for i know not what , i leaue to the printer to take his price , and you to take your pleasure ; and so rest your friend , if i be not mistaken , nicholas breton . a merrie dialogue betwixt two trauellers . dorindo , and lorenzo . lorenzo well met , how doest thou this faire morning ? lor. a thousand good morrowes to mine honest dorindo : but how goes the world man ? no newes stirring worth the hearing ? dor. more then are true , or worth the telling : and therefore i had as leeue hold my peace , as haue no thankes for my tatling : but i pray thee tell me , where hast thou bene this many a day ? i heard that thou hast bene ouer the water , i know not how farre . lor. indeed the sea is a pretie brooke to wade thorough , and a yeares trauell will treade a pretie peece of ground : but to tell you where i haue bene , i cannot ; for my way was long , and my memorie is short : but had i time to tell thee that which i could , ( at least if my memorie would serue me ) i should make thee like the better of home , and the worse of trauell while thou liuest . dor. and why , i pray thee ? lor. it is not so soone answered , but rather let me say , why not ? for much daunger , and more feare , litle safetie and lesse gaine , made me wish either to haue knowne lesse , or somwhat more worth the knowing . lor. i pray thee why ? were thine eyes not matches , or thy wits out of order ? dor. truely whether the fault be in my wits , or mine eyes , i know not : but i am sure i was so ouertaken in mistaking of euery match that i met withall , that i had as leeue almost be an ignorant , as deceiue my selfe with imagination . lor. true , for as good to lose thoughts , as to lose by them : but whence or whereupon grew this griefe of yours ? dor. i tell you by mistaking . lor. but how i pray you ? dor. why , the first thing that i was mistaken in , was my selfe : in whome i was the most mistaken of any thing in the world . for , with onely a litle obseruation , i was perswaded , that there was no matter of woorth , but i had it by heart ; and for trifles , i wold not be troubled with them : but , whē that reason came to ripping vp of the secrets of wisdomes intelligence , i saw my wit so wilfull , that i was mistaken in all matters that i met with . lor. what , men , women and children ? dor. yea , onely in them : for touching other creatures , i made no great care of my conceipt of them . but now to tell thee , in my trauels how i was mistaken : to runne ouer all my courses , it were too tedious , let suffice as much as may make thee mery to heare , and wise to remember . first , when i left my countrie and came a boord the buon-à-venture , we had no sooner weighed anker , hoissed sailes , and put to sea , but with a fresh gale of wind , and faire weather , we were so merie aboue hatches , that me thought there was none so merie aliue as the saylers . but we had not thus passed fiue leagues , till the skie was ouercast , the wind came about and grew high , the aire thicke and foggie , and the drizling raine came so beating in our faces , that we were glad to get vnder hatches : where we were scarcely set in our cabines , but the tempest grew so great , the winds so rough , and the waues so high , that we were glad with throwing out almost all the goods into the sea , to saue our liues in the bare vessell . now when i came on shore , well moiled and poore , hauing lost all that i had abord , more then a litle mony in my purse , which was so litle , as that i will say litle of it : i beganne to thinke with my selfe how i was mistaken , to thinke , that one faire day , and a litle faire weather , could make me think , that the saylers life ( which euery minute is subiect to daunger of one harme or other , and betwixt a bord and the water , hath a walke , but in a short and vnsteadie roome ) should be compared to the land life , where there is pleasure in the faire weather , and shilter against the foule , and no feare of wind nor water , nor many other daungers which i will omit to speake of . and in steade of a whirle poole in the water , a walke large enough to walke man and horse too , till they were both wearie . nowe here was my first mistaking . lor. it may be , if the weather had held faire , and that you had met with a good prize , you would not haue thought your selfe mistaken in the merie life of the mariner . dor. indeed sometime the ioy of taking , helpes the miserie of mistaking . lor. yea , but when the theefe that hath taken a purse , if he be ouertaken in the high way , and so take the gallowes for his inne , that ioyfull taking in the beginning brings a sorrowfull mistaking in the end . dor. well , as for that part , it is none of my play , and therefore i will leaue it to them that loue it . now to tell thee of my second mistaking . when i had bene a litle on shore , had weathered my selfe , dried my clothes , filled my belly , and emptied my purse , i now beganne to thinke how my wits should worke for my welfare : and first , intending to seeke intertainment of some noble person , that would honourably looke into the vertues , valour , and good qualities of a good mind , i began to put on a resolution to aduenture any fortune , and indure any discomfort , that might be a hinderance to my happines . and with this resolution trauelling till i was wearie , almost penilesse , and exceedingly hungrie , i came to the view of a goodly , faire , & gorgeously built house , which stood as it were a mile from a citie neare adioyning . now in hope there to find some such person , as i before spake of , i began to rowze vp my selfe , as one that had an assured hope , at least of some good victuall , i meane of a good dinner scot-free , howsoeuer otherwise fortune would be my friend . when , ere i would approach too neare the house , lest i should be seene in any vnfit manner , i combed my beard , gartered vp my stockings , trussed euery point , buttoned euery button , and made my selfe readie in the best maner i could , to appeare before the presence of such as i should meete withall in this gallant mansion . but when i came neare vnto the house , and finding the doore shut , i did imagine ( being about the mid time of the day ) that the seruants were all at dinner , and the lord of the house either laid downe to sleepe , or gone into his closet , to talke vpon some accounts with his ladie : but hearing no sound of any noise , nor voice within of either man or dogge , i feared some ill fortune , that there was some great sicknesse , or daunger of death that might dampe the spirits , and so cause the sorrow of the whole house : but staying awhile , and neither hearing any voice within , nor any poore creature without at the gate , that might hope of almes from the hall , i feared the charitie within was so litle , that my comfort without would be according : but after that i had stood awhile , loth to lose time , i knocked at the doore ; where i knocked long , before i had any answer , and in the end was saluted at a windowe farre within by an old fellow , who it should seeme , to saue a groat had slept out his dinner ; whose speech ( with a wide mouth gaped out ) was this : what lacke you ? my friend ( quoth i ) i pray you let me speake with you . no ( quoth he ) i cannot come downe , i am busie , my maister is not at home , and here is no bodie in the house but i and my wife , and she is not well : but say your errand and i will heare you . my errand thought i , was there euer such a kennell for such a curre ? doth he take me for some sorie fellow , or hath he no better kind of greeting for strangers ? and thus while i stood musing and fretting at my fortune and this bad fellow , he shut the window : and i with a sigh , to see how i was mistaken in this faire house , turning me from it , i met with a foole in a pyed coate , who looking vpon me after he had ouerlaughed himselfe , told me : sir , you are mistaken , this is a banquetting house , where the gazers are onely fed with conceipts , for there is not a chimney that smokes , nor a doore open , it is called mock-begger , ha , ha , ha . now when the foole went thus laughing away , and left me more foole to tarie there . before i stirred my foote , out of my pocket i tooke my table booke , in which i writ downe my second mistaking . lor. indeed this is too common a mistaking in many countries , but it may be you might haue taken it in such a time , as might haue giuen you cause to haue spoken better of it : but indeed faire houses are for rich men , and cottages for the poore : and therefore being in that predicament , it is no maruell you had no better entertainement . but i pray you proceed with your trauell . dor. i will tell you , melancholy walking a litle from this mocke-begger , i began to frame my selfe to the humour of a cunning begger : when meeting with a graue old man ( who by his veluet coate , his golden chaine , and his rich furred gowne should seeme to be at the least some rich burgor , if not some burga-maister of some city ) this well apparelled picture with a kind of life that gaue the body leaue to cary the head vpon a square paire of shouldiers , i in hope to find more comfortable then the faire house maister mocke-begger , i saluted with a great reuerence ; & requited with a proud nod , i yet aduentured to bord with a few words . when hoping to haue found him a man of no lesse vnderstanding spirit , to iudge of the estate and conditions of men , then bounty , in the reliefe of the vnfortunatly distressed , i fell aboord with him with these words . sir , i thinke you haue heard of the hard fortune of the buon-auenture , who put into your harbor this other night , hardly sauing her life , with losse of all her goods , and some of her peoole . my selfe , with much ado well weather-beaten as you may see , with some few that lie sicke in the hauen , got to shore , and am now trauelling towards your city here before me . loth i am to enter into any base course for my comfort : but , if i might be beholding to your good fauour , in this time of my distresse , giuing me your name withall , i doubt not if i liue , but either by my selfe , or my better friends , to find a time , either to requite or deserue it . he , as one whose heart was so shut vp in his purse , that he vnderstood nothing but ware and money , after a harsh humme , or two , gaue me this answer : was there nothing saued of her goods i pray you ? what was her fraught ? sit , quoth i , it was most silkes and spices , but some pearle , and money , more then would haue bene willingly lost . good commodities , quoth he ; by my fay , a shrewd mischance : i am sory for ye , i would i could do ye good , but i am now in hast going about a litle businesse , and therefore i cannot stand to talke with you , god be with you ; the towne is hard before you , you will be there anon : but , if you haue any iewels or pearle that you haue saued , i will giue you mony for it , if i like it . truly sir , quoth i , iewels i haue not many , onely two rings on my fingers , and this bracelet of pearle i haue saued : my bracelet cost me a hundreth crownes , if it please you to haue it of the price it cost , though against my will , i will part with it . with that vpon his bottel red nose he claps on a paire of spectacles , and looking on my pearle , found fault with the roundnesse , and the clearenesse , and i know not what else , till at the last , thinking to make a gaine of my misery , he offered me ten crownes : saying , that he had no need of it ; but rather then be disfurnished of mony ( being a stranger ) he would aduenture so much on it : whereat , i swallowing a sigh , and concealing my discontent , desired him to pardon me , i hoped to find some of my countrimen in the city , that i would be as bold , as i might withall . thus , with an idle word or two , did i leaue this good old gentleman , in whom how much i was , and many moe , no doubt , haue bene mistaken , i referre to the iudgement of those that can spell him without booke , & may desire neuer to come neare him within booke . this was my third mistaking : to take the shadow of a man , and the substance of a money-bagge , without charity , or humanitie , by the hypocriticall figure of grauitie , to be a creature of vnderstanding , a man of honour , and a blessed relieuer of the miserable . lor. alas how many thousands are so mistaken ? why , the blessed saints holinesse , the martyrs faithfulnesse , the virgines purenesse , and the prayers of the elect , i haue heard , and read of : but i neuer heard of any rich apparell , or chaines spoken of among them ; for god blesse vs from it , some say the diuell hath a chaine wherein he leades a number into hell ; but i hope it is not gold . i know not that , but i thinke not , for murtherers hang in iron chaines , and therfore he wil not be at cost with them , all alike : but how he doth with the couetous , the lecherous , and the ambitious , that knoweth god and not i. but shall i tell you further of my mistakings . lor. yes , for gods sake . dor. then let me tell you . lor. i had scarcely got within the gates of the city , but that it was my hap to meete with a countrey man of mine owne , and somewhat of alliance vnto me . this man at first seeming to be glad to haue met me in that city , promising me to bring me accquainted with some other of my country men , and that he would be ready to do me all the pleasure he could : this did not a litle content me , hoping that for countrey , and kindreds sake , i should find no litle friendship . but after that he had made me know three or foure of my country men , and brought me to an inne , where for my mony i might lodge , neither inuiting me to dinner or supper , onely was content to take a cup of wine of me , and to tell me that he hoped to drinke with me before my going out of towne : thus was i mistaken both in kin and countrey , to hope of any comfort . but the next morning comming to a tailors house ( which was likewise a countrey man of mine ) i had no sooner talked with the good man , about the pawning of my bracelet , and taking vp of some stuffe for my apparell , but his wife in an inner roome , almost as quicke of eare as of tongue , with a wide gaping mouth came to vs with this greeting : go too , goodman-goose , meddle with no pawning nor taking vp , you haue payed inough for playing the foole , and yet will be an asse still ? i pray you wife quoth he , be quiet : and then to me , truly gentleman , i would be glad to do you any pleasure , but i haue such a wife that i dare do nothing without her consent : if you bring your stuffe i will do it you , as well and as good cheape as any man. now , i that tooke him to haue bene the maister of the house , was much mistaken , for the woman ware the breeches , and he was to worke for the house : when pitying the poore mans case , and much commending his patience , sory to thinke how i was mistaken , i tooke another course for my contentment . i was not long in towne before i had learned how to turne pearle into gold , and gold into siluer , and so to furnish my selfe of such necessaries , as i found most fitting for my vse : when there passed not many dayes before i fell vpon another fortune , where i was as i was still in euery thing mistaken . lor. i pray you tell it , we haue time inough , and i long to heare it . dor. i will tell you . it was my hap after that i had done my deuotion in the church , and holy places , passing through the streetes , beholding as well the faire houses , as sweete creatures at their doores and windowes ; to cast mine eye vpon a very artificiall faire , sharpe witted , wanton eyed , and faire handed , small footed , straight bodied , and , as i after found , smooth tounged gentlewoman : i say gentle , for she was so gentle , that she was as tame , as a litle filly , that had bene brought vp al by hand . this fine mistresse , i had some hope to do some good vpon , when setting a good face on the matter , after a courteous salutation i fell to kissing of her hand : which she endured with such a pleasing smile , as gaue me cause to proceed further in my purpose . i had not so soone beganne to go about her , but she had me at euery turne , and in the midst of my talk wold be fidling with a ring , in which was a painted diamond , that i ware on my finger , which she would commend with wishing her hand worthie such a fauour . now i that hoped to haue found so gallant a wench , as francke handed , as free hearted , and as liberall for loue , as ready for entertainement , found that artificiall beauty , was but a shadow , or rather couer of couetousnesse , or an instrument of wit , to draw on folly , into the ruine of prodigality : so that , here i found my selfe so mistaken , that it made me afraid a long while after , to be busie with the female kind . lor. in truth this was a prety mistaking : but if she had bene for you , and would haue mistaken you for her husband , by whom you might craftily haue bene taken , and so bene caried to bride-well , or payed for your pardon ; what a taking would you then haue bin in ? dor. i know not , but t is better , as it was : for as i found it , so i left it . i only spent a few faire words , but not a peny mony , for i would not pay for my repentance : but so leauing her , as i found her , with a bazo los manus , went about my other businesse : which i had not long followed , but i fell vpon another mistaking . lor. what may that be , if you can remember ? dor. i will tell you . it was my hap to heare of a gallant captaine that was to do a peece of seruice vpon a citie of the turks , vnder whom who could get entertainement , might quickly purchase both honor and wealth . now , my youth being trained vp in armes , and my fortune falling vpon such a point , it was not long before i made and got meanes of entertainement at the hands of this gallant souldier , of whom i hoped to receiue the due of my desert : but after that he had in many desperate peeces of seruice employed me , and saw in me that true valour , that made him in the enuie of my good deserts , feare some neare pressing towards his pride , in stead of aduancing my fortune , or rewarding my seruice , he still put me vpon such continuall exploits , as threatned euerie houre narow escape of my life . but in the end seeing his miserie , to make a gaine of those that did him honor , handfasted to the well deseruing , and rather plotting the death , then aduancing the fortunes of the valiant , got meanes for my discharge from him ; and sory to think how i was mistaken in him , as i tell you , i left him : when i had not gone farre , but i light vpon another mistaking . lor. and how i pray thee ? if it be not troublesome to thee to recite it , i pray thee let me heare it . dor. you shall . the mistaking of a diuine . it was my hap in a litle field neare vnto a church in a countrey towne , to ouertake a litle old man in agowne , a wide kassock , a night-cap , and a corner-cap , by his habite seeming to be a diuine ; of whom i was in hope to find that sacred fruit of charity , that might be some comfort in my returne : whom beginning to salute with a few latine words : my friend , quoth he , do not deceiue your selfe , i vnderstand not your greeke . we here , that dwell farre from the citie , and are not troubled with fine eares to our reading , care for no more but to discharge our duties in our places , i meane of a vicar , for i am no better : the parson is a man of greater place , and of faire possessions , who dwelleth a great way hence , and therefore seldome comes into this countrey . i vse twise a yeare to bring him his rent , and perhaps a couple of capons against christmusse , for my land-lady , and that is as much as they look for . and for my parishioners , they are a kind of people , that loue a pot of ale better then a pulpit , and a corne-ricke better then a church-doore : who comming to diuine seruice , more for fashion then deuotion , are contented after a litle capping and kneeling , coughing and spetting , to helpe me to sing out a psalme , and sleepe at the second lesson , or awake to stand vp at the gospell , and say amen at the peace of god ; and stay till the banes of matrimonie be asked , or till the clarke haue cryed a pyed stray bullocke , a blacke sheepe or a gray mare : and then , for that some dwell farre off , be glad to be gotten home to dinner . now we that haue no more liuing then will hardly serue to keepe a poore house , are not in case , god helpe vs , to do any thing for our poore brethren ; and therfore my good friend trouble vs not with other speech then we vnderstand , lest if you come afore the constable , he take you for some coniurer , and so bring your selfe to some trouble , which i would be sorie to see : for truly you seeme a handsom man ; god hath done his part in you : god be with you . oh lord ( thought i ) is this man possible to be a church-man , and knoweth so litle what belongeth to the church ? well , this was no litle mistaking : but going a litle further , leauing this poore sir ienkin to his mother tongue , i ouertooke a plaine fellowe to my seeming , clad in a home-spun ierkin of russet wooll , a paire of close breeches of the same , a falling band somewhat courser then fine cambricke , a payre of wollen stockings , and a halfe boote , like a good high shooe . now , this plaine outside , i guessed to be lined with no excellent stuffe in the inside : and therefore somewhat more boldly then rudely saluted him in this manner : good fellow , well ouertaken . you are welcome , quoth he : but to clappe a man on the shoulder before you knowe him , is a point quite out of the rule of all good manners , at least that euer i learned . alas , quoth i , goodman clowne , can your nose abide no ieast : yes sir , quoth he , with my friends ; but mine eares haue no pleasure in a foole . this touching me too neare the quicke , replyed againe : oh sir , quoth i , then if your friends be fooles , you will shake hands with thē ; but a straunger will put you out of patience . he litle moued herewith , ( as it seemed ) made me this answer : my friend , i pray you keepe your way , i would be loth to hinder your walke : but if your passion be no greater then my impatience , we shall not fall out for a trifle . but sir ( quoth i ) how might i fall in either with your selfe , or such another , for a matter of good earnest ? it seemes you are a man of sence , and had i not giuen you cause of displeasure which i am sorie for , i wold haue acquainted you with somwhat , that by your good means , i might perhaps be the better for . truly sir , quoth he , my estate is not such as can make me bountifull to the best deseruing ; but so farre as discretion will giue me leaue , i would be glad to pleasure a stranger . my house is not far hence , but on the further side of this field ; whither ( if it may be no great hinderance to your trauell ) i wil intreat your patience to a pore pittance , and if in either my aduise , or better meanes i may stead your desire , you shall find that you do not looke for ; nothing that you shall pay for ; and somewhat that perhaps you shall thanke me for : and therefore , i pray you beare me companie for this night ; to morrow you shall take your iourney at your pleasure . this kind offer ( hauing no reason to refuse ) i tooke most thankefully : and by the way after a few discourses of my fortunes , i acquainted him with the resolution of my intent ; which was , either to serue in the warres , or in court , or to professe some trade , or to followe my studie . to which , i asked his aduice for my good , in all and euery one of them : to which , as i propounded the question , he made me this aunswer . and first , quoth he , my friend , i am sorie , by these your discourses , to haue occasion to call to mind the folly of my youth , which taught me nothing in mine age , but the repentance of lost time : but for that i haue tried fortune to the vttermost of her malice , and in the end am come to that you see , i would be glad to tell you a merrie tale , how i was mistaken in many courses , before i hit on the right compasse : in which , if you can gather any thing for your good , i shall thinke it the best gaine that i haue made of it . now finding this vnlooked for and vndeserued kindnesse at his handes , and nothing more fitting the humour of my fortune at that time , i intreated him most heartily , to make me in this first to be beholding to him . whereupon , with a very litle preamble he fell into this plaine trot : i will tel you , quoth he , when i was yong as you are , and had as litle to care for as you haue , being broght vp at home with ease and plentie , and wearie of welfare , would faine haue i know not what , when hauing the world more at will , then wit to gouerne my affections , and a desire to see more then i could well carie away , thinking my mothers best creame but bare milke ; and others thinnest milke , as good creame as might make butter ; taking leaue of no friend , and flattering my thoughts with fortune , i would to sea forsooth , with a sight of such spirits , as ( but that they looked like men ) would haue made poore people affraid of them : yet these were the men with whom ( in more hast then good speed ) i must go lose abroade what i had gotten at home . when , hoping to haue light on some good prize , i was taken prisoner with the enemie : of whom being stript of that i had , with a few old ragges on my backe , among a few of my fellow sailers that were set on shore in a poore taking , i found how i began to be mistaken ; to leaue the land for the sea , and a safe home for a straunge harbour . but now on shore with my good fellowes in fortune , euery man shifting for himselfe , and i trying so many waies to the wood , that i lost my selfe in the plaine , wearie of doing nothing , began to look about me for my better profit : but such were my crosses in all my courses , that i could neuer thriue till i got home againe . for to make an abridgement of a long tale , i will tel you : in courting i found more cost then comfort ; in warre , more danger then ease ; in learning , more studie then profit ; in trafficke , more gaine then conscience ; in seruice , more paine then honour ; in mariage , more care then quiet ; and in loue , more pleasure then vertue : so that in all my courses being so mistaken , that i found a crosse to my comfort in euery of them , i fairely left the courtier to his curtesies , the souldier to his marches , the scholer to his studies , the merchaut to his trafficke , the maried man to his purgatorie , and the louer to his vanity : and home returned to my poore cottage that my parents left me ; and , as my wife tels me , my sonnes shall possesse after me . here i liue in a meane course , content and glad of gods blessings , neuer in daunger to be mistaken , because i trust only to experience : while doing honour to god , and following my businesse , with the sweate of my browes , i gaine the foode of my senses , with my necessarie appurtenances . o my friend , beleeue me , he that is contented is rich , while he that is rich is not contented : a litle sufficeth nature , and excesse is but hurtfull ; beautie , but the inchaunter of wit ; ambition , but the ouerthrow of vertue ; couetousnesse , the corrupter of conscience ; authoritie , the charge of care ; pride , the hate of nature ; enuie , the nurse of malice , and wrath , the inuenter of murther ; sloth , the losse of time ; drunkennesse , the shame of nature ; gluttonie , the ground of sicknesse ; and locherie , the fire of sinne . these notes when i had taken by the light of gods grace , and obseruation of times , leauing all extremities , i tooke this meane course : where though home be homely , yet liuing quietly and contentedly , i find it true , that he who serueth god hartily , liueth happily , and dieth ioyfully . now my good friend , if i might aduise you for your good , i would wish you to take a stayed course , and lay away all running humours : looke home , loue home , liue at home , a small assurance is better then a great hope ; and a litle possession , then a great possibilitie : and when a man hath of his owne , he neede not borrow of his neighbours . trauell may be pleasing , and seruice hopefull , trafficke gainefull , and wealth powerfull : but a conuenient house , an honest patrimonie , a kind wife , obedient children , faithfull seruants , and louing neighbors , make such a commonwealth of contentment in the true conceipt of a carefull vnderstanding ; that a king of a mole-hill , were better then a lord of a great hutch . oh , to see in a faire morning , or a sunnie euening , the lambes and rabbets runne at bace , the birds billing , the fishes playing , and the flowers budding , who would not leaue the drinking in an ale-house , the wrangling in a dicing house , the lying in a market , and the cheating in a faire ; and thinke that the brightnesse of a faire day , doth put downe all the beauties of the world . but i doubt i grow tedious , and therefore being so neare home , i will intreat your patience till we haue supped , and only assure you of a good welcom , to supply the want of better cheare . with this breaking off his talke , he tooke me by the hand and led me into his house , the doore open , as vnfearefull of theeues , or vnprouided for strangers : where we were at the entry saluted with a modest smile of a kind wife , humble courtesies of most sweet children , due reuerence of comely seruants , and a table furnished for both the host & a good guest . here ( though no inne ) yet i tooke vp my lodging ; where with the entertainment of much kindnesse , hauing fed both bodie and mind with sufficient comforts , with due thankes for al curtesies , i tooke leaue of the whole familie , of whom in generall i receiued kindnesse . in the morning not too early , receiuing an extraordinarie golden fauour , for a friendly farewell , calling to mind his discourses of mistaking , and noting mine owne crosses in my courses : i tooke his counsell for my comfort , and with as much speed as i could , leauing my trauell turned euen faire home again . and thus much for this time of my trauell . now what say you of yours ? for i am sure you haue not liued alwaies at home . lor. oh fine tale , you were the best mistaken in that man of all other : for , where you hoped well of other , you found the contrarie ; but of him you thought but litle , and found much good . but it is no rare thing : for a man may looke like an owle , that hath more wit then ten asses ; and a woman may bride it like a maide , that hath bene the mother of many children . a king in a play may be a begger from the stage , & a clowted shoo may haue a pate beyond all the parish . oh , take heed of a wolfe in a lambes skinne , and talke not of hawking , till you haue bene a faulconer : for if a man haue not his fiue wits , he may be a foole in foure of them . but , lest you take my words for a lecture , which may be more tedious then pleasing , i will a litle tell you of my trauel , and how i was taken in euery corner . dor. yea sir , now you speake somewhat to the matter . if your taking were like my mistaking , then perhaps we should shake hands for our fortunes . but howsoeuer it was , i pray you make me acquainted with it . lor. i will , and first you shall vnderstand , that my first trauell being crosse the seas , i was taken short of my course , and by straunge people caried to a strange place : where being taken for no worse then i was , i was vsed no better thē i should be . but after that i had got out of this taking , i foorth with fell to deuise with my selfe , what course i should take for my comfort . and first i would take vpon me to be a courtier , when i would be so gay , as if honour attended vpon colours : but wise men taking me as i then was , but a foole , brought me into such a taking ; that what with loue , and what with sorow , i tooke such passions , as brought me to a weake taking . and yet i was taken among the best for an honest man , and a wel meaning . but in taking my courtly course , my word was so taken in euery corner , and my name so taken in euery booke , that i grew so afraid of takers , that i durst not almost go into any place for feare of taking . and to thinke of the sundrie kinds of taking , it is strange to thinke , that any one should be taken vp , and taken downe so many waies as i was . if i but courted a wench , i was taken for a wencher ; if i talked merily , i was taken for a iester ; if i looked sadly , i was takē for a spie ; if i were liberal , for a prodigall ; if thriftie , for a snudge ; if valiant , a quareller ; if patient , a coward ; if rich , wise ; if poore , a foole : so that they , who knew not how to take any thing as it should be , tooke me to be any thing that they would haue me to be . but this was not enough : for if i gaue my word , i was taken for a suretie ; if i brake it , i was taken for a banck-rupt ; if i kept it , i was taken for a silly fellow ; if i talked of a disease , i was taken for a phisitian ; if of a case , a lawyer ; if of armes , a captaine ; if of religion , at least a doctor : so that ( as i said before ) i was taken so many waies , that i knew not well which way to take my selfe . but beyond all these , not onely my selfe was thus taken to be this and that : but my horse was takē post , my purse was taken prisoner , my word was taken hold of ; and what was i , or had i , but was either taken vp or downe : my horse was taken vp , my purse was taken downe ; my word was taken vp , my mind was taken downe : in briefe , you could not be more mistaken in any thing , then i was taken for euery thing . but lest you should think i would chop logicke with you , or thinke much of my breath in telling of a long tale , i will tell you , how i had like to haue bene taken napping . going to an ordinarie to dinner with a friend of mine , who had bene with me at the taking vp of a litle money , no sooner we were entred into the house and scarce set downe to a table , short aboue an houre for couering towards supper , but we were taken vp for a rest at primero : when being taken for a gamester , i had the tricke put vpon me ; which no sooner i espied , but hauing got a small rest or two , faining an vrgent businesse , i tooke occasion to leaue off ; for which cause i was taken for a cheater . which fitting some of that place , who taking me for a fine fin-gred companion , fel a bord with me for assistance and aduise , so farre that at last , in an assurance of my fidelitie to them , and villanie to all the world besides , they put a sum of money into my hands to go to play with . which money i no sooner was maister of , but the wind seruing well , and i in readinesse to be gone , in the still time of the night , got means to ship my selfe for roane : where being a straunger , i was to take what course i well could for my cōfort . where no sooner i was arriued , but i smiled to thinke how i had ouertooke my takers . now comming to roane , and finding diseases so rife , that an honest phisitian might set his apothecarie well on worke , i made a shew with a litle allume and copresse , to perswade such wonders of my art or studie ; that who would not giue me a good fee for a sore finger ? oh , healing but a whitloe on a lords thumbe , and the crampe in a ladies finger , i went for the cunning man , that had a cure for all diseases . so that there was not a young wench that would haue a child ; a young man that was weake stomacked ; an old sir that was deafe nor an old grandam blind ; but would seek to me for remedie . by reason wherof , i came to the knowledge of some secrets , that made me sought to faire and neare . to be short , i was taken for such a phisitian , that i tooke no litle profit of my patients . but lost my skill would be descryed , and so my profession discredit , i turned all my gettings into gold , which i shipt with my selfe for antwerpe . but ill gotten , ill spent ; ere i came halfe way ouer sea , i was taken prisoner by a pyrate , who after he had taken my goods , kept me in hold for my raunsome : which hauing payed , and gotten away , take me euer after that what they would , i would take no profession vpon me ; but taking the world as i could , i would thinke to vse it as i had reason . and thus much for my two first takings . now , recouering my losses aswell as my wits and fortune would giue me leaue , i began to take an humour of loue , and by a litle eloquence and fine dissimulation , to go about ( as i took her ) a creature of more beautie then wit ; and talke , then honestie . to be short , she was of the doubtfull gender , the common of two or three scores , or hundreds , i know not whether . now , this idle-times mistresse i would haue a kind boute withall , to see if my wit could helpe my purse in going beyond the wiles of a woman : but while i stood gazing on her leering eyes , she so stole away my heart with a vaine affection , that to tell you trouth , i was taken in loue , and that so fast , as that to take hold of her kindnesse , she tooke hold of my cost . for if she but spake of that she liked , if my purse could purchase it , she was sure to haue it : so that in a litle time , she tooke my kindnesse so kindly , that i was counted the kindest man ( i will not say , foole ) in the world . oh , i was not onely so taken , but so ouertaken with this taking-mistresse , that she brought me into such a taking , as is scarce worth the talking of . oh , mine eyes were so taken with beautie , my heart with vanitie , my wits with folly , and my purse with prodigalitie ; that had i not the sooner left this taker , i had left nothing for taking . now sir , being thus wearie of my loue-taking , or my taking louer , i began to bethink me what course i were best to take for my comfort : when finding many malitious people , that could not liue quietly with their neighbours , spend much mony to litle purpose , and so feed the lawyers with fees , that they left their purses without money : i began to thinke , that a litle studie in the law , would gaine much good in a commonwealth . wherupon , without much circumstance i got me into the formall outside of a iolly fellow ; and for the better countenance to my credite , furnished my studie with more bookes , then i had either time to reade , or wit to vnderstand . when hauing gotten acquaintance with some setters for clients , rubbing ouer my poore french , hauing litl●ton before me , and a booke of notes i know not of whose writing , i would set on such a counselling countenance , as if i had bin at the barre , before i know the hall : when , what with the multitude of clients and golden fees , i made such a gaine of my dissembling , that nere a lawyer of my standing , but i caried it cleane from him , man and matter and all . in which pretie thriuing course , i had not continued long , but that being found by my learning vnsit to pleade for a blacke pudding , i was taken for a p●tti-fogger , and not so good as a poore clarke ; so that my condition being found to be but a practiser with cunning , to trouble the quiet of honest people , for feare of being turned ouer the barre , i was faine to turne my compasse to another course . but to tell you , during the time of my profession , how honest a man i was taken among knaues , and how contrarie among honest men , i would be loth to haue notice taken : for indeed i was rather a bench-whistler , then a bencher ; and more meete ( for my good conscience ) to be arraigned at the barre , then to pleade at a barre . but as i said before , lest i should be taken for that i truly was , i left that course , and tooke another inuention by the back . i got me into a countrie where i was vnknown , and there hoping that men that sought to win heauen by their good deedes , would surely enrich me with their charitie : i began to connterfeit a diseased creature , and seeming with the ruefull countenance that i could frame for the purpose , i would so moue the hearts , and picke the purses of kind people , that i doubted not in time to grow a wealthy begger . and with this inuention i went forward , till , after that i had so long followed my profession , that my benefactors grew wearie of their liberalitie : it fell out by good , or ill hap rather , that i chaunced to beg of a very neat and handsome man , who seemed by his mild eye to haue a heart pitifull to the distressed . but he more cunning to prie into the knauery of my dissembling , then to cure me of my disease , if i had had any , asked me of my paine , and how long i had bene diseased . which , when i had vntruly told him , he willed me to come home to him , and he would vndertake to heale me . oh how glad i seemed of his kindnesse , and promised to waite vpon him , with many humble thanks . but fearing this my vndertaker should so ouertake me in taking me napping in my knauerie , i fairely tooke my way out of the towne , and neuer came within the gates after . thus was i almost ouertaken with a water , before i had made my fire burne halfe kindly . to be short , if i should tell you all the courses that i haue taken , and how i haue bene taken in euery of them , i should make you thinke all your mistaking but a trisle , in comparison of many a miserable taking that i haue bene in . dor. why man , so long as you neuer tooke any course so farre out of compasse , but you could guesse whereabouts you were ; nor euer went so farre any way , but you could find the way home againe : let vs take hands together like good friends , and take all well that hath hit well , and warning by that hath falne amisse , to follow such a follie any further . lor. you say well , but yet ere i make a full end , i will tell you how kindly i was entertained in a place , that by chaunce i tooke vp for my lodging ; where being taken as indeed i was , a man of more honestie then wit , and kindnesse then wealth : after good cheare and welcome , the good man of the house taking me aside , beganne to reade me this honest lesson : my friend , quoth he , for that i take you for a man of that good disposition , that will take any thing well that is well meant ; let me tell you , there be many men in the world , that with mistaking the right course of discretion , ●unne such wild courses as bring many of them into many pitifull takings . some no sooner come to their land , but they take vp their rentes afore the day so long , that they are readie to make a newe taking for an old matter : other take money for leases , ere they knowe the value of their landes : other take money for their landes , ere they well knowe the summarie of their rentes . all these are commonly taken prisoners , either with the heart-ach for want of money ; or the heade-ach , for want of witte . and , for many of them , they are taken either with the begger , the theefe , the cheater , or the foole . some when they haue nothing to take to , will take a wife to helpe forward a mischiefe , or mend an ill matter , but such a one may hap to take a wrong sow by the eare , that may bite him by the fingers for his labor : another perhaps takes vpon him to be a phisitian , or a surgeon , and with a pill and a plaister , makes profession of great wonders . now he with taking vpon him much skill , takes much money , and though for want of knowledge , or through crafty villany , he is determined to make a gaine of his patient , he will one day giue him ease , and another day torment , as he finds the nature of his purse , in stead of his pulses . now , is it not pitty , but that such a horse-leech were taken and hanged , that to make a gaine of griefe , will bring any christian into such a taking ? lor. o lord , is it possible , that there is any such creature in the world , that by so diuelish a nature will shew himselfe such a dog ? dor. too many , but giue me leaue a litle . some take vpon them to be diuines , which only make the name of god a cloake for their knauerie : but those may rather be called lurch men , then church-men , who is they are not troubled with much learning , so they 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 more honest● then they may well away withall . but these who take eleuen for tenths , and yet can scarce reade any other names , then are written in their easter bookes , is it not pitty , but their places were taken from them , and giuen to them that could and would take more carefull paines in them ? lor. i take it so : but there is such straunge takings and takers in the world , that , if god did not take the more mercy on them , surely the diuell would take away a great many of them : but let them go . dor. there are other that will take vpon them to be lawyers : & these hauing scarce read a line of littleton , onely acquainted with a common case , either in the masculine or the feminine gender , will set a solemne countenance vpon the matter , and taking money inough for fees , will bring poore clients into such a taking ; that , if they perceiue not the sooner , how they are taken with the foole , they wil feele thēselues too late to be takē with the begger . now , these kind of iniurious priuy professors of the law will take of all hands in all matters , and when they are taken napping with the matter , they take small hearts-griefe at any punishment that doth befall them . now , is it not pitty that such petty-foggers , as will pry into mens titles , pleade on both sides , and take all they can come by , were not taken from the barre , throwne ouer the barre , and barred for euer comming more at a bar ? lor. yea , me thinkes it is a great scandall to the law , that such an offendor of the law , as so abaseth the law , should not be more sharply punished by the law. dor. you say well , but let me tell you a little more of takers . there are other , that if they can write item for a yeard of satten , a halfe elle and quarter of taffety , fold vp a peece of grogeram , aske what lacke you , and sell an elle of siprous , why he takes himselfe to be a merchant , and that of no meane account in his parish . but let him be , if he can make a gaine of a countenance , he is worthy to liue by his wit : but , if he can take vp wares or mony vpon dayes , not caring for the payment , till he haue enriched himselfe with other mens goods , and vpon a sudden take lud-gate , and pay them with the banck-rupt ; is it not pitty , but that he who so abuseth the credite of a merchant , should be banished for euer comming more into the city ? lor. alas , if a poore gentleman breake day , in the payment of forty shillings , the sergeants will take him prisoner , and all the towne will take him for a shifter : but god blesse me out of such takings . dor. well , there are so many ill takers , that it is pitty there are no better orders taken with them , but let them go . now there are some that take all that comes , till being taken napping , the hangman taketh order with their cloths . other take another mans wife for their own , that being taken with the matter , either fall into a pitifull taking for their knauery , or make their purses take order for their deliuery . all these with many more , are wicked courses to be taken . but to leaue all occasions of ill taking : take a good course , serue god , take a bit at home , rather then a banquet abroad , and water of thine owne , then wine of anothers : take account with thine estate for the defraying of thy charge , take no rent before the day , take no counsell with the wicked , take no pleasure in vanity , lest when you want that is necessary , you receiue comfort with sorow , or despaire in miserie : take not a wife without wealth , for it will helpe to hold loue ; nor without wit , for there is no plague to a foole ; nor without grace , for it is a hell to be iealous ; nor without beauty , for there is no pleasure in deformity ; nor without education , for a slut will be noisome , and a nouice idle ; take her not too old for conscience sake , nor too young for thrifts sake ; take knowledge of her , ere you loue her , lest if you be mistaken , you were better to be without her . and last of all , take heed of a whore , a paire of dice , a parasite , a pandor , a cheater , a flatterer , and a promoter . take a courtier for a fine man , a lawyer for a wise man , a souldier for a valiant man , a diuine for a learned man , a merchant for a rich man , a clowne for a painefull man , and a begger for a poore man : but for an honest man , take him as you find him , in what estate soeuer he be : if he be in a great one , giue him honour ; if in a meane one , giue him praise . now if you find wealth , valour , wisedome , learning , labour , and honesty , all in one man : note him for a rare man , and take him for the best man. but , because in many it falleth out , that wealth causeth pride ; wit , cūning ; learning , pollicy ; valor , discord ; paines , griefe ; and pouerty , misery : take good notice of euery man that you haue to deale withall , and haue to doe with as few as you can . and for an end , if a good occasion may be taken , slip it not ; if a good gift may be taken , refuse it not : and if you haue taken a good course , leaue it not . take god for thy chiefe good , thy wit for thy seruant , thy wife for thy companion , and thy children for thy comfort : and what thou hast , take patiently and thankfully . so , shalt thou be sure at the count-taking of all the world , thou shalt be taken into the ioyes euerlasting . this rule was i taught to take by them , whom i iustly tooke , and truly sound my good friends . so my good friend , for that i take a 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 a gratious disposition in you , that you will not take scorne of a small gift of a poore friend : let me intreate you to take your supper and lodging vpon my charge , and this peece of gold towards the defraying of your further charges . thus when i had thankfully taken his kind offer , and further had well taken to memory his good admonitions , i tooke my leaue of him , and according to his counsell tooke my way home againe : where , how happie i should hold my selfe to enioy your company , i shall make you know by that you find . dor. oh sir , you haue got the start of me , it was the sute i meant to haue made to you : but since it is your fortune to be afore me , i am at your will to be disposed . dor. sir , complements are so common , that they be of small account , and therefore i will say but this : chuse your owne time , and make your owne welcome . lor. if i can requite you , i will not forget you , and let this suffice you : shortly i hope to see you , i will alwayes loue you , and wish i could euer be with you . dor. what ? shall we haue old aduerbes ? as in absence you may see mee , so in silence you may heare me ? i pray you beare me company home , and i will bring you halfe way backe againe . lor. indeed figures are good among ciphers : but honest minds haue plaine toungs , and therefore not to detract time , i am at your direction . dor. i thanke you : let vs go . finis . pasquils mad-cap· and his message. pasquils mad-cap. part breton, nicholas, ?- ? approx. kb of xml-encoded text transcribed from -bit group-iv tiff page images. text creation partnership, ann arbor, mi ; 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(eebo-tcp ; phase , no. a ) transcribed from: (early english books online ; image set ) images scanned from microfilm: (early english books, - ; : ) pasquils mad-cap· and his message. pasquils mad-cap. part breton, nicholas, ?- ? 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proquest page images - olivia bottum sampled and proofread - olivia bottum text and markup reviewed and edited - pfs batch review (qc) and xml conversion pasqvils mad-cap . and his message . london printed by v. s. for thomas bushell , and are to bee solde at his shop at the great north doore of paules . . to the reader . what you are that reade this i know not , and how you like it i greatly care not ; the honest will keepe their condition in spight of the diuell ▪ and for them that are of the foure and twentie orders , god amend them for i cannot : what i haue written was in a madde humor , and so i hope by your reading you will imagine : a gallde hackeney will winch if he heare but the noyse of a currie-combe , while a better horse will abide dressing and be quiet : call a foole a foole , and he will either crie or scratch ; and yet an oxe cannot hide his hornes though he were clad in a beares skinne . to bee short , i wish well to all honest professions ; i honour the souldier , i reuerence the diuine , i commend the lawyer , and i obserue the courtier : the marchant i hold a man of worth , the farmer a rich fellow , the craftes-man no foole , and the laborer worthy his hyre ; but sor the beggar , he dwelles so neere my doore , that i am weary of his companie : and therefore let souldiers march , diuines preach , lawyers pleade , marchants trafficke , craftes-men follow their trade , and worke-men take paines , fencers play , and players thriue , i say nothing to them all , but when they goe well to worke , god speede the plough : he that cannot abide the wether , let him lay by his fether ; the wise will liue in his wisedome , and the foole will die in his folly , of vvhich number hopimg you are none , i leaue my labour to your pleasure , to consider of as your patience vvill giue you leaue , and so rest , your friend . pasqvils mad-cappe . why should man loue this wretched world so much ▪ in which is nothing but all worse than naught ? shadowes , and shews of things are nothing such , while strong illusions haue too weak a thought , with wicked humours too much ouer wrought , the witch of will , and ouerthrow of wit , where gracelesse sinnes doe in their glory sit . beautie is but a babies looking glasse , while money eates into the misers hart , and guarded pride , all like a golden asse , makes lecherie lay open euery part : slouth lies and sleepes , and feares no waking smart , while froath and fatte in drunken gluttony , the venome shew of natures villany . patience is counted but a poets fancie , while wrath keepes reakes in euery wicked place , and fretting envie falne into a franzie , while tyrant murther treades a bloudy trace , and blessed pittie dare not shew her face , pride , power , and pence march in such battell ray , as beares downe all that comes within their way . the wealthy rascall be he ne're so base , filthy ▪ ill-fauourd , vgly to behold , mowle-eie , plaise-mouth , dogges-tooth , and camels face , blind ▪ dumbe and deafe , diseased , rotten , old ▪ yet , if he haue the coffers full of gold , he shall haue reuerence , curtsie , cappe , and knee , and worship , like a man of high degree . he shall haue ballads written in his praise , bookes dedicated vnto his patronage , wittes working for his pleasure many waies , petigrees sought to mend his parentage , and linckt perhaps in noble marriage , he shall haue all that this vile world can giue him , that into pride , the diuells mouth may driue him . if he can speake , his words are oracles , if he can see , his eies are spectacles , if he can heare , his eares are miracles , if he can stand , his legges are pinacles : thus in the rules of reasons obstacles , if he be but a beast in shape and nature , yet , giue him wealth he is a goodly creature . but be a man of ne're so good a minde , as fine a shape as nature can deuise : vertuous , and gracious , comely , wise , and kinde , valiant , well giuen , full of good qualities , and almost free from fancies vanities : yet let him want this silthie worldly drosse , he shall be sent but to the beggars crosse. the foole will scoffe him , and the knaue abuse him , and euery rascall in his kinde disgrace him , acquaintance leaue him , and his friends refuse him , and euery dogge will from his doore displace him : oh this vile world will seeke so to deface him , that vntill death doe come for to relieue him , he shall haue nothing here but that may grieue him . if he haue pence to purchase pretty things , shee that doth loathe him will dissemble loue , while the poore man his heart with sorrow wrings , to see how want doth womens loue remoue , and make a iacke daw of a turtle-doue : if he be rich , worldes serue him for his pelfe , if he be poore , he may go serue himselfe . if he be rich , although his nose do runne . his lippes do slauer , and his breath do stinke , he shall haue napkins faire and finely spunne , pilles for the rhewme , and such perfumed drinke , as were he blind , he shall not seeme to wincke : yea let him cough , halke , spit , and fart , and pisse , if he be wealthy , nothing is amisse . but with his pence , if he haue got him power , then halfe a god , that is , more halfe a deuill , then pride must teach him how to looke as sower , as beldames milke that turned with her sneuill , while the poore man that little thinketh euill , though nobly borne shall feare the beggars frowne , and creepe and crowch vnto a filthy clowne . oh , he that wants this wicked cankred coine , may fret to death before he finde reliefe , but if he haue the cunning to purloine , and ease the beggar of his biting griefe , although perhaps he play the priuie theefe : it is no matter if the bagges be full , well fares the wit that makes the world a gull. the chuffe that sits and champes vpon his chaffe , may haue his mawkin kisse him like a mare : and on his barne-dore-threshold lie and laugh ▪ to see the swaggrer with the beggars share , follow the hounds , till he hath caught the hare : oh ▪ t is the purse that guilds the bullockes horne , and makes the shrew to laugh the sheepe to scorne . who hath not seene a logger-headed asse , that hath no more wit than an olde ioin'd stoole , prinking himselfe before a looking-glasse , and set a face as though he were no foole , when he that well might set the calfe to schoole . must be attentiue to the ganders keake , or giue a plaudit , when the goose doth speake ▪ let but a dunce , a dizard , or a dolt get him a welted gowne , a sattin coate , then though at randon he doe shoot his bolt , by telling of an idle tale by roate , where wisedome findes not one good word to note : yea , though he can but grunde like a swine , yet to the eight wise men he shall be nine . but , for a poore man , be he ne're so wise , grounded in rules of wit and reasons grace , and in his speeches neuer so precise , to put no word out of discretions place , yet shall you see , in shutting vp the case , a pesant slouen with the purses sleight ▪ will humme and hah him quite out of conceit . looke on a souldiour that hath brauely seru'de , and with discretion can direct a campe , if he haue nothing for himselfe reseru'de , to warme his ioints when he hath got the crampe , he shall haue little oyle vnto his lampe , but in a iacket and a paire of broags , goe passe among the companie of roags . but if he can make money of his men , and his lieutenant to supply his place , although the cocke be of a crauen henne , and dare not meete a capon in the face , yet if he can be garded with gold lace , and sweare and swagger with a siluer sword , who would not feare a stabbe for a foule word ? and yet this swappes , that neuer bloudied sword , is but a coward , braue it as he list : and though he sweare and stare to keepe his word , he wil but loose his armour in the lift , or take the cuffe , and kindly kisse the fist : stolne honor is a iest of chiualrie , and vnto valure open iniurie . while he that ventures , lands , and , goods , and life , to shew the vertue of a valiant heart , and leaues his house , his children , and his wife , and from his countries quiet will depart , to passe the pikes of dangers deadly smart : he is the souldior , be he nere so poore , may write disgrace vpon the cowards doore . but for the lordes and generalls of fields , the sergeant , maiors ▪ colonells and such , marshalls and captaines , that in vertues shields , do beare the truth of valures honors tuch , in good of them i cannot say too much , if all their armour were of pearle and gold , that by desert the due of knighthood hold . take an odde vicar in a village towne , that onely prayes for plentie and for peace , if he can get him but a threed bare gowne , and tyth a pigge , and eate a goose in grease , and set his hand vnto his neighbours lease , and bid the clearke on sondaies ring the bell , he is a church-man fittes the parish well . but if he get a benefice of worth , that may maintaine good hospitalitie , and in the pulpit bring a figure forth , of faith and workes with a formalitie , and tell a knaue of an ill qualitie , if with his preaching he can fil the purse , he is a good man , god send nere a worse . but yet this simple idle headed asse , that scarce hath learnd to spell the hebrew names , sir iohn lacke-latine with a face of brasse , who all by roate his poore collations frames , and after seruice falles to ale-house games , how ere his wit may giue the foole the lurch , he is not fit to gouerne in the church . while he that spends the labour of his youth , but in the booke of the eternall blisse , and can and will deliuer but the truth , in which the hope of highest comfort is , that cannot leade the faithfull soule amisse : howeuer so his state of wealth decline , deserues the title of the true diuine . i do not speake of bishops nor of deanes , nor learned docters in diuinitie , for they are men that rise by godly meanes , who with the world haue no affinitie , but in the worship of the trinitie , their times , their braines ▪ their loues , and liues do spend , to gaine the honour that shall neuer end . take but a peti-fogger in the law , that scarce a line of littleton hath read , if he hath learnd the cunning how to claw his clients backe , and bring a foole to bed , with beating toyes and trifles in his head , his golden fees will get him such a grace , a better lawyer shall not crosse his case . but be a poore man neuer so well read , in all the quirkes and quiddittes of law , and beate his braines , and weary out his head , till he haue prou'de a dunce to be a daw , yet wil his skill be held not worth a straw : and he perhaps in pleading of his case , with floutes and scoffes be shouldred out of place . but let that pidling peti-fogging iacke , that faine would seeme a lawyer at the lest , be nere so busie in a beggars packe , and light vpon the card that likes him best , yet shal you see in setting vp his rest , in all the game whoso doe loose or saue , his tricke wil alwaies fall vpon the knaue . while he that hath the honest case in hand , and learnedly can iudge twixt right and wrong , and doth vpon the care of conscience stand , and knowes that sorrow's the afflicteds song , biddes iustice not the poore mans griefe prolong , but hateth bribes to heare the trueth approued , he is the lawyer worthie to be loued . but for the lords and iudges of the law , they looke into the matter , not the men : they know the mettall if they see the flaw , and iudge the marish if they see the fenne : they know both what , and how , and where , and when , and are as gods on earth to the distressed , to giue the right , and see the wrong redressed ▪ but for our gentle iustices of peace , that but the chaire of charitie doe keepe , by whose great wisdome many quarrels cease , and honest people doe in quiet sleepe , while their commaund both watch and ward doth keepe : i say no more , but god preserue their health , they are good members in a common-wealth ▪ say , coine can make a painter draw face , a he cannot giue it life doe what he can : and though that coine can giue an outward grace , it cannot make a knaue an honest man , it cannot turne the cat so in the pan : but he that hath his eies may easily finde , the difference twixt the bodie and the minde . take him that is disfigured in the face , and woorse in minde , and euery where to blame , he shall be but the subiect of disgrace : how euer fortune doe his shaddow frame , and in loues triumph but a laughing game : for neuer mastiffe curre will be a beagle , nor euer owle will grow to be an eagle . looke on a fellow with a filthie face , snow on his head , and frost vpon his beard , and euery where so furnisht with disgrace , as well might make a seely foole afeard , and like a smith with sea-coale all befmeard , yet if he haue his working toole of gold , venus will helpe to strike , if vulcan hold . let but a fellow in a fox-furrde gowne , a greasie night-cap , and a driueled beard , grow but the bailiffe of a fisher towne , and haue a matter fore him to be heard , will not his frowne make halfe a streete afeard ? yea , and the greatest codshead gape , for feare he shall be swallowed by the vgly beare . looke but on beggars going to the stockes , how masse constable can march before them , and while the beadle maketh fast the lockes , how brauely he can knaue them , and be-whore them , and not affoord one word of pittie for them , when it may be , poore honest seely people , must make the church make curtsie to the steeple . note but the beadle of a beggars spittle , how ( in his place ) he can himselfe aduance , and wil not of his title loose a tittle , if any matters come in variance , to trie the credite of his countenance : for whatsoeuer the poore beggars say , his is the word must carry all away . why let a begger but on cock-horse sit , will he not ride like an ill-fauourd king ? and will it not amaze a poore mans witte , that cuckoes teach the nightingale to sing ? oh , this same wealth is such a wicked thing , t will teach an owle ( in time ) to speake true latine , and make a frier forsweare our ladies mattine . take but a pesant newly from the cart , that onely liues by puddings , beanes , and pease , who neuer learned any other art , but how to driue his cattell to the leas , and after worke , to sit and take his ease : yet put this asse into a golden hide , he shall be groome vnto a handsome bride . take but a rascall with a rogish pate , who can but onely keepe a counting booke , yet if his reckning grow to such a rate , that he can angle for the golden hooke , how euer so the matter be mistooke , if he can cleerely couer his deceit , he may be held a man of deepe conceit . finde out a villaine , borne and bred a knaue , that neuer knew where honesty became , a drunken rascall , and a dogged slaue , that all his wittes to wickednesse doth frame , and onely liues in infamy and shame , yet let him tincke vpon the golden pan , his word may passe yet for an honest man. why take a fidler but with halfe an eie , who neuer knew if ela were a note , and can but play a round , or hey-de-gey ▪ and that perhaps he onely hath by roate , which now and then may hap to get a groate , yet if his crowde be set with siluer studdes , the other minstrels may goe chew their cuddes . giue mistris fumkins iohn anods his wife , the filthiest queane in fifteene countrey townes , who neuer had good thought in all her life , but one fringde kertle , and two woosted gownes , and fill her leather powch with a few crownes , she shall haue more fine suters for her marish , than all the fairest maidens in the parish . olde gillian turne-tripe iacke an apes his trull , that scarce can chew a peece of new made cheese , swelld with the dropsie , foule , and farting-full , with feeding on the fatte of scullens fees , yet if she haue the golden hony bees , she shall be kept as cleanly , fine , and fresh , as if she were a sweeter peece of flesh . let prinking parnell with a paire of thumbes , that well might serue a millers tolling dish , who thickes her porredge but with browne bread crums , and neuer carde for butter to her fish , haue but the mettall of the misers wish , twenty to one but she shall quickely marry , when siner wenches will be like to tarry . looke on olde bettresse with her beetle browes , begot betwixt a tinkar and his tibbe , and , but of late a seely coblers spouse , if she haue playde the thrifty prowling scribbe , to purchase grasse to greaze the bullockes ribbe , she shall be fedde with fine and daintie fare , and woo'd and wedded , ere she be aware . but for a poore wench , be she ne're so faire , gratious , and vertuous , wise , and nobly borne , and worthy well to sit in honors chaire , yet if her kertle , or her gowne be torne , all her good gifts shall be but held in scorne : and she ( poore soule ) in sorrow and disgrace , be forcde to giue a filthy baggage place . so that by all these consequents i see , it is the money makes or marres the man , and yet where iudges will indiffrent be , the hobby-horse best fittes maide - marrian , while greedy dogges may licke the dripping pan : for though that mony may doe many things , yet vertue makes the truest queenes and kings ▪ oh what a world it is to see what wiles , a seely foole will finde to gather wealth ! and how he laughes , when he himselfe beguiles , with getting of the cuckoes note by stealth , and thinke all well : it is a signe of health , when patience hath the vaine to gather pence , it is a fault to trouble conscience . who doth not see what villanies are wrought , to gather wealth , the ground of wickednesse ? how many schollers machauel hath taught , to fill the earth with all vngodlinesse , while witte doth onely worke for wealthinesse : who liues in ebbes , and may let in the floods , but will betray his father for his goods ? but , what auailes vnto the worlde to talke ? wealth is a witch that hath a wicked charme , that in the mindes of wicked men doth walke , vnto the heart and soules eternall harme , which is not kept by the almighty arme : oh , t is the strongest instrument of ill that e're was knowne , to worke the diuels will. an honest man is held a good poore soule , and kindnesse counted but a weake conceit , and loue writ vp , but in the woodcockes rowle : while thriuing witte doth but on wealth awaite , he is a fore-horse that goes euer streight : and he but held a foole for all his wit , that guides his braines but with a golden bit . a virgin is a vertuous kind of creature , but , doth not coyne command virginitie ? and beauty hath a strange bewitching feature , but gold reades so much worldes diuinitie , as with the heauens hath no affinitie , so that where beauty doth with vertue dwell , if it want money , yet it will not sell. the market doth not serue to looke on minds , t is mony makes the way with euery thing , coyne alters natures in a thousand kindes , and makes a beggar thinke himselfe a king , the carter whistle , and the cobler sing , money , oh god , it carries such a grace , that it dare meete the diuel in the face . and he that wants this wicked kind of drosse , may talke of nuttes , but feede vpon the shales , in steede of grasse be glad to gather mosse , and steede of hills be glad to keepe the dales , with chilling blasts in steede of blessed gales . valure , wit , honor , vertue , beauty , grace , all little worth , if wealth be out of place . the golden tale is euer soonest heard , the golden suter soonest hath dispatch , the golden seruant hath the best regard , and what such marriage , as the golden match ? and who so wise as is the golden patch ? sweete musicke soundes it in a golden vaine , the sweetest stroke is in the golden straine . and yet for all this , by your leaue awhile , examine all , and giue each one his right , let not selfe-will a better wit beguile , to take a candle for the sunnie light , there is a diffrence twixt the day and night , so is there twixt the riches of the mind , and the base drosse in beggar-thoughts to find . the wealthy beggar with his golden bagges , is yet a beggar , maugre all his golde , and noble vertue , though it be in ragges , may well deserue a better place to holde , than many a one that is for money solde : and t is not wealth can make an ape a man , cut out his coate the best way that you can . wealth will not make an old man yong againe , how euer so elixers do abuse him , nor wealth can take out a dishonest staine ▪ how euer kindnesse for a time excuse him , wealth cannot make the wise but to refuse him : wealth cannot sweeten an old stincking breath , nor saue a miser from the dart of death . a knaue in graine can take none other hue , the counterfeit wil quickly shew his kind , a traitor in his heart cannot be true , the weathercocke goes euer with the wind , he hath no eies that can no colours find : fooles may be blinded with a wilfull mist , but wise men will beware of had-i-wist . for he that were as rich as croesus was , yet , if he haue a paire of midas eares , he shall be counted but a golden asse , what euer worship in the world he beares , for truth her selfe by all her triall sweares , in all the rules where reason hath his right , a shadow doth but onely mocke the sight . while he that hath a manly comely feature , and wisedomes grace to guide the spirites will , and with the outward ornaments of nature , to heauenly comfort bends his inward skill , although he cannot clime the golden hill , how bare soeuer here be his abode , he shall be gracious in the sight of god. he that walkes wanton with his head aside , and knowes not well how he may set his feete : and she that minceth like a maiden bride , and like a shadow slideth through the streete , how euerso their mindes in mony meete , measure their humours iustly by the middle , he may be but a foole , and she a fiddle . she that hath a round table at her breech , and like a puppet in her parrell dight : he that is all formality in speech , and like a rabbet that is set vpright , how euerso their purses be in plight , he may be wise , but in his owne opinion , and she accounted but an idle minion . he that with fat goes walowing like a beare , and puffes and blowes , and gapes to gather ayre : she that all day sittes curling of her heare , and paintes her face to make the fowle seeme faire ▪ how euer so their wealth encrease , or paire , he may be held for a butchers weather ▪ and she a bird , but of an idle feather . he , like a crane that stalkes along the streete , and ouer-lookes the moone , and all the starres : she that doth softly striue to set her feete , as though her ioynts had lately bin at iarres , how e're their purses breede their peace or warres , he may be counted but the sonne of pride , and she perhaps haue an vnwholsome hide . he that doth set his wicked wittes to worke , to coosen and to conny-catch his friend , and she that doth in secret corners lurke , to bring yong humours to a wicked end , how euer so their purses paire or mend , she may hap proue as good as euer twang'd , and he a rascall , worthy to be hang'd . he that doth bring men into bondes of debt , and feede their humors with a carde of tenne : she that can mump , and mince , and ierke , and iet , as though she were olde chaunteclers chiefe henne , how ere their purses build the golden penne , in the best rules that witte and reason haue , she may be thought a queane , and he a knaue . he that can fleere and leere and looke aside , as though he studied on some weightie case : she that can kindly counterfet the bride , on working daies to make asondaies face , how euer so their purses be in case , he may perhaps haue but a knauish wit , and she perhaps be but a foolish tit. he that will drinke , and sweare , and stabbe , and kill , and will be brought vnto no better stay , she that will brawle and scold , and haue her will , in spight of whosoeuer dare say nay , how ere their wealth do beare the world away , he may be fit to keepe the diuells court , and she a match to make a mad man sport . so that i see i find my selfe deceiued , to thinke that mony should monarch it so , although i thinke i might be well conceiued , to thinke that money makes a goodly show , vnto a mind that doth not mettall know : but he that knowes the flower from the mosse , will find it but a necessarie drosse . but ▪ he that can with conscience , and with kindnesse , from a small mole-hill , to a mountaine rise , and she that will not with discretions blindnesse leade a poore friend into fooles paradise : let crownes and angells follow them like flies : if they get gold , on gods name let them weare it ▪ he hath a peeuish humour cannot beare it . but , let him yet acknowledge what he is , that by his wealth his onely worship getteth : and let her that is such a misteris , thinke her but fond that so her selfe forgetteth , as labors lucre euen with honor setteth : let them i say confesse but what they be , and they shall be still as they are for me . but if king pippin ouer-looke his basket , i wish a rotte among his apples fall : and if dame laundresse do forget her flasket , i wish her loose her crippin , or her cawle , i cannot make a parlour of a hall : let euery rabbet to her borough runne , and then the hunting will be quickly done . but if the hildings care not howe they rome , nor where they range in fetching of their feede , if they be met with in their going home , i can not pitty their vnhappy speed : who cuts their fingers must abide them bleed : who wilfully wil venture for a smart , i can not help them , if it breake their heart . then let a knaue be knowne to be a knaue , a thiefe a villaine , and a churle a hogge , a mincks , a minion , and a rogue a slaue , a trull a tit , a vsurer a dogge , a lobbe a lowte , a heauy loll a logge : and euery bird go rowst in her owne nest , and then perhaps my muse wil be at rest ▪ but if a iacke will be a gentleman , and mistris needens lady it at least , and euery goose be sawcy with the swanne , while the asse thinkes he is a goodly beast , while so the foole doth keepe ambitions feast , my muse in conscience that cannot be quiet , vvill giue them this good sawce vnto their diet ▪ but i doe hope i am but in a dreame , fooles will be wiser than to loose their wittes , the countrey wench will looke vnto her creame , and workemen see , but where their profite sits , and leaue fantastickes to their idle fittes : pride shall goe downe , and vertue shall encrease , and then my muse be still , and holde her peace . but , if i see the world will not amend , the wealthy beggar counterfeit the king , and idle spirites all their humours spend , in seeking how to make the cuckoe sing : if fortune thus do daunce in follies ring , vvhen contraries thus goe against their kindes , my muse resolues to tell them what she findes . for she cannot be partiall in her speech , to smoothe , and flatter , to colloge , and lie , she cannot make a breast-plate of a breech , nor praise his sight that hath but halfe an eie , she cannot doe her selfe such iniurie : for she was made out of so plaine a molde , as doth but trueth for all her honor holde . finis . mad-cappes message . goe muse abroade , and beate the world about , tell truth for shame , and hugger vp no ill : flatter not folly with too plaine a flowt , nor on a buzzard set a faulcons bill : do no man wrong ▪ giue eu'ry man his right , for time will come that all wil come to light . do not perswade a foole that he is wise , nor make a beggar thinke he is a king : say not a mole can see that hath no eies , nor starke dead stockes haue any power to spring , for while that logicke would maintaine a lie , t is easely found out in philosophie . tell idle eies that know not how to looke , their wanton thoughts will worke them nought but woes , tell addle wittes that haue the world mistooke , vnbrideled willes are reasons ouerthrowes , while onely trueth that walkes by wisedomes line , happieth the heart and makes the soule diuine ▪ goe to the court , and tell your gratious queene , that in her loue her land hath blessed beene : and tell her land that you haue truely seene , no court on earth more graced in a queene , where vertue giues a kinde of heauenly crowne , that all the world can neuer tumble downe . there tell the lordes and ladies in their eares , they must be loyall in their humble loues , the fairest badge that honor euer beares , is , in a crowne a nest of turtle-doues , the crowne of lawrell that can neuer wither , the birdes , in loue , that liue and die togither . there tell the courtier he doth kindely serue , that of his curtsie cannot make a cloake ▪ where bounties hand doth honor best deserue , that giues rewarde before the word be spoke : and tell the gallants that will seeke for graces , chaste modest eies best figure angells faces . goe bidde the lawyers looke their common places , and where they know the trueth , there giue the right : for god himselfe , who heares the poore mans cases , vvill giue a day vnto their darkest night : when in the booke that doth all thoughts disclose , their soules shall see whereto iniustice growes . goe to the learned vniuersities ▪ and tell the schollers of the losse of time , bidde them beware of too much liberties , best thriuing plants are tended in their prime , and bidde them first goe read the rules of grace , that lower blessings may come on a pace . tell country players , that old paltry iests pronounced in a painted motley coate , fills all the world so full of cuckoes nests , that nightingales can scarcely sing a note : oh bidde them turne their minds to better meanings , fields are ill sowne that giue no better gleanings . goe tell the fidlers that doe haunt the faires , they are but coales to kindle wicked fires , where onely pence do make vnequall paires : performe the actions of vncleane desires : when in an ale-house in a drunken pot , the diuell daunceth though they see him not . goe tell the swaggrers that doe vse to sweare , heere , or in hell , their mouthes will sure bee stopt : and tell the theeues that robbe without a feare , that tiborne trees must once a month be topt : and tell the cluster of the damned crue , such hell hounds heauen out of her mouth doeth spue ▪ bidde each diuine goe closely to his booke , and truly teach the comforts of the soule , and to his life to haue a carefull looke : knowing what actions angels doe enrowle , and tell them truly that diuinitie vvith worldly loue hath no affinitie . feed not the souldiour with delight of blood , vvhile mercie is the honour of a field : and tell the merchant , that ill-gotten good , a wretched life a wofull end will yeeld : and tell the miser vsurer of monie , his soule is poisoned with his bodies honie . goe tell the craftes-man of his craftie worke , and that his cousoning one day will decay : for long the fox may in his borow lurke , that may be catcht in hunting for his pray : and whereas truth can onely beare a blame , falshoode must runne and hide her face for shame . goe tell the fencer with his deadly foine , that caine and abel yet are currant weight , vvhere is more easie for to part than ioine the soule and bodie by a wicked sleight , vvhile secret murther in the sinners brest , vvill neuer let the foule to be at rest . goe tell the beggar at the rich mans gate , that lazarus in abrahams bosome liues : and tell the rich , that diues wofull state , doth shew what almes lacke of pittie giues : and tell the vvise that salomon is dead , vvhile wilfull fancie brings a foole to bedde , goe bid the iailour looke vnto his charge , and not be cruell where he may be kinde , for though a prisoner be not set at large , yet in his sorrow let him comfort finde , that when the soule at mercies doore doth knocke , pittie on earth may ope the heau'nly locke . goe to the prisoner that doth liue opprest , and tell him , patience is a heau'nly power , that in all troubles giues the spirit rest , and makes it happie in a heau'nly hower : when true remorce that vertues griefe doeth see , from care and sorrow soone will set him free . goe tell the wretch that would and cannot thriue , that his endeuour , standeth for a deede : and bid the sicke man in his soule reuiue , while angells ioyes on sinners teares do feede : and tell the soule that mourneth for her sinne , heau'n gates stand open for to let her in . tell not the crow , that she is lillie white , because a painter colourd hath her coate , nor say a cuckoe hath in musicke sight , because in maie she hittes vpon a noate , but say the crow is blacke , the cuckoe's hoarse , the finest carkasse will be but a coarse . tell aesopes pig , that flies with peacockes feathers , they are but stolne , or borrowed , not her owne : and tell the shippe that sailes in roughest weather , vpon a rocke she may be ouerthrowne : and tell the hart that will not keepe the wood , to graze too farre , will doe him little good . goe tell the poets that their pidling rimes , begin apace to grow out of request , while wanton humours in their idle times can make of loue but as a laughing iest : and tell prose-writers , stories are so stale , that pennie ballads make a better sale . goe tell the authors of high tragedies , that bloudlesse quarrells are but merry fights , and such as best conceit their comedies , do feede their fancies but with fond delights , where toyes will shew that figure trueths intention , they spoile their spirites with two much inuention . goe bid the scriuener looke in his indentures . that no ill couenant a conueiance marre , and tell the sailer that in sea aduentures , a shippe ill guided splits vpon a barre : and tell the fisher when he layes his nets , he fisheth ill that but a gudgin gets . goe tell the iugglers that their iests are toies , where wisedome seeth the woorth of little wit , their exercises but for girles and boies , that watch the gander while the goose doth sit , their trickes but trifles , bred by wickednesse , but to deceiue the eie of simplenesse , goe tell the pander and the parasite , the one his tongue is like the others minde , the parasite without a tooth can bite , the pander liues in a more loathsome kinde , the one , his facultie is flatterie , the other liues by fitthie lecherie . goe tell the traitor , if thou hitst of any , that iudas is a prologue to their play : and tell the world , that iudasses too many , in secret corners spring vp euery day , who , since both heau'n and earth may well abhorre , goe hang themselues as he hath done before . goe to the country , where the farmers dwell , and bid them bring their corne out to the poore , tel them the sexton comes to ring the bell , when death will fetch the richest out of doore : and they too late to their sorrow shall see , how churles on earth , in hell shall plagued be . goe tell the laborers that the lazie bones that will not worke , must seeke the beggars gaines , and tell the beggar that his fained groanes , must haue a whip to ease him of his paines , while worke-mens labour and the lame mans woe , in wisedomes eie cannot vnpittied goe . thus not in order seeke out euery one , but as thou meetst them , tell them what i bid thee , but if thou seest thou canst do good of none , of gracelesse schollers quickly seeke to rid thee , such as determine in their sinnes to dwell , thou canst not help them if they runne to hell ▪ but lest thy worke be all too much to doe , beginne againe and i will make an end , but , haue a care of that i set thee to , lest i discarde thee euer for a friend : but take good heed , beginne where i begunne . and make an end , and i will soone haue done ▪ goe bid the courtier that he be not prowde , the sloudier , bloudie ▪ nor the lawyer blinde : and bid the marchant , that he doe not shrowde a subtile meaning in a simple kinde : goe bidde the schollers learne , the doctors teach , and haue a care to liue as they doe preach . goe bid the farmer bring abroad his graine , the craftes-man , that he soundly make his ware , the workman , that he labour for his gaine , the beggar , that he waite for pitties share : then , if the sexton come to ring the bell , where faith is fixt , there is no feare of hell. forbid the poets , all fantasticke humors , the players , acting of vnlawfull iests , the prose-men , raising of vnciuill rumors ▪ the fidlers playing , but at bride-ale feasts ▪ the fencers fight , but onely to defend , that easie quarrells soone may haue an end , go tel the spend-thrift that doth sel his land , money will melt like snow against the sunne : and he that takes his rent vp afore-hand , may hap to want before the yeare be done : and tell a foole that playes on better wittes , a lowzie head wil quickly shew his nittes . go bid the scriuener looke he truly write , and tel the iuggler that his feates are stale : and bid the sailer looke his shippes be tight , and take the blowing of a merry gale , and bid the fisher lay for bigger fish , a world of gudgins will not fil a dish . go tel the rich man that his store of wealth , wil purchace him no place in paradise , and bid the strong man boast no more of health , for as the lamb , we see the lion dies : and bid the wise man boast not of his wits , lest vnawares he fall to madding fits . go bid the iaylour looke vnto his lockes , and keepe his keies and feare no prisoners flight , and keepe his rackes , his tortures , boltes and stockes , to make a traitour bring a truth to light , but to his power to helpe the poore oppressed , for god is pleasde in pittying the distressed , go bid the poets studdie better matter , than mars and venus in a tragedie , and bid them leaue to learne , to lie , and flatter , in plotting of a louers comoedie : and bid play-writers better spend their spirites ▪ than in fox-borowes , or in cony ferrits . doe not alure a wanton eie to loue , nor seeke with words to witch an itching eare : play not the turkie with the turtle-doue , nor fray a babie with a painted beare , finde better worke to set thy selfe vnto , as good by ydle , as haue nought to doe . follow not follies , shadowes , nor conceits , for in the end , they will but all deceiue thee : practise no iestings , nor no iuggling sleights , for in the end discretion will perceiue thee , and when that woe and want doth ouertake thee , fortune will faile thee , and the world forsake thee . loose not thy time with looking after toies , nor fall to building castles in the aire , let natures iewels neuer be thy ioies , butloue the beautie of the inward faire : where ere thou goe , let trueth and vertue guide thee , and then be sure no euill can betide thee . spend not thy patrimony in thy apparell , in cardes nor dice , in horses , hawkes , nor hounds , maintaine thy right , but make no idle quarrell , and keepe thy selfe within discretions bounds : abuse no friend , nor trust an enemie , and keepe thy selfe from euill companie . reuenge no wrong , except it be too great , true valour liues in sparing , not in spilling , denie no truce that mercie doth intreate , a cruell conquest that doth end in killing : for patience finds that poison's wrath to death , an angry word is but an angry breath . bid them feare god , that meane to shunne the diuell , and hate the diuell , that wil come at god , and say when children be inclind to euill , parents sometime of force must vse the rod : for sinne is hatefull in iehouahs eies , and man his life but in his mercie lies . finis . a murmurer breton, nicholas, ?- ? approx. kb of xml-encoded text transcribed from -bit group-iv tiff page images. text creation partnership, ann arbor, mi ; oxford (uk) : - (eebo-tcp phase ). a stc estc s ocm this keyboarded and encoded edition of the work described above is co-owned by the institutions providing financial support to the early english books online 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(eebo-tcp ; phase , no. a ) transcribed from: (early english books online ; image set ) images scanned from microfilm: (early english books, - ; : or : ) a murmurer breton, nicholas, ?- ? [ ] p. printed by robert ravvorth, and are to be sold by iohn wright, at his shop neere christ-church gate, london : . illustrated t.p. signatures: a⁸(-a ) b-f⁸ g⁴. identified as stc a at reel : . reproductions of originals in the folger shakespeare library (reel ) and harvard university. library (reel ). created by converting tcp files to tei p using tcp tei.xsl, tei @ oxford. re-processed by university of nebraska-lincoln and northwestern, with changes to facilitate morpho-syntactic tagging. gap elements of known extent have been transformed into placeholder characters or elements to simplify the filling in of gaps by user contributors. eebo-tcp is a partnership between the universities of michigan and oxford and the publisher proquest to create accurately transcribed and encoded texts based on the image sets published by proquest via their early english books online (eebo) database (http://eebo.chadwyck.com). the general aim of eebo-tcp is to encode one copy (usually the first edition) of every monographic english-language title published between and available in eebo. eebo-tcp aimed to produce large quantities of textual data within the usual project restraints of time and funding, and therefore chose to create diplomatic transcriptions (as opposed to critical editions) with light-touch, mainly structural encoding based on the text encoding initiative (http://www.tei-c.org). the eebo-tcp project was divided into two phases. the , texts created during phase of the project have been released into the public domain as of january . anyone can now take and use these texts for their own purposes, but we respectfully request that due credit and attribution is given to their original source. users should be aware of the process of creating the tcp texts, and therefore of any assumptions that can be made about the data. text selection was based on the new cambridge bibliography of english literature (ncbel). if an author (or for an anonymous work, the title) appears in ncbel, then their works are eligible for inclusion. selection was intended to range over a wide variety of subject areas, to reflect the true nature of the print record of the period. in general, first editions of a works in english were prioritized, although there are a number of works in other languages, notably latin and welsh, included and sometimes a second or later edition of a work was chosen if there was a compelling reason to do so. image sets were sent to external keying companies for transcription and basic encoding. quality assurance was then carried out by editorial teams in oxford and michigan. % (or pages, whichever is the greater) of each text was proofread for accuracy and those which did not meet qa standards were returned to the keyers to be redone. after proofreading, the encoding was enhanced and/or corrected and characters marked as illegible were corrected where possible up to a limit of instances per text. any remaining illegibles were encoded as <gap>s. understanding these processes should make clear that, while the overall quality of tcp data is very good, some errors will remain and some readable characters will be marked as illegible. users should bear in mind that in all likelihood such instances will never have been looked at by a tcp editor. the texts were encoded and linked to page images in accordance with level of the tei in libraries guidelines. copies of the texts have been issued variously as sgml (tcp schema; ascii text with mnemonic sdata character entities); displayable xml (tcp schema; characters represented either as utf- unicode or text strings within braces); or lossless xml (tei p , characters represented either as utf- unicode or tei g elements). keying and markup guidelines are available at the text creation partnership web site . eng dissenters, religious -- england -- controversial literature. - tcp assigned for keying and markup - aptara keyed and coded from proquest page images - elspeth healey sampled and proofread - elspeth healey text and markup reviewed and edited - pfs batch review (qc) and xml conversion a murmurer . london printed by robert ravvorth , and are to be sold by iohn wright , at his shop neere christ-church gate . . to the right honorable , the lords of his maiesties most honorable priuie counsell . right honorable , it cannot bee vnknowne to your wisedomes , how perilous a thing , both to the crowne , the peeres , and the nobles ; yea and to all the parts of the common-wea●th , is the vngratious , vngodly , yea , prophane , & hellish humor of murmuring : especially against god , the king , or any their ordeyned magistrates , in a kingdome : for the cure wherof , what care is to be taken , your discreet considerations can determine : and knowing in your honorable dispositions , an assured hate vnto all such vnpleasing and vnprofitable spirits , as no doubt , but you wil weed , out frō the good hearbs in the groūd of your charge ; and again , how blessed a thing , the vniō of harts wil be to your honorable spirits , whose continual care of the preseruatiō , both of our king , and his vvhole kingdom , deserueth no little honor : i haue presumed rather vpō your honorable pardons , of what may offend your patience , then your fauorable acceptāce of my vnvvorthy seruice , to present your honors vvith a little tract against murmurers & murmuring , in vvhich if i haue passed anie thing displeasing to your good patience , hūblie crauing pardon , i attēd the sorrovv of my imperfection , but if i haue in any thing contented the least of your good likings , i will leaue murmurers to the fruite of their malice , and pray to god , so to blesse your good minds , that you may find out such offendors , and giue them the due of their desert ; and in your selues , among your selues , may be so lincked in your loues , that to god and his maiestie , you may euer liue togither in your seruice , that when wickednes is weeded out , and grace is planted in the place , god may be pleased , the king best preserued , and the common wealth best gouerned : so fearing with tediousnes , to be a trouble to your good patience , beseeching god to blesse you al , with as much happines , as murmurers are worthy to want , i humbly rest . your honors in all humblenes , to the reader . let me intreat you ( by the kindnes i hope in you ) to bee perswaded that what i haue written in this little tract , is rather done to reueale the follie of a malitious humor , then to taxe any person with the infection : the labour is not long , nor the sence obscure ; the substance whereof , leauing to the censure of your discretion , or correction of your good patience , with my loue to your kind desert , i rest as i find cause . against murmurers , and murmuring . oh murmurer , what wouldest thou haue ? was there euer any kingdome so many years , and so many waies blessed ? and thou in it , so little worthy of thy comforts , and so worthy of the contrarie : is not thy earth fertill ? are not thy riuers sweet ? is not thy aire temperate ? are not thy citties faire , thy people rich , thy men strong , thy women fruitfull , thy magistrates wise , and thy king gratious ? are not thy seas as a wall to defend thee from the assaults of thine enemies ? and hath not thy peace bred such a plentie , as maks thee admired in the whole vvorld ? hast thou not vvith all this , the richest iewel in the world ? yea , and more vvorthy then the vvhole vvorld ? vvhich is the heauenly vvord of god , to direct thee in his holy vvill ? and vvil not al this suffice thee , to bring thee to the seruice of thy god ? to acknovvledge his goodnes , to admire his greatnes , & to giue glory to his maiestie ? vvhat shall i then say vnto thee ? but as i said in the beginning : oh vvhat vvouldst thou haue ? in the time of blindnes , vvhen the booke of life vvas shut from thy reading , vvhen thy learned preachers , and zealous people vvere put vnto the fire , vvhen ciuil vvarres did breed thy penury , and thy forraine enimies vvere readie to inuade thee , vvhē thy gouernour vvas a tyrant , thy life a bondage , & thy estate a miserie , then hovv glad vvouldest thou haue bin , to haue tasted the least of the blessings ? that novv thou art full of ; and then vvouldest thou haue prayed for deliuerance from thy sorrovves , and ioyed in the least hope , that might haue cleered thy heauy heart : and art thou novv so hard harted ? so ill natured , so void of sēce , or so full of ingratitude ? that thou canst not conceiue , thou vvilt not acknovvledge , thou dost not vnderstand , or vvilt not bee thankfull , for this great measure of grace that god hath bestovved vpon thee ? vvhat then wil becōe of thee ? but let me aske thee , what doth aile thee ? is ease a griefe ? pleasure a paine ? peace a trifle ? plentie a toy ? a good king , a small blessing ? a graue counsaile , a meane comfort , and the vvord of god , a slight ievvell ? learned preachers , and profoūd lawiers little blessing ; what shall i then say vnto thee ? but that they are ill bestovved on thee ; doest thou murmure at religion ? is it not better to serue god , then man ? and to beleeue the truth , then follovv error ? to vvorship god in the heauens , then make a kind of god on the earth , and to begge pardon of thy god at home ; then to buy it of a man abroad : dost thou murmure that the saints are not worshiped ? and wilt thou forget to vvorship god aboue ? wilt thou murmur at thy loyalty ? & learne the witch-craft of rebellion ? wilt thou forget thy vocation , and fal into the sin of presumption ? are these the fruites of thy deuotion ? fie vpon thy follie , that hast no more tast of discretiō : wouldest thou rather hear the vvord ? & vnderstand it not , then vnderstand it , and beleeue it ? or trust rather to the vvord of a priest for thy cōfort , then to thine ovvne faith for thy saluation : oh pittiful imperfection ! vvhat shall i say vnto thee ? but onely pray for thee ; that god vvil forgiue thee , & opē the eyes of thy vnderstanding , that by the light of his grace , thou maist get out of thy darknes , and beholding the greatnesse of his mercy , giue glorie to his holy maiestie . leaue therfore thy murmuring , and turne it to thanksgiuing , that so great a part of the vvorld , being shut vp in the caue of error , thou vvalkest in the vnderstanding path , of the perfection of all truth : least if thou continue in thy accursed nature , thy gratious god , seeing thy vngratfulnes ; either depriue thee of thy comfort , or cast thee into vtter darknes ; vvhile the buls of rome shal breed too many calues in britanie : again , dost thou murmur at peace ? hast thou a spirit of discord ? dost thou delight in blood ? oh brood of caine , looke on thy brother abell , & heare the curse on thy condition : doest thou vvalke in quiet ? vvorke in quiet ? eat in quiet ? sleep in quiet is thy vvife in thy bosome ? thy children at thy table ? thy seruāts in thy busines ? do thy friends come to see thee ? thy neighbours salute thee ? & thine enemies liue from thee ? doth musicke fill thine eares ? beautie thine eyes ? wisdome thy heart ? and treasure thy mind ? and are all these benefits to be despised , and this peace not to bee applauded ? god forbid : when children with drums strike marches of mirth , and trumpets sound dances in stead of deadly marches ; when men may sing , women dance , and children play ; & altogether reioyce ▪ and giue praises vnto god ; is this peace to be murmured at ? fie vppon such wicked spirits , that can bee possest with such hellish humors : leaue therefore thy murmuring at this great blessing of peace , and giue glory vnto god for the comfort of so great a grace ; for by it thou possessest more thē all the world without it : for though by labour may wealth be gotten , and by wisedome honor , yet without that blessing of peace through the malice of ambitiō , thou maist soone loose all that thou enioyest : pray then for the cōtinuance of so great a comfort , and murmure not at the ordināce of god , in so gracious a shewing of so glorious a mercy : shew not the dogged nature , of such a deuilish spirit , to drowne thy soule in the delight of bloud : thinke on the miserie of ciuill warres , or what warres soeuer ; subuersion of states , death of princes , massacres of people , teares of widdowes , cries of children , citties burning , tyrants killing , terror spoiling , and hearts dispairing ; when thou shalt see before thy face , thy wife dishonoured , thy daughter deflowred , thine infant slaine , and thy selfe made a slaue to villanie ▪ and if it possible might be , a hell vpon earth , where deuils like men , or men like deuils , seeke the destruction of the whole world . murmure not then at the ioyfull blessing of peace , but imbrace it with such thankfulnes , as may continue thy happines , least vvhen thou vvouldest haue peace thou canst not , because vvhen thou haddest it , thou regardest it not : againe , dost thou murmure at plentie ? pittie but thou shouldest want that is necessarie , vvho hadst rather see thy brother starue then to releeue him out of thy aboundance : oh vngratious wretch , so far from the feeling of gods grace , that for a priuat gain wouldst wish a general griefe , like a miser that pinching his belly to spare his purse , wold see the death of a vvhole kingdome , to fill vp one corner of his cofers : or doest thou murmure at the plentie of another , beholding thine own penury ? why , remēber thou broghtest nothing into the vvorld , nor shalt carry any thing with thee out of it , and what thou hast , is but lent thee , & shal be taken frō thee , or thou frō it : cāst thou not then content thy selfe vvith thy portion ? and rather labour for thine own good , then enuy at the welth of another ? or dost thou murmur at the vvealth of many , and thine own pouerty ? looke into thy self , and see if there be not more poorer , then richer then thy selfe ; and if not , yet , that thou art not alone to beare the burthen of thy crosse . but hadst thou rather see a bare haruest , a naked tree , a thin meadow , and a blasted vineyard ? then thy barnes full of corn , thy stacks full of hay , thy trees full of fruite , and thy vessels full of vvine ? canst thou so much forget god , to bee vnthankfull for his blessings , and bee so vnnaturall to thine owne heart , as to seeke the miserie of thine owne soule ? what dogge would shew so diuellish a nature ? haddest thou rather gnaw vpō a crust , then haue a whole loafe ? sippe of a little cruse , then drinke of a full cup ? vveare a peece of a ragge , then a vvhole suite of apparrell ? and a penny in thy purse , rather then thy chest full of gold ? then art thou either a foole , that vnderstandest not vvhat is good for thee ; or a dogge , that dispisest that is giuen thee ; or a deuill , in not acknovvledgeing the goodnes of thy god tovvards thee : hadst thou rather see a table without meat , a stable vvithout horses , a pasture vvithout cattell , & a purse vvithout a pennie ; then good meate , faire horses , fat cattle , and a full purse ? oh monster of nature , vvhat dost thou then among men ? leaue therefore thy murmuring , and let me thus farre aduise thee : what thou hast , spend not vainly ; what thou gainest , get not vilely ; vvhat thou vvantest , beare patiently ; and vvhat thou giuest , giue frankely , & murmure not to part vvith thy plēty , nor at the plentie of another , for plentie is a blessing of god , vvhich taken thankfully , breeds many comforts , while penury is a plague , either inflicted vpon sinne , or sent for a triall of vertue , vvhere patience possessing the soule , the bodie may bee the better seruant . murmur not therfore at the blessing of plentie , either vpon thy selfe , or others . againe , dost thou murmure at ease ? oh vvhat madnes doth possesse thee ? hadst thou rather tire out thy body , thē giue rest to thy mind ? and labor out thy heart , thē giue cōfort to thy spirit ? hadst thou rather mourn thē sing ? cry then laugh ? run thē vvalke ? & be beaten of thine enemie , thē be kissed of thy friend ? hadst thou rather watch two nights , thē sleep one ? vvorke ten dayes , then play one ? and fast ten vveekes thē fare vvel one ? i do not beleeue thee , or els beleeue thee to be mad . hadst thou rather ride a hard trotter , thē an ambler ? sit on a pitchforke thē a pillovv ? lie on a board thē a bed ? if thy vvil so much exceed thy vvit , i shall neuer take thee for a reasonable creature ; & therfore murmure not at ease , vvhich to nature is so cōfortable , & to reason so acceptable : but doest thou murmur at ease in others , & pain in thy self ? others may haue the ease thou wātest , & thou the ease they cannot haue : they may sit while thou walkest , but perhaps walke whē thou sleepest : they may haue health , & thou sicknesse , yet thy conscience may be at better quiet : they may fare delicately , & thou hardly , yet thy stomacke may disgest better : they may possesse more , yet thou be better contented . murmure not therefore at ease , either in thy selfe , or other , for it is a blessing sooner lost then gottē ; & murmuring is the worke of malice , which once setled in the minde , ouerthrowes more then bodie , when many kinds of diseases robbe the heart of all ease . again , dar'st thou murmure at thy king , that hee is not in all thinges to thy minde : traitor vnto god and man , hovv canst thou excuse thy villany ? whē if thou canst cōsider his worth , & confesse his worthynesse , thou wilt hate thine ovvne soule , to cōceiue one discontentiue thought of his maiestie , or the least thought of hurt to his sacred person : but , base wretch that thou art , to grudge at that vvhich thou canst not iudge off , or to inioy that thou art not vvorthy off : for , if thy king vvere vnlearned , it might be a sorrovve to thy heart ; if irreligious , a torment to thy soule ; if of base linage , it might haue bin a vvound to thyne honor ; if tiranously minded , a vvoe to thy comfort ▪ if vvickedly inclined , a plague to thy patience : but of a royall lyne , from the loynes of many kinges , and frō one kingdome to an other , or rather by vniting of kingdomes to make a monarchie of peace , to the admiration of the vvorld , so profoundly read in the rules of best learning , and so vvell linguist in the most necessary languages , as are gratious in his person , and maiesticall in his place ; in religion , so zelous ; in disposition , so vertuous ; in mercie , so gracious ; as both for his presence and his spirit , is vvorthy to be honored , honorably loued , and louingly serued . hovv canst thou be so vile of disposition , or senceles of good , as to murmure at so great a blessing , as god hath giuē thee in his gouernmēt ? doest thou murmure at his pleasures , and loue the same thy selfe ? doeth he hunt and delight in dogges ? better to nourish dogs , vvho shevv but their natures , and vvill bee at their masters seruice , then to maintain those monsters of men , that cōtrary to the nature of men , vvill murmure at the welfare of their master . again , hadst thou a king vvithout a queene , thou mightst fear trouble through vvant of issue , but so gracious a queene , and the mother of so blessed children , so princely a progenie , as may glad the hearts of the vvhole kingdome ; villain to thine owne soule , that vvilt murmure at these comforts , and not be thankefull for these blessings ? did he hunt thine heires from their possessiōs ? their heads from their shoulders ? thy preachers from their churches ? or thy cities from their liberties ? then hadst thou cause to grieue , but hast no vvarrant to murmure : but hee that seeketh thy safetie , continueth thy peace , encreaseth thy plentie , and maintayneth thy pleasure , is louing to thee , reioyceth in thy loue , and deserues to be loued of thee , what deuill can possesse thee , that such a king cānot please thee ? wouldst thou haue him gouerned by thee , vvho gouernes the vvhole kingdome besides thee ? thou art foolish , vvho being a subiect , vvouldest bee a king ; and how canst thou thinke to gouerne , vvhen thou hast not learned to be gouerned ? againe , canst thou by thy policie vnite kingdōs , as he hath don by his person ? art thou so wel allied as to link such loue in royall lines ? no , thou art not ; and if thou vvert ▪ yet god hath made thee a subiect , and therefore make not thy selfe a rebell , but rather learne hovv to obey his vvill , then to murmure at his gouernment : be thankefull to god for the much good in him , and murmure not at the euill that thou misconceiuest in him ; least god seeing thy vilenesse , bring thy villany to light , and vvith a shamefull death giue thee the due of thy desert : leaue then to murmure at him , and be thankfull for him , murmure not at his greatnesse , considering his goodnesse ; nor at his case , for thou knovvest not his care ; nor at his vvealth , cōsidering his vvorthinesse ; nor at his povver , considering his vvisdom : but loue him , serue him , honour him , and obey him , and be thankfull to the maiesty of the heauens , that thou mayest behold such a maiesty on earth : murmure not at the tribute thou payest him , for all thou hast is too little for his seruice : murmure not at the seruice thou dost him , for thou canst neuer doe him ynough for his vvorthines : murmure not at thy vvant of his bountie , least he see more thy greedinesse then good vvil . in summe , murmure not at him , not any thing that may dislike thee in him , least god making him see thy vvickednes , thy life make ansvver for thy folly , vvhile continuing in thy murmuring till thy death , it carry thee headlong to the deuill . againe , dost thou murmure at the counsel , either for the povver of their authoritie , the honour of their place , or the state of their possessions ? looke backe into thy selfe , and bee ashamed of thy sinne : is not the care of the commonwealth the course of iustice , the quiet of the state , and the preseruation of the vvhole kingdome vnder god and his maiestie , in the hands of those magistrats , vvhose vvisdome deserueth honour , vvhose care deserueth praise , vvhose labour deferueth vvealth , and vvhose vvil deserueth obedience ; and canst thou ( sencelesse wretch ) fretting in melancholy , not able to discerne the least part of their perfectiōs , offend thy god , thy king , thy state , yea , thy selfe , and thine owne soule , vvith the wicked humor of ingratitude ? vvhich growne out of ignorance , bred in enuie , growes vp in ambition , & shall die in ignominie : fie vpon thy inhumane nature ; that , abiding nothing that is good , doest onely seede vpon euill : vvho being carelesse of order , vvouldest haue no law ; dissolute in thy vvill , vvilt endure no counsaile ; fond in thy vvit , makest no reckoning of wisedome : and not knowing the labour of studie , vvouldest allow nothing for the studient . oh vvhat a cōmon vvoe would be in that commonvvealth , vvhere thou shouldest haue power to appoint gouernours ? but leaue thy murmuring at them , reuerence them in their places , honor them in their vvisedomes , loue them in their vertues , serue them in their worthinesse , and obey them in their commaunds : least finding thy condition , they take order vvith thy disposition , vvhen to vveede out such a venemous serpent , is necessary for the preseruing of better spirits : for murmurers are like to mutiners , vvhere one cursed villaine may be the ruine of a whole camp ; for which , if there vvere not martiall lawe , there vvere no life for the souldior , nor honour in armes . againe , doest thou murmure at the lawyer ? oh vvitlesse creature , how wouldest thou keepe thy landes , goods , or houses ? if there vvere no law to maintaine thy right ? how wouldest thou haue thy vvrongs redressed , if there vvere no power of iustice ? how should the king gouerne , and the subiect bee gouerned , but by the course of lawe ? and are not the iudges , counsellors , and true administers of the law , rather to bee honoured for their learning , and rewarded for their labours , then to bee murmured at for their seruice : but liue thou within the limits of the law , and thou vvilt not murmure at their lawes : for vvho hateth the iudge but the theefe , the traytor , the cosener , or the consumer ? and therefore murmure at thy selfe , and leaue murmuring at lawyers . againe , doest thou murmure at the vvord of god ? oh , child of the diuell ? is it not the key of grace , that openeth the gate of heauen ? and the lamp of loue that giues light vnto the way of life ? is it not the comfort of the heart ? and the food of the soule ? and being a iewell of such price , as all the vvorld cānot purchase ; a treasure of that vvorth , that all the vvorld cannot value : a ioy of that nature , that dooth rauish the soules of the elect : what shall i say to thee ? but , thou art a deuill incarnate , that so farre from the spirit of grace , canst bee vngratefull for so gracious a blessing , or murmure at so glorious a gift of mercie : for to scorue the tidings of saluation , is to hasten the vvay vnto damnation ? note , vvhat it is to murmure , and the estate of murmurers . coran , dathan , and abiram , murmured at moses : what became of them ? the earth swallowed them . pharaoh murmured at the israelites : what vvas his reward ? drowned vvith all his hoast in the red sea. josephs brethren murmured at him : what became of them ? they became all his seruants . saule murmured at dauids tenne thousands : what vvas his end ? hee killed himselfe . iudas murmured at the boxe of oyle , that vvas poured on christs head : what vvas his reward ? hee hanged himselfe . take heede therefore , murmure not at the word , nor at the will of god , least thy reward bee vvith the reprobate : for if thou murmure at god , the deuill vvill meete vvith thee ; if thou scorne the word of god , vvickednesse vvill follow thee ; if thou murmure at the grace of god , hell vvill gape to receiue thee . leaue therefore thy murmuring at god , his word , his grace , or his will , least vvith lucifer , thou bee throwne out of heauen with caine bee accursed , or vvith esau loose thy blessings on the earth ; and learne vvith abell to serue god , vvith abraham to beleeue in god , vvith dauid to loue god , vvith iob to feare god , with moyses to honour god , and vvith christ to obey god ; and then shall the deuill haue no power to make thee murmure at god. but let me come to particulars ; doest thou murmure at this man , or that man , for this cause , or that cause ? oh vnhappie vvretch , how doest thou trouble thy selfe ? call thy wits a little better together , and vveigh thy thoughts in an euen ballance : if thou bee vviser then another , that is preferred before thee , it may bee hee is more honourable : if thou bee more noble , hee may bee more vvise : if thou more learned , hee more valiant : if thou more valiant , hee more vvealthie : if thou more vvealthy , hee more honest ; if thou hast a good face , hee may haue a better body ; if thou a good body , he a better face ; if thou a good face and body , he a better vvit ; if thou a better vvit , he a better heart ; if thou an honest heart , yet hee a more gracious soule : and therefore , if another be aduaunced , and thou displaced , haue patience , and murmure not ; for , vvhat knowest thou vvhether god vvill blesse his humilitie , and correct thy pride , or make him swell till hee burst , and make a triall of thy loue in the truth of thy patience ▪ but let me see vvith thy murmuring , vvhat manner of man hee should be , vvhom thou wouldest haue moulded to thy minde ; if thou be tall of stature , then lesse then thou , are dwarfes ; if low of stature , thē tall men are cyants ; if of a meane stature , then that is the best proportion : so that except all bee as thou art , thou vvilt find fault vvith god in his creation , or nature in her generation , or ( through lacke of vvit ) vvith fortune , in her indiscretion , in preferring such before thee , as thou fondly thinkest should come behind thee : when , if thou haddest thine owne eyes , thou shouldest see in the glasse of truth so many imperfections in thy selfe , as in the conceit of vnworthinesse , might make thee rather come behind many , then goe before any , and rather grieue at thy selfe , then murmure at an other : art thou finical & fantasticall ? and wouldst haue a man to thine owne mind ? what manner of man shall he be ? shaped like a picture ? countenanced like a bride ? and talke like a player ? oh fine foole , how thou wouldest haue the signe of a man stand for a man ? and if thou be such a one , wouldest thou haue all like thy selfe ? alas , the world is so full of fooles alreadie , that there is no need of any more of them : and therefore leaue thy murmuring , and fal to some beter reckoning , least thy account come to worse then nothing , and while thou art wise in thine owne conceit , there may bee more hope of a foole then of thee : doest thou murmure to see a traueller aduanced for his vertue , while thou art forgotten for thy seruice ? perhaps his knowledge is more worth then thy toile , and he hath taken paines , while thou hast liued at ease : art thou a trauailer , and murmurest at the home seruant ? perhaps , hee hath gotten more wealth at home , then thou abroad , and taken paines at home , while thou hast had pleasure abroad ; and what knovvest thou , vvhether the vvisedome of state , or rather the vvill of god , thinke it necessarie , to make a tryall of thy condition , ere they revvarde thy deserts : for aduancement may bee a hurt to ambition , vvhile humilitie begins her heauen in this vvorld . murmure not therefore at the good of another , nor grieue at the nature of thine own crosse : for , vvhen patience doth kindly carry it , it is the best badge of a christian ; and doest thou murmure to see one of base linage come to honour , vvhile thou liuest in disgrace ? take heed that hee bee not the first , and thou the last of a noble house , and rather learne to thriue by his vertue , then continue thy decay by thine owne folly . in summe , leaue thy murmuring at the vvill of god , or the vvelfare of any man , or at thine owne vvoe ; for god hath his vvoorking in all things , and if thou vvilt be one of his children , thou must louingly allow of vvhat hee doth . but now , as to men , let me a little speake to vvomen . doest thou being faire , murmure at the preferment of a foule one , and in thy rage call her foule dowde ? alas , thinke fortune had neede to doe somewhat for her , vvhen nature is so little her friend . againe , it may bee her inward vertue might be of more worth then thy forced beautie . art thou a foule one ? and murmurest at the aduancement of a faire creature ? and in distemper of thy braine , call her picture ? fie vpon thee , so shalt thou be no mans meate , foule vvithout and vvithin : for the euill mind is more foule , then the blackest face ; and if shee bee vertuous vvith her beauty , is shee not then vvorthie of honor ? againe , dost thou murmure at the vvealth of another , vvhile thou art in pouertie ? vvhy , it may bee thou knovvest not hovv she gets it , & perhaps , thy selfe vvouldest not so haue it : doest thou murmure , that she is more suedto by louers ? vvhy , it may be she is loued for change , and thou for choise : doest thou murmure at her that hath more children then thou ? perhaps thou deseruest them not , or it may be god doth not blesse thee to thy desire . rather pray therefore then murmure , least a vvorse plague befall thee : doest thou murmure to see a vvicked vvench put thee dovvn in preferment ? vvhat doest thou knovv vvhether she haue her heauen in this vvorld , vvhich thou seekest not , or begin her hell , ere she came at it ? againe , it may be , her repentance may be gratious , vvhen thy pride may be odious : and therfore be she fair or foule ; vvise , or fond ; vvealthie or poore ; godly , or vvicked , murmure not at any vvhatsoeuer shee bee , in vvhat state soeuer thou thy selfe be : least , in fretting at others fortune , thou consume thy selfe vvith follie , vvhile he that hateth the grudging heart , plague home the spirite of mallice : but leauing vvomen as the vveaker vessels , let mee come againe to men , that should haue the stronger spirits , to withstand the power of impatience . note , i say , first of murmuring , how many incontieniences doe grow to the murmurer himselfe , and then , to other , by his meanes ; and againe , how great are the comforts of the contrary : murmuring troubleth the minde , disquiets the heart , distempereth the bodie , and sometime breedes the consumption of the purse ; it forgetteth reason , abuseth nature , sheweth disloialty , displeaseth a friend , and doth purchase an enemie : it carrieth vvit from reason , reason from grace , and nature from her selfe , yea & sometime , man , euen from god to the deuill : while patiēce enduring those perplexities , that put reason to his best power ; nature is not distempered , reason not abused , grace is embraced , and god is truely honoured , the league of amitie is continued , the law of nature is not broken ; truth is gratious , and the soule is blessed , where the body is not distempered , nor the mind disturbed , the creature is most able to giue glory to his creator : note then the differences of these two natures : murmuring , a horrible vice , and patience a heauenly vertue ; doe but think on the fruit of murmuring , and the condition , and end of murmurers , rages , frettings , wars , death , pouertie , sicknes , and sorrovv , vvhile the child is sicke of the father , the vvife of the husband , the brother of the sister , and one friend of another ; vvhat massacre , or murther hath there grovvne , but through the inuention of murmuring , and the malice of murmurers ? looke a little , if thou bee a murmurer , of vvhat kind thou art , and vvho thou art , and so note the condition of thy nature , or nature of thy condition . if thou be a man , and murmurest against god , thou art a deuill ; if thou bee a subiect , and murmure against thy king , thou art a rebell ; if thou bee a sonne and murmure against thy father , thou shewest a bastards nature ▪ if thou murmure against thy brother , an vnkind nature ; if against thy friend , an vnthankfull nature ; if against an honest man , an vnhonest nature ; if against a foole , an vnwise nature ; if against a christian , a hethenish nature ; if against a man , a dogged nature . thus thou seest by murmuring what thou shalt bee esteemed of god and man , yea , and in thine ovvne conscience , of thy selfe , either a foole , a knaue , a heathen , a bastard , a traytor , a dogge , of a deuill : and doest thou then see the villanous nature and condition of this qualitie , and wilt not leaue it ? take heede least if thou continue in it , that god vvil hate thee for it , doe not send thee to the deuill with it , who was the first author , and is the continual nourisher of it . againe thinke with thy selfe , when another man shall find thee in thy murmuring , either by thy discōtentiue countenance , or soletarie delight , sequestring thy selfe from men , to conuerse with the aire , hovv great will be thy shame to heare the skoffings , that will fall vpon thy follie ? some will say thou art mad , other , thou art foolish , another thou art dogged , but noe man , that thou art either wise , kind , or well in thy wits : againe , when thou hast reuealed thy folly to the world , and fretted thy selfe to the heart , with the humor of an euill spirit , and yet art neuer the better any way , but manie way a greate deale the worse , what canst thou thinke of thy selfe ? but fret that thou didest fret ? blush at thy shame ? grieue at thy follie , and murmure at thy selfe , that thou didst murmure at thy selfe or any other , while repentāce which bringeth sorrow , is the best fruit of such a frenzie : againe , when thou shalt see the patience of another blessed , and thy murmuring accursed , an others patience enriched , and thy impatience impouerished , an others patience aduanced , & thy murmuring disgraced , what canst thou thinke of it ? but a canker eating into thy soule worse then any fistula in thy fleshe : pray then to the heauenly surgeon for a plaster of patience , with the oyle of true repentance to cure thee of this disease , which in the worlde , at least , by all the arte of the worlde is incurable : wilt thou see a murmurer truely discribed ? that thou maiest the better hate to bee his image : behold his eyes , like a hogge , euer bent downewards as if he were looking into hell : his cheekes like an anathomie , where the fleshe from the bones doth fall , with fretting ; his browes euer wrinckled with frownes , to shew the distemper of his vnquiet braine ; his lippes euer puld inward , as if enuie would speake , and durst not ; his tongue , like the sting of a serpent , which vttereth nothing but poison ; his voice , like the hissing of an adder , which maketh musique but for hell ; his necke , like a weake piller , whereon his head stands tottering , and readie to fall ; his breast like an impostume , that is ready to burst with corruption ; & his heart , the anuile wheron the deuill frames his fireworke ; his body a trunk where sinne hath layed vp her store ; his handes like clawes , that catch at the world ; and his feete like vvinges , that make hast vnto hell : now , doest thou behold this ougly sight ? and doest not feare to bee such a monster ? what shall i then say vnto thee , but if god haue giuen thee ouer to a reprobate sence , there is no reason to be had with thee , nor hope of recouery to bee had of thee ; but , hoping a little better in thee , let me goe a little further with thee : the vvorde of god saith beati pacifici , blessed are the peace makers , thinke then it is a vvorke of the deuill to sovv sedition , and being at vvar vvith thy selfe ; hovv canst thou be at peace vvith the vvorld , except it bee the good vvarre betvvixt the spirite and the flesh , vvhere the peace of conscience ouercomes the trouble of conceit ; by patience is the soule possest , vvhich is more vvorth then the vvhole vvorld , and by murmuring is the soule lost , vvhich gon , vvhat is the gaine of the vvorld ? is it not strange that all the parts and the members of the bodie , can so vvell agree togither , and one doe seruice to another , and men , the parts and members of a common-vvealth , should be so at variance among themselues ? in the body of man , if the head ake , the heart is not vvell , if the eye be hurt , the head is distempered , the heart is diseased , and all the body is the vvorse , if the finger bee hurt , the head vvill seeke to help it , the heart hath a feeling of it , the eye vvil pittie it , and the feete vvill goe for ease for it ; if the foote bee hurt , the head , heart , and hands will seeke for cure of it , while the eye vvill be carefull to look to the dressing of it ; if the body bee diseased , the head vvith all the members vvill labour for the helpe of it , that all parts being in their perfect state , the mind or soule may be at rest : & if in this priuate body of man , all things bee brought vnto this good order , vvhat shame is it for a common-vvealth , that men should bee so out of order ? and vvhile all parts of the bodie are at the seruice of the head , to the great peace of the heart , vvhy should not all subiects ioyne togither in vnity of seruice to their king , to the greate and blessed peace of the vvhole kingdome ? god made all the parts of the bodie for the soule , and vvith the soule to serue him , and all the subiects in a kingdome to serue their king , and with their king to serue him . if the head of the bodie ake , vvill not the heart bee greatly greeued ? and euerie part feele his part of the paine of it ? and shall a king in his vvill bee displeased , and the hearte of his kingdome , the heartes of his subiects , not haue a feeling of it ? canne the eye of the bodie bee hurt , or greeued , and neither the head , heart , nor any other member bee touched vvith the paine of it ? no more can the counsell , the eye of the common vvealth bee disturbed ; but the king vvill find it , and the common-vvealth vvill feel it ; can the hand , the artificer , bee hurt ? but the common-vvealth vvill find the lacke of it , the eye with pittie vvil behold it , and the head vvith the eye , the king vvith the counsell take care for the help of it ? can the labourer , the foote be vvounded ? but the body of the state vvill feele it , the head be carefull , the eye searchfull , and the hand bee painfull in the cure of it ? and the common-vvealth ? the body bee diseased , but the king , his counsell , and euerie true subiect , vvill put to his hand for the helpe of it ? hovv then grovves this murmuring at the vvill of god in men ? vvhile there is such an agreement of the parts in man , but only by the vvorke of the deuill in man , to bring him from god and the vvorlde , to vvorke against himselfe , his seruice in the vvorld , and as hee taught it first our parēts to bring them out of paradise , so he vvil as many as he can of their posterity , to lead them into hell : but let mee tell thee , it is better that a fevv murmurers perish vvith their murmuring , then a vvhole kingdome perish vvith their mallice : in the holy vvord i find vvritten ; if thine eye offend thee , pull it out ; if thy hand offend thee , cut it off : better to enter into heauen vvith one hand , or one eye , then vvith both into hell . but all this vvhile , there is nothing spokē of the head , that must still bee kept on : so if a great man , or a meane man do offēd , cut him off , or cut him short , that he may do no hurt ; for better a mēber perish , thē the head or the hart should ake , then either the king , or the common-vvealth should bee diseased : but for the king hovvsoeuer hee bee disposed , hee must not bee disturbed : for it is vvritten , touch not mine annointed , and do my prophets no harme : againe , transgressiō is as the sin of vvitchcraft ; and vvhat greater transgression , then rebellion ? vvhich chiefly hath her breeding in murmuring . if thou hast a cruell & vvicked king , take him for a punishment , and pray for his amendment ; but murmure not at his povver : but if thou hast a good king , take him as a blessing ; and hauing a good king , be thankful to god for him , & for his prosperity , serue him , loue him , & obey him , & hate thy selfe to haue a thought of murmuring against him , or any thing cōmanded by him : looke a little more into thy glasse of murmuring , & see ( if at last thou hast the least sparke of gods grace ) vvhat thou beholdest : god in the heauēs frowning upon thee , his angels either murmuring for thee , or readie to plague thee , his seruants on the earth hating thee , and the deuill vvith his angells readie to distroy thee ; thy soule made a receptacle of sinne , thy mind made a torment to thy soule , thy heart made a greefe to thy bodie , and euerie part of thy bodie out of temper : while being driuen out of the ground of all goodnesse , thou shalt bee left in the maze of al wickednesse , where , loosing the hope of all cōfort , thou shalt liue in the hell of all miserie ; yet , a little look further into thy selfe , and into the vilenesse of thy nature , if it be touched with that infection : if the weather please thee not , thou wilt murmure at the heauens : if the world goe not with thee , thou willt murmure at the vvorlde ; if thy friend rebuke thee , thou vvllt murmure at his care of thee : if thine enemy ouercome thee , thou wilt murmure at his fortune ; if thy father bee aged , thou wilt murmure at his life ; if thy brother be thine elder , thou wilt murmure at his inheritance ; if thy neighbour grow rich , thou wilt murmure at his prosperitie ; if a stranger bee fauored , thou wilt murmure at his grace , if a begger bee releeued , thou wilt murmure at his almes ; and if a godly man bee beloued , thou wilt murmure at gods blessing ; if thou bee a woman , or a womanish man , then how many things will trouble thee ? thou wilt murmure at fashions , coulors , toies , tricks , words , gestures , and a world of such idle fancies , whē alwaies the other is the best , & nothing pleaseth but variety : hee , or shee hath the best face , the best eye , the best hand , the best legge , the best body , or the best foote , speakes best , hath the best countenance , sings best , dances best , rides best , feeds fineliest , goes gaiest , hath apparrell the best made , and weares it best : & thus all is best wher there is none good ; while , that , which should be best , serues god best , is not spokē of : for indeed , who serueth god best , will not let his spirit be led away with these idle humors : dost thou thē see the follie of this murmuring , and the hurt of so great a poyson ? seeke the cure of it by prayer , & keep it from thee by patience ; least if it once get hold of thy heart , it breed a cureles woūd in thy soule : if thou be a king , keepe thy seate ; if a courtier , know thy place ; if a scholler plie thy booke ; if a souldier , look to thine honor ; if a marchāt , take thy fortune ; if a farmer follow thy plough ; if a beggar , fal to prayer ▪ but murmur not , oh king , if thou be not an emperor ; nor courtier if thou haue not grace ; nor scholler if thou want preferment ; nor souldier if thou loose thy day ; nor marchāt , if thou loose goods ; nor farmer , if thou lose thy labor ; nor beggar if thou get bare alms : but murmuring at gods wil ; take heede that thou loose not thine owne soule , more precious to thee , then the whole world : is it not strange to see the insensible creatures , what a concord there is , and among the creatures of best sence , so great a disagreement : in musique the treble is the highest , and the base the lowest ; the tenor and counter-tenor betvveen thē : yet though euery one hath his place , when they are in their full concord , they make the sweetest harmony : so in a kingdome : a king is the highest , and the labourer the lovvest : ( i leaue out the beggar as an vnnecessary member , but only for the exercise of charity ) bur , betwixt the king and the labourer , there are counsailers , preachers , lawyers , souldiars , marchants , and artificers , and when all these togither in due allegeance to their king , doe true seruice vnto god , hovv excellent a musique is the sound of peace in such a kingdom : if the strings be out of tune , the musique will be harsh , and if the people bee out of order , the state cannot be in peace : thinke then , if among these insēsible creatures be such an vnity as is most pleasing , why should not among men bee so great an vnion ? that may bee as well pleasing as profitable ? wee canne bee contented with the gold of india , the sugar of barbary , the oyle of candie , the spices of spaine , the vvine of france , and so , of other things , of other countries , to mingle with our owne , to make a medicine for the comfort or preseruatiue of our bodies , & can we not vnite vnto our selues , a people so like our selues , & so neer vnto our selues , as might be to vs as our selues ; if we vvould looke vvith the eye of charity , vvhat blessing doth grovv of loue : nothing did part our land , but a little vvater , and nothing can part our loue , but a little vvill : but , as it may be said , of a more wilfull then wise man , who hauing a coat made all of one peece , vvas persvvaded by a tailor to haue it cut in peeces , and vveare guardes vpon the seames ; onely to set himselfe on vvorke , and make againe of the shreds , giuing that part another name , then before it had , that was nevv set on againe ; so , i may say , this land , once all one , and by vvhat perswasion , i know not cut off , was so lōg guarded , that it seemed to bee of some other stuffe , then the vvhole peece , till it pleased god by the great power of his grace , in the maiestie of our king to bring both landes againe into one : vvhich done , it now resteth , that the guards takē away , no seame of disseuering be to be seen ▪ but , the lands , as one peece of earth , enlarging the boūds of one kingdom , the people be vnited in that vniō , that , to auoid ambition , there be no dissention , and to maintaine an vnitie , there be no rebellion : for , as there is one god , one king , and one kingdome : so , there should bee one law , one loue , and one life , one voice , one heart , and one people : to the cōtradictiō wherof , whē all reasons are alleadged , it is only lacke of loue , that hindereth the heauen of such a happines ; but , what euer thou bee , that murmurest at this motion , let me say vnto thee , as the poore woman of ireland sayes to her dead husband : oh man , man , why didst thou die ? thou hadst cowes , and thou hadst a horse ; thou hadst a sword , and a shirt of male , and vvhy vvouldest thou die ? so thou hast a good king , a sweet country , a kind people , and a blessed peace , and vvhy doest thou murmure ? doest thou feare to haue many friends ? then get the among enemies , art thou vnwilling to haue many neighbours ? then liue among strangers : dost thou loue no christians , then dvvell among turkes ; or doest thou loue no men ? then liue among deuills ; or dost thou loue no house but home ? make thy graue in thy bed ; vvilt thou eate no meate but milke ? baby , sucke thy dambe , till thou bee a dizard ; vvilt thou abide no company , but thine one kindred ? lap thy selfe in thy mothers apron ; or doest thou doubt thy neighbour vvill ouerthrovv thee ? oh , let not lacke of witte so deceiue thee : for if god hath not so blest thee , as to make thee know what is good for thee , thou needest nothing more then thy selfe to vndoe thee : consider therefore of euery thing , if thou canst in the best kind , and make thy construction vvith that care , that god first may bee pleased , thy king obeyed , thy country benefited , and thy selfe contented : that vvhen the murmuring of malice is put avvay , and patience hath brought peace into thy bosome , thy hart may find the happines of that blessing , that thy soule may be ioyfull to behold vvhere , the people vnited , god is serued , the kingdome preserued , & the state most blessed , vvhere such a peace is applauded . the seas are a vvall vnto our earth , to keep it from the enimies , & shall vve vvithin our land be at vvarres vvithin our selues ? or shall vvee make a shevv of loue in our vvords , and harbour hatred in our hearts ? or shall vve be borne neighbours , & liue as strangers ? god forbid : let not the deuil so vvorke among the seruantes of god , to crosse the course of such a peace , as is so much to gods glory : our heuēly master christ iesus king of kings , vvare his coat vvithout a seame , and our king vvould haue his kingdom vvithout a seuerance : it is the vvorde of christ ; that vvhen a kingdom is deuided in it selfe , it cannot stand : if therefore vvee will bee christiās ; we must follow christ ; if vve will be subiects , we must obey our king ; if vvee vvill stand , vvee must not bee deuided : for example , to alleadge ancient histories offorrain princes , at least a farre of is needles , when neere hand before our eyes that cannot deceiue our iudgements : hovv grevv the vvars in the low countries ? but , by the malice of murmurers ? hovv grevv the massacres in france ? but , by the deuision of the princes , and noble houses ; and hovv many broyles haue beene betvvixt scotland & vs , vvhile vvee vvere in the state of deuision ? againe , hovv strong are the states vvhere they are vnited in the lovv coūtries , hovv is france inriched by his peace ? and hovv are vve ; or at least may bee vvith gods blessing strengthened by this vnion ? esope telleth a prettie tale to this purpose : that a father hauing many sonnes often disagreeing , and as it vvere at iarre one vvith another , called them before him , and caused euery one to bring vnto him , a little rod , or vvand , vvhich taken of them , he bound them vp altogither in one bundel ; vvhich made fast vvith a bād , he gaue to euery one of his sons , one after another to breake ; vvhich they found impossible : whereupon the father tooke out euerie rod , and gaue one to each one of his sonnes to breake , which was quicklie performed : now quoth the father , ye see my sōnes of vvhat a strength is loue , vvher heartes are vnited togither ; for as these vvandes , so are yee ; strong vvhen yee are knit togither in the band of brotherly loue , & vveake and to be broken , vvhen you are diuided one from another ▪ surelie so it may be said of vs : if vve be vnited , and knitte togither in the band of brotherlie loue , our strength vvill be great to vvithstand our enimies ; but if vve fall at variance , vvhat peace can continue betvvixt vs ? nay vvhat hurt shal vve do vnto our selues , vvhile the enimie vvill be ready to inuade vs ? it is vvritten . o quam bonum et iucundū ? fratres concordare in vnum ? oh hovv blessed a thing it is bretheren to agree in vnitie ? are vve not all bretheren in christ ? bretheren in respect of our neere birth ? bretheren in our language ? & is it not possible for our liues to make vs bretheren in loues ? let vs see , vvher is the fault , vvhat is the cause ? and vvhy it should take place ? in god ? no , hee loueth vnity : in the king ? no , hee vvould haue an vnion : in the subiectes ? noe , they vvould bee obedient to their king : in the godlie ? noe , they vvould bee obedient to gods vvill : in vvhome then ? surely in none , except in some priuate persons for some priuate causes , to some priuate endes : oh then those priuate persons are not for the publique vveale : those priuate causes for no common good , and those priuate ends , are for no godly end , but hoping there are none such : i speake to none , but vvish all vvell , that all may be vvell : is not our religion all one ? and shall vvee differ in ceremonies ? and if our lavves vvere all one , should vve differ in the execution ? our earth all as one , and shall vvee then differ in nature ? vvhat should bee the cause ? but this ; vvhile god is vvorking , and the king is vvilling , the deuill is stirring , and man is striuing , but , god is aboue the deuil , and a king is aboue his kingdome ; and vvhile god is god , and the king gratious , though the deuill bee vvicked , let not man bee vvilfull . a true loues knot is long in knitting , vvhen both endes must meete in the middest : but once vvell put togither , it is both faire and fast : so , an vnion of people is long a vvorking , but once sast lincked in ioue , vvhere farre and neere meet in the middest of a good mind , hovv beautiful is such a peace , vvhere the people are so blessed ? let then al murmurers be shut out from the sound of such a parlee , vvhere vvisedome may shevv her grace in the worke of such a worth for it must bee that our king ▪ and theirs , is , and must be ( and euer i pray god be ) al one : our religion and theirs one : and our lavves and theirs all one : els how can there be loue in our liues ? or vnion in our hearts ? but i hope , that god who did create our hearts by his will , will so vvorke our hearts to his will , that wee shall not swarue from his will : but as hee hath made all into one kingdome ; so vve shall bee all as one people , vvith one voice praising god , vvith one heart seruing one king , and vvith one loue , embrasing one another : many little birdes flie togither in one flocke , many kindes of cattell feed in one field : many kinde of sheepe lie togither in one fold , and shall tvvo neighbour borne children , not liue togither in one loue ? god forbid : it is an old saying , and euer true , concordia paruae res crescunt , discordia maxima dilabuntur : by concord small things proue greate , by discord the greatest doe decay : tvvo little landes haue made a greate kingdome , and shall one great people bee little in loue ? god forbid : the landes vvere deuided , and are vnited ; and if the people may bee vnited , let them not be diuided : diuision breeds ambition , emulation , and faction , and vvhat are the fruits of these frenzies ? hovv many kingdomes to their great misery haue tasted ? but vniō breeds loue charitie , & faith , of vvhich blessings vvhat are the benefits , vvhat kingdome may not bee glad to tast ? a king of a deuided peopl● may haue povver in his svvord , but a king of vnion may reioyce in his scepter : a people deuided may be grieuous to themselues , but a people vnited may be pleasing to god : diuision is the cause of distruction , and vnion of comfort : compare them then togither , & see vvhich is to be accepted : diuisiō breeds feare , and ielouzie ; vnion breeds the resolution and trust : diuision breeds warre and hatred ; vnion breeds peace and loue : diuision breeds dearth , and danger ; vnion plentie , and safety ; diuision breeds malice and murther : vnion breeds loue , and life : diuision breeds greefe and sorrow , vnion breeds mirth and comfort : thinke then vpon the venom of the one , and the vertue of the other ; and if thou bee not senceles of thine owne good , runne not headlong vpon thine own ill : desire not rather to liue in the hatefull nature of diuision , then to bee lincked in the liuely knot of vnion ; least the god of loue that offers it , and thy louing king , that desireth it , both hate thee for refusing it , and deny thee it vvhen thou vvouldest haue it : the tovver of babell could not be builded , vvhen the languages vvere diuided : jerusalem vvent to ruine vvhen the princes vvere diuided , rome hath beene shaken since religon hath beene diuided : antwerpe hath beene decayed , since the states vvere diuided : france vvas impouerished , vvhen the nobles were diuided , and england vvas disturbed , when scotland vvas diuided : but now the landes all bearing one name , the subiects all one , vnder one king , the laws all tending to one ende ; vvhy should not the nations bee all one people ? flowers grovve svveetely together , trees beare fruite naturally together , fishes swim friendly togither , birdes sing merrily together ; & beasts seede quietly together , and is it not then a shame for men , that vvee cannot liue louingly togither ? a drop of water is weake , but many droppes of water will driue a mill : a sparke of fire is little , but many sparkes together , will make a fire to consume a whole countrie : a corne of powder is little , but a great many together will discharge a great shot : a herring is a smal fish , but a skull of them together vvill ouerthrovve a prettie ship : a pike is a small vveapon , yet a stande of them being together vvill ouerthrovve a greate troope : and a man is a small creature ; but where men hold togither , what monster can hurt them ? so these lands being one land , and the people one people ; what kingdome can annoy vs ? no let vs say , and if wee bee our selues , to our selues , and in peace among our selues , and that our god be with vs ; neither the world nor the deuill can hurt vs : but if there bee a breach in a banke , the sea breaks in , & ouerflowes the land : if there be a breach in a furnace , the fire will burst out , and burne the whole house : if there bee a breach in a wall , the bore will breake in , and spoile the whole vineyard : if there be a breach in a hedge , the cattel vvill breake in and eate vp the grasses if there be a breach in a fort , the enemie will enter and sacke the towne : if there bee a breach among pikes , the horsemen will breake in , and ruine the campe : if there bee a breach in a conscience , corruption will get in , and kil the whole man : & if ther be a breach of loue in the hearts of a people , the enemie will take aduantage for the inuasion of the kingdome . see then , and consider hovv dangerous a thing is diuision , and hovv safe an assurance is vnitie ; and take the best , and leaue the worst ; and so shall none of your pales bee broken ▪ oh heauens , vvhat a hell is this in the vvorld ? that men should liue so like deuills one one vvith another : it is written that a man should bee as a god vnto man , but it may bee vvriten , that man is , or at least many men are , as deuills vnto men : vvhere there are so many murmurers , that ther can be fevv louers ; the rich man murmures at the poore man , that hee should dwell nigh him : the vsurer murmures at the broker ; that he g●●eth any thing by him : the tradesman murmures at his neighbour , that he should prosper or thriue by him : the lavvyer murmures at the tearme that it is so short a haruest for him : the marchant murmures at the vvindes , that his shippes come not home to him : the souldiour murmures at the pay-maister , that hee keepes his money from him : the courtier murmures at his taylor , that his clothes are not fit for him : the minister he murmures at the parson , because hee hath the greatest profit from him : and the parson murmures at the parishe , that they come not to church to pay their duties to him ; and the parishe murmures at the parson , that they pay so much , for so little paines from him : the tenant murmures at his landlorde for racking of his rent : the landlord murmures at his tenant to see him thriue by his husbandry . in summe there is almost no profession or cōdition wherin one doth not murmre at an other ; which murmuring vvhile it continueth in the hearts of people , it vvill suffer loue to haue no life among them : but were the vvorlde purged of that malicious humor , then vvould there bee as great a heauen , as thereis novv a hell in the vvorld ; vvher loue should establish such a lavv , as should neuer bee broken : among men ; doe not tvvo eyes in one head , two hands , and two legges to one bodie make one man ; and shall not two lands make one kingdome ; nay more ; doth not one eye the same that the other , the one hād , the same that the other , and shall not one peple so nere another , as one mēber is to another , haue one vvill , one lavv , and one loue one vvith another ? it is strange it should be so , but i hope it vvill bee othervvise ; god vvill haue his vvill , and our good king his wil : in this vvorke of gods vvill , euery good christian , and good subiect vvill giue his good will to gods and our kings will ; against vvhich , if any shall murmure , god vvill bee displeased that the king is not obeyed ; the king vvill bee displeased , that god is not obeyed : the counsel vvill be displeased , that god and the king are not obeied : the court vvill be agreeued to see god , the king , and counsell displeased : and the common-vvealth vvill haue a common vvoe , when all these are displeased . looke therfore betimes to this busines , detract no time for this dispatch , suppresse the power of the diuels pride ; and plant in your hearts that grace of humilitie , that in the life of true loue , may bring forth fruite to gods glorie . breake an angel , and you shall haue losse in the mettall ; breake a cup , and you shall haue losse in the fashiō ; breake a glasse , you shall loose the fashion and the mettall ; breake wedlocke , and you loose your credit ; breake the lawe , and loose your libertie ; breake loue , and loose the joye of life : but keepe your coyne whole , and it will goe currant ; keepe your cup vvhole , and you shall saue the fashion ; keepe your glasse whole , and you shall saue mettall and fashion ; keep your wedlocke from breaking , and saue your credit from cracking ; keepe your lawe frō breaking , and your loue will be great ; keepe your loue from breaking , and your liues vvill be blessed : diuide the head , & the braines vvil come out ; diuide the body , and the heart vvill come out ; diuide the minde , & the vvittes vvill come out ; diuide the wittes , and the vvilles come out ; and diuide the willes , and the vvoes come out ▪ but keepe the head vvhole , and the braines vvill bee the better ; keepe the body vvhole , the heart vvill bee the better ; keepe the minde quiet , the vvits will be the better ; keepe the wits in temper , the vvilles be the better , and keepe the wils togither , the common-wealth vvil bee the better . note therefore in al causes , & al courses , diuision breeds losse , greefe , or sorrovv : and vnion , gain , comfort , and ioy . but i doubt i haue onely spoken of that vvhich vvould quickly bee helped , if the right vvay vvere once found : and therefore it is rather the manner , then the matter , that the vvorkeman cannot agree vpon : but to helpe the ill hammering of a peece of vvorke so vvorth the framing , let mee make a comparison betvvixt a house and a kingdome : there is a greate landlord will haue a house builded , his will must bee obeyed , hee giues commaund vnto the maister workeman that it bee speedely performed : the maister vvorkeman calls his labourers , and giues order for the worke , euery one in his place , and according to his qualitie : now vvhen the worke is in hand , timber , stone , bricke , lime , and water , iron , glasse , and leade , and all is readie that is necessarie : if either the workmen bee vnwilling to worke , or cannot agree vpon their worke , there will no house bee built : but if they fal to their busines , & agree vpon the direction , the ●…ame will soone vp : euen so the ●ord god , our sauiour iesus christ , the great landlord , and lord of heauen and earth , will haue a commonwealth builded , and his will must be obeyed : for performance whereof , hee hath giuen commaundement to his seruant , and our soueraigne lord king iames in this world , vnder god onely workemaister of this vnion : where if either the people be vnwilling to yeeld vnto the course or order set dovvne by the workemaister , or among themselues disagree vpon the manner of their working , whatsoeuer faire vvords be vsed , whatsoeuer good reasons be alleadged , or vvhatsoeuer shews of loue be made , there vvill bee no true league of friendship , nor peace for the ground of a common-wealth : but let the labourers be willing to bee directed by their vvorke-maister , and euery one in his place , shevv the best of his good vvill ; and no doubt , but such a common-vvealth vvill bee built , as while god doth blesse it , all the vvorld shall not hurt it . consider therefore the inconueniences of diuision , and the comforts and commodities of vnion , and let not selfe-will carrie you away from the course of wisedom : you see , if you vvill still murmure against this so gratious an action , hovv many are against you ? god himselfe , who loues vnitie : the king , vvho vvould haue an vnion : subiects , that loue their king , and godly men that loue god , for they vvill bee obedient to his will : the flowers of the field are against you , for they will grow togither ; the trees , for they vvill beare fruite togither ; the fishe , for they vvil swim togither ; the birdes , for they vvill sing togither : and is it not then a shame for men , that vve cannot liue and loue togither . for shame then goe from your selues vnto god , and goe from the deuill vnto man : and in the name of god agree togither ; liue vnder one god , one king , one law , and one loue : so shall god best bee pleased , the king best contented , the kingdome best gouerned , and euery vvise and honest man best satisfied : vvhere liuing in murmuring and malecontent , god may be displeased , the king disquieted , the state disturbed ; and fevv men but some vvay discontented : vvhat shall i say , to conclude , but this ? is not vnion a kind of marriage , vvrought by the hands of god ? and performed in the hearts of his people ? i say , a marriage where hearts ioyning hands , make two bodies as one : and is not a kind attonement , better then an vnkind diuorcement : let then these tvvo kingdomes be one , marrie them in loue , and since our king is the father that giues them , vvhile god himselfe doth vnite them , what subiect or christian can be so vngratious , as not to giue his consent to them ? yea let mee say vvith the minister in the time of marriage : if any man knovv any lavvfull , or iust cause , vvhy these two landes , now one kingdome , should not in marriage be lincked vvith such a loue , as may make them liue vnder one lavv , and dvvell togither as one people , let him novv speake , or euer hereafter hold his peace : but if there bee any man , that knovving no iust , nor lavvfull cause , vvill out of the malicious humor of a vvicked spirit , hating to see a heauenly action vpon earth , murmur at the blessed proceeding of so gratious a worke , the god of peace make him for euer hold his peace . amen an olde mans lesson, and a young mans loue. by nicholas breton breton, nicholas, ?- ? approx. kb of xml-encoded text transcribed from -bit group-iv tiff page images. text creation partnership, ann arbor, mi ; 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(eebo-tcp ; phase , no. a ) transcribed from: (early english books online ; image set ) images scanned from microfilm: (early english books, - ; : ) an olde mans lesson, and a young mans loue. by nicholas breton breton, nicholas, ?- ? 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review (qc) and xml conversion an olde mans lesson , and a yovng mans love . by nicholas breton . london imprinted for edward vvhite , and are to bee solde at his shop neere the little north-doore of s. paules church at the signe of the gun. . to the right vvorshipfull and worthy fauourer of learning and nourisher of vertue : sir iohn linwraye knight , master surueyer of all his maiesties ordinance within his highnes realmes of england & ireland : nich. breton wisheth encrease of all happinesse on earth , and the ioyes of heauen heereafter . i haue often noted , that the wisedom of experience , hath bene the schoole of a good wit , where youth giuing eare to age , may the better determine of his courses : and againe , that nature weying loue with reason , worketh the best effectes of vnderstanding . the truth of this you may finde made good in this little dialogue , where the father kindely deales with the sonnes duetie , and the sonnes loue , with the fathers discretion : many prettie tractes haue passed among them , where each was so pleased in the summarie of their discourse , that , if all fathers would be as kinde , and all children as wise , there would be a blessed common wealth : but the world is to be weyed as it is , and their rules to bee made examples of much good : the discourse is diagolicall , and the varietie not vnpleasant : where nature with wit , wit with learning , and learning with iudgement , may prooue some paines in the writing , and worthie patience in the reading . such as it is ( with my better seruice ) i cōmēd to your good fauour , hoping that as in this little you may see my loue , so in a greater seruice , you will commaund the bonds of my affection : in which , with hearts thankfulnesse ▪ for your euer vndeserued kindenesse : i take my leaue . yours deuoted and obliged : nich. breton . to the reader . my good friend , if you be so , if not , i would you were so , at least , if you be worth the being so : i haue met of late with a discourse written by i know not whom , and how well , iudge you that reade it : it is written in the manner of a dialogue , betwixt an olde man , and his sonne : the father was a widdower , and the sonne a trauailer : who after a long absence , came home to his father , at whose comming , ( after kinde greetings ) there passed many pretty passages : in which was handled an olde mans lesson , and a young mans loue : i will not commēd the hādling of it , but rather leaue it to correction of the wise , then the allowance of the contrarie : and so wishing it may displease none , that are worthy to bee pleased , and not to be worse thought on then it deserues : i leaue it to your patience , and my selfe to your kinde regard , and so rest . your louing friend . nich. breton . an olde mans lesson : and a young mans loue. chremes and pamphilus . chre. sonne , welcome home , god blesse thee , and make thee his seruant . pam. i thanke you father , and say amen to your praier . chre. well said boy , but let me talke a word or two with thee : thou hast been abroade in the world , and hast seene more then thou hast eaten , and hast left many a good towne behinde thee for fault of carriage : tell me i pray thee , whence camest thou now ? pam. directly from the vniuersitie , where i haue made no long stay : for had it not lyen in my way , i had not come at it at all , such was my haste home , as well first to shewe my duetie to you , as to acquaint you with the occasion of some matters , which at leysure i wil impart vnto you . cre. i vnderstand you well : me you come to see , but my money is the matter you would talke of , for certaine occasions you thereunto moouing : but by the way , let me aske you what newes are abroad ? pam. newes enough , but fewe worth the hearing : and in the place from which i came ( i meane the academe ) there are but two pointes the schollers stand vpon : and one point the townes-men . chre. and what are the schollers pointes ? pam. truely neither leather , threed , nor silke-points , nor pointes of pinnes , nor needles , nor pointes with the finger but the full point : of eyther truth or falshood : for in argument , wit , and learning , to trye their best vertue , is in finding out a falshood or maintaining a truth . chre. why then wit and learning can make a faire shewe of truth where there is none : pam. yea , but bettter wit , & better learning can lay it open , that it may be knowne as it is . chre. and when it is knowne , what then ? pam. then to be regarded as it deserues . chre. as how , i pray thee ? pam. if one holde an opinion that a man is wise because hee is rich , and an other holde the contrarie , and both hauing shewed their reasons , hee that findes out the truth of wisdom what it is , and in what it lies , makes it knowne so apparantly to all good vnderstanding , that wisedome is to be honoured as a vertue and grace of the deuine essence , and wealth to bee esteemed as a seruant of necessitie . chre. and this is your schoole talke : pam. yea sir. chre. good talke for schollers : but doe their maisters holde it so , that money is but a seruant of neede ? pam. yes , and learned it themselues before they teach it vs. chre. but how vnderstand you a seruant of necessity ? pam. for prouision of apparell which is necessarie , meate and drinke , and lodging , which are necessarie : horse and furniture , which are necessarie : maintenance of wife , children , and seruants , all which are necessarie : to keepe good courses , with good company , which is necessarie : to procure aduauncement , which is necessarie : to keepe off want , which is necessarie to helpe the needie , feede the hungrie , and relieue the oppressed , which is necessarie : in all which necessarie causes , the spirit being mooued by grace and reason , to effect that which cannot be done without money , he is to be employed as a necessarie seruant , and a seruant at all necessities ▪ but wisdome which is a directer of the spirit in all good , and necessarie courses , & the employer of wealth in all necessarie causes , is to bee honoured aboue all thinges , whatsoeuer man can be master of . chre. well said ; but superfluity then , money hath nothing to do withal , as thus : better want money then waste it vpon drunkennes , wantonnesse , or wickednes ▪ for when one hath a coate that will keepe him warme , which was the cause garments were first made , and money is employed for them to lay on needeles lace of threed , silke or siluer , or golde , which makes the garment more weightie then warme , money is to be pardoned for any such vnnecessarie expence . pam. pardon me sir , it makes the garment more comely , and comelinesse is necessarie so farre that it exceede not reason in measure : furthermore it is an vtterance of silke , an vpholder of traffique , and maintainer of arte. chre. so sir , well said maister scholler , how finely you can make superfluitie in pride , be a reliefe of necessitie , and necessarie to maintaine traffique ▪ but , content your selfe , cloath the backe warme , satisfie hunger and thirst , and so farre my money hath bene my seruant , and so farre hee shall bee yours . why so you may say of a house , when the first cause was to keepe man drie : to make more roomes then there is vse for , more chimnyes , then is fier for ; more windowes then there is wit for , and more painting and guilding then there is good reason for : why should not monye lie still rather then bee employed in such vnnecessarie humors ? pam. oh sir , are not many poore men emploied in their labours , many men of trade exercised in their arte ? and is not the beautie thereof comely to the eyes of the beholder ? which may as well praise god in the worke-man-shippe , as haue pride in the profession of it ? oh , it is the ill minde of one that misconstrueth the good meaning of an other : and therefore monye being made for necessarie vses , and many necessarie vses in the building of faire houses , monye is to bee employed and the builder for his wisdome to bee honoured . chre. i thanke you sir : but for my selfe , hee hath serued me to builde roomes necessarie for my vse and no further , and for a house fit for your calling my monye shall serue you and no further : why , you perhaps will defend feasts , and banqueting , when monye is onely to bee employed for necessitie to satisfie hunger and thirst . pam. without offence , i thinke i may say , that feastes are as necessarie as fasts : for , as the one doth pull downe the flesh from rebelling against the spirit , so doth the other giue the spirit more life in reioycing vpon a iust cause of ioy : as in many excellent histories , as well diuine as humaine , wee may reade : but to allowe thereby of drunkennes or glotonny , i haue no such meaning : as at mariages , holy daies , and honest merrie meetings , a little too much , is better then much too little : further-more the varieties of meates and drinkes , as ale , beere , wine , sugar and spices , are the better knowne , wherein god is glorified , and praised for his blessings , and the vintner , the grocer , the comfit-maker , the cooke , the brewer and the butcher , doe by the venting of their wares , the better maintaine their trades ▪ so that i thinke i may well say , that monye in the prouision of feastes and banquets , is to bee employed as a seruant of necessitie . chre. so sir , you say well : but money hath serued mee for the good loafe and the cheese , beefe , and mutton , and nowe and then a goose and a chicke , or a ducke of mine owne breede or your mothers ; and a cuppe of ale or beere of our owne brewing : this outlandish drinke ( this wine ) is more costly then wholsome : i warrant you the greatest part of this countrie standes vpon corne , and sheepe : and where haue you a plough-man or a shepheard , that almost knowes what drinke it is , or cares for it , when he sees it ? no , ale and beere is our best liquor , and therefore so farre as may kill hunger and quench thirst , monye hath serued mee , and so farre shall it serue you : but , whether is more wisdome in getting money to serue necessities , and keepe it for necessarie causes , or to studie trickes to lay it out vpon nice inuentions ? pam. truely sir , ( as i said before , monye is but reasons seruant , & wisdom is reasons maister : thē if reason the seruant to wisdom , can finde meanes euen among fooles to get money , either by labour , arte , or fortune : and wisdome onely be the director of reason in the imployment of that money , to the necessarie comfort and honour of man : i holde it a greater wisdome well to dispose of a seruants businesse , then to come by the seruant , for money is euerie mans seruant in one sort or other : but wisdome liueth but with a fewe , whome shee maketh more honorable then the money-master . chre. yea , how can that bee ? what honor is there without money ? the best scholler without money may make a hard dinner , and goe in a threed-bare coate : and for all his grace in the schooles , haue little grace in the world . pam. yet learning in it selfe is honorable , and if he be gratious in patience , either to beare his crosse , or to attend his comfort , then deserueth he the honour of that vetue that learning hath taught him , & is wronged if he haue it not giuen him : for shall an asse be held wise because hee hath put on a foxes skinne , or like a wolfe can pray on a lambe ? or if a foole that hath but so much wit as to play the knaue , & by his cunning to gather coine , shal such a deuil in the shape of man be honoured as a god ? god forbid : no , the golden calfe of horeb was an idoll , and couetousnesse is the witch of wit , and the roote of all euill . chre. and which is the toppe ? pam. pride . chre and what is the body ? pam sloth . chre. and what is the armes ? pam. glotony and drunkennes . chre. what is the sappe ? pam. letcherie . chre. what the barke ? pam. enuie . chre. what are the leaues ? pam. vanities . chre. the fruite ? pam. shame and paine . chre. oh braue ! a tree for the deuils garden , god blesse my ground from such trees . pam. amen . chre. but heere me a little , i thinke if a man should touch you with a tickling humor , of an effeminate nature , you would defend it to bee good , and money necessarie to bee vsed in such a seruice : and were not that a prettie piece of learning ? pam howsoeuer sir you thinke of it : i can shew good reason for it : for loue is an humor of the minde infused into the heart , by the vertue of the spirit : which by the grace of wisdome , the art of reason , and the seruice of money , worketh honorable effectes in nature : for when the eye beholdeth beautie , nature is pleased in the obiecte ; when reason findeth wit , wisdome is delighted in the subiecte ; and when wisdome findeth grace , reason is ioyfull in vnderstanding ; and then all these meeting together in conceite , must needes work together for contentment : for the accomplishment of which , money must be a seruant of necessitie . as thus : if your neighbour had two sonnes , the one were wise , learned , valiant , and honest , yet did want money to aduaunce his vertues , & the other had much monie , and no other good matter to mooue the least humor of good liking my sister to whom my grādmother hath left a good portion , should effect this younger brother without monye , and leaue the other to his all money : is it not fit and necessarie , that her money should rather bee an aduauncement of his vertues , and a content of her kindenesse , and perhaps increase of her comfort , rather then bee a choaker of midas , with more money then he can swallowe , and be an increaser of idolatry : and perhaps , a griefe to you in the prime of her owne comfort : so if it should fal out with me to affect the hope of my fortune , would you spare your pursse to procure my preferment ? beleeue it father , the best loue is begotten by the eyes bred in the braines , & growes to perfection in the heart : and shall not money bee a seruant then of necessitie to attend the commaundement of loue ? fie on this market-matches , where mariages are made without affections , and obedience is performed by a grieued patience : no let money be vsed as a seruant to reason , and not a maister of loue. chre. oh fine boy ; i almost finde where you are , but let me tell you , though your wordes hang well together , yet me thinkes , money lies better together : for if a wench that hath money loue thee , spend of her purse , or els thou wantest wit : if thou haue money and loue her that hath none , her wit hath made a foole of thee : for , tell me a tale of a tub , of eyes & eares , and hearts , obiect and subiect , and wisdome , and reason : without money , t is not worth a whiffe : for aurum potabile is a strange quintescence : it will make age young againe , it will giue the heart a life beyond all the phisicke of the world : why gold is halfe a god on the earth ▪ it hath such power among people , let a wench be wealthy , and set out in her brauerie , though she bee painted for her beautie , and scarce gentill for her parentage , yet , if she catch the name of a lady , she must bee honoured like queene guineuer : & if she be but neere a princesse , she shal bee almost worshipped like a goddesse . why goe no further but to our owne neighbours : what a slut will haue a husband if shee haue but a little money . and what fine wenches match with clownes , but onely for their farmes and their stockes ? pam. yea , but father , what followes ? iealouzie and cuckoldry , and bastardry , & rogery ▪ she cannot loue him , nor he her : youth cannot loue age , age will be iealous of youth , and loue wil haue his working : and therfore as i said before , the cause is couetousnes and the roote of all euill . chre. well said againe boy : but yet t will not serue your turne , for i wil haue an other bowte with you : for money is a matter of more moment then you make account of : why ? money makes the medicine for the sicke , pleades the clients cause , maintaines the marchants trade , makes the soldiers fight , and the craftsman worke , the trauailer treade lightly , and the olde mare trot , and the young tit amble : it doth , i knowe not what , nor almost what can on earth be done without it ? it frameth the instrumēt , tuneth the strings , playeth the lessō , & singeth the song it furnisheth the court , graceth the citty , & maintaineth the coūtry : in summe , let me tel thee , it is a matter of such moment , as there is neither youth , nor beauty , valour , nor learning , wit nor wisdome , but if it want money to grace it , it shall haue little grace in the world : and therefore let him be first counted wise that gets it , then wise that keepes it , and last wise that knowes how to vse it : and whatsoeuer opinions are of it , holde you with me this assurance of it , that he is wise who hath it , and so contrarie to all them that say against it , say you , he is wise that is rich . pam. oh father i am sorry to heare you speake so feelingly of your loue to money : which you haue bene long in getting , carefull in keeping , and will be sorrowfull in leauing : oh let it not haue such power ouer you , to make you a slaue to your seruant ▪ it is but a drosse trodden on by the feete of beastes , serueth the begger , as a greater person , the wicked as the vertuous , the iewe as the christian , embrodereth the horses cloathes as the lords cloake , and the maides kertell , as her ladies petticoate : it begetteth pride , breedeth warres , procureth treasons , and ruynes countries : and yet let me say this of it : the fault is not in it selfe , but in the vse of it : and for the good that is done by it , is not of it selfe but in the wisedome of him or her that hath the vse of it , and therefore let it bee left indifferent good or euill , or neither of both , but fit for either as it is vsed : and count him rather wise that knowes how to vse it , then how to get it : for many get it by a wicked father , which being wise , will not leaue it to a wicked sonne : many get it by dice and cardes , which being wise , will imploy it in better courses : many get it by an olde blinde widow , that haue wit to spend it with sweeter creature : many get it by piracie at sea , that employ it in a better course at land : in briefe , the getting of it sometime is so grieuous to a good conscience , as can approue no wisedome in it , and the employing of it may be to so good an ende , as prooueth great wisdome in the mannaging of it : and therefore in my iudgement , knowing no man wise through riches , but , many rich through wisdome , i holde him rich that is wise , not him wise that is rich . chre. so then you would haue me that haue been carefull to get money , which i haue lying by me for necessarie vses , bestowe it vpon you that knowe ( as you thinke , ) how to prooue more wisdome in the imploying of it : it may bee i will doe so with parte of it , in hope , that you that can speake so well of it will knowe as well what to doe with it : but before we come to that point , let mee talke a little further with you touching your trauaile : what haue you chiefely noted for your benefit ? pam. the natures of the soiles , the inhabitants of the countries , the dispositions of the people , and the wisdome of the gouernours : to the first , i noted according to the climat of wihat heate or coldenes , drie or moystnes , what fruite , what store , and in what season , what riuers , fresh or salt , what cattell , and fowle , and fish , what mineralles , and what mines . chre and for fish , you could bring none home aliue , nor sweete : and , haue not our seas , and fresh-waters , as good fish as other ? and for cattell , there can bee no better beefe nor mutton , then ours : now for fowle , both land and water fowle : there are in our heathes , woodes and fens , i thinke as good and as great varietie with vs as any where ▪ but it may be , far fetcht and deere bought is good for ladies , and if you haue hit on a little monster , as a camelion , or an indian flie , it may bee , if you can vse the matter hansomely , fooles may giue you money for the sight of it : now for mineralls , how much money soeuer you found in the country , i feare you haue brought but a little out of it , and therfore for these notes , i think for any profit you made of your trauaile , you had bin as good a taried at home : nowfor the people , i thinke , they are as we are in shape though by some of those outlandish , they mishape thēselues in their apparel , i know not what to say to them , but , if the mē be rich , it is like they will keepe their mony , and if poore , they will either begge , cheat , or steale , and so liue as long as they can : and for the women , if they bee faire , they knowe what to make of their beautie , and if fowle , how to make of their money . olde folkes can tell howe to gouerne children , and youthes will play the wagges , if it bee with their owne fathers : for boyes ( god send them grace ) had neuer more witte then they haue now a daies . now for the gouernours , where there are manye , it is strange if there bee not one wise , and if the rest will obserue good notes , their wittes may prooue nere the worse : now if there bee manie wise , it will trouble one wit too much to take notice of them all : and therefore sonne , though a little expence of money haue bought thee a little experience , and the varietie of knowledge haue giuen thee a little contentment , yet , let no idoll corrupt thy conscience , no vanitie corrupt thy wit , nor folly bee maister of thy will : thy natiue soyle is naturall , thy countriemen nearer to thee then strangers : thy kindred , then vnknowne people , and thy fathers house will giue a kinder welcome , then the pallace of a princesse : let not the alteration of the ayre , alter thy nature , the obiect of thine eye the iudgement of thy minde , nor the sound of the eare , the sence of thy heart : if thou bee returned home , as thou wentest out , i shall bee glad of it : but if eyther france haue taught thee fancies , italye wantonnesse , flaunders drunkennesse , or any place wickednesse , i shall bee sorrie for thy trauaile and wish thou hadst neuer gone : oh let not wars make thee bloudy , courts make thee prodigal , trade make thee couetous , lawe make thee partiall , women make thee wanton , nor flatterie make thee proude : for , as trauaile is the life of youth , and varietie the loue of knowledge , so yet after all thy trauaile learne this , nay by thy varietie of thy knowledge learne this lesson , couldest thou see all the worlde , thou shouldest see nothing but a worlde , and in the ende of all , finde all haue an ende : riches must eyther be spent or lefte , beauty must decay , honour must be transported , nature must growe weake , sences loose their sence , and life must ende , and then when all is gone , then vanitie , vanitie , and all is vanitie : in the graue there is no beautie , no honour , no wealth , no sence , no life : & thither you must as well as i , and who knoweth , who first ? now whether it bee in the sea , or in the lād , in a fishes belly or a leaden coffin : all is one , a graue there must be , of whosoeuer it be : and therefore before thou commest to that last inne of thy worldes iourney , let me wish thee wheresoeuer thou goest , and whatsoeuer thou seest , be still one man & remēber one thing : serue but one god , loue but one & thine owne coūtry , haue but one wife & trust but one friēd : for many gods breedeth heathens miseries , many countries trauailers humors , many wiues mēs purgatories , and many friends trustes ruine : first god gaue thee life , loue him for it : yea hee loueth thee , liue to him for it : your countrey gaue you foode vnder god , loue it for it : your countrey gaue you knowledge first vnder god , liue in it for it : your wife giues you issue , loue her for it , she easeth your house cares , liue with her for it : and your friend conceales your secrets , loue him for it : and is an other your selfe , liue neere to him for it : and leauing the vaine desire of varietie , liue to the onely loue of vertue : spend your thoughts in contemplation of deuine comfort , your substance in the seruice of god , and benefit of your countrey : wagge not wanton with the wandring eyes , nor trifle out time in vnprofitable toies , couer not your balde head with periwigs of borowed hayre ▪ curle not your beard with hot irons : leere not aside like a beare-whelpe , nor looke vnder the browes like a bull ▪ dogge , march not in a towne of peace like a souldiour , nor runne out of your wits in an humor : carry not a picke-tooth in your mouth , a flower in your eare , nor a gloue in your hat , for it is apish and foolish , deuised by idle heads , and worne by shallowe wits : binde not your inuention to poetry , nor make an oration of an epistle : learne but two partes of speeche , to speake good wordes , and to good purpose : goe cleanely but not gaiely , and gaine honestly , and spend thriftilie : feede sparingly , drinke moderately , sleepe soundly , but rise earely , so passing thy time merrily , thou shalt liue happily and die blessedlie : this lesson hath been taught me at home , and i doubt : you will scarce finde a better abroad : but least i growe teadious to thee , thus to take thee to schoole as soone as thou commest home , i pray thee tell me thy opinion of contentment : whether it can be so well had abroade , as at home ? pam. truely father i knowe not the minde of euerie man , nor how fullye to define content : but when wit hath found out , reason hath iudged , and nature hath receiued the pleasure of the spirit in the delight of the sences , i thinke , if in the world there bee any content it is there : now , be it at home or abroad , all is one , for there is an olde sentence which is oftentimes newly in effect . omne solum fortis patria : euery house is home , all countries are one to a resolute minde : a friend is a friēdabroad , & an ennimie is an ennimie at home : vertue is limited to no place , but honoured in al persons , & loue hath a worlde to walke in , to take the pleasure of his fortune , where varietie of choise tries the wisdome of judgement : my father , if i beholde him but as a man , i can loue him but as a man , but when i thinke of his loue , i loue him as a father : now , loue being bound to no place , cannot forget his owne nature any where : nay absence of place strengthens the memorie of loue : and therefore if i beholde my selfe , in being a sonne , i remember my father ▪ if i behold your bounty , i remember your blessing , and honour your loue : so that still i say , it is not the place , that perfecteth affection , no not in nature : and sometime absence is the cause of the more ioy in loue , as in the souldiour , who after conquest returneth with more honour then he had at home : the marchant after a voyage , pleaseth his mistris with better wares then she had at home : the courtier after trauaile , tels his lady a better tale , then of a foxe and a goose , and the scholler after trauaile , makes a better verse then at home : why the clowne after trauaile can learne to kisse his hand , & maide maulkin after trauaile , can make new countenances & new complexions : oh father , this home humor wil soone be worne so threed-bare , that if it were not shifted with some trauaile ( euen with lazy ) wit would grow louzy : for in place of accoūt , where knowledge is to be enquired , there is more matter then for the market , and of more judgement then maister constables : were the wise that haue seene the world , note the necessarie good of trauaile : who neuer heard but a iacke-dawe would thinke a parret a spirit , & either be affraide of her , or in loue with her , when he that knoweth her what shee is , wil regarde her as shee is : now he that neuer saw but an ape , would thinke a baboone a little deuill ▪ but he that hath trauailed where they are bred , will know them for ordinary beastes of those countries : he that neuer saw a mountibanke , would take a curtizen for a better creature , but hee that had seene their traffique would neuer care for their trade : he that neuer saw a whale would thinke it a deuill in the sea , but hee that had been where they are bredde would knowe it there , an ordinarie fish : hee that neuer saw a picture would goe neere to thinke it an angell , but hee that knowes them what they bee , will thinke of them as they are . oh father , the tiranny of one prince makes the mercie of an other more glorious : the terror of warre , makes peace seeme more joyfull , and the daunger of the sea makes the land more wished for : doth not the drunkennesse of one countrie make sobrietie in an other seeme more gratious ? the treasons in one countrie make loyalltie more honourable in an other ? and who hath not seene the one , how can he iudge of the other ? now , for further causes of contentment , what golde is in the indies ? what arte in china ? what workmanshippe in millaine ? what building in florence ? what fountaines in genoua ? what state in norremberge ? and for venice who hath not seene it cannot praise it , but who hath seene it , and can judge of it , i leaue him to speake of it . oh the corne , wine and fruite of france ▪ the oyle , spice , drugges and fruite of spaine ▪ the rosen , pitch , tarre , and hempe , waxe , and honie from the easte countries ▪ the veluets , sattens , taffaties and silkes of italy , and other farre countries ! are these at home ? yea , but howe ? not to bee seene with that contentment that it is at their home : for , to see the little worme that windes the silke , how shee liues before her working , and then , how with her worke , shee payes for her liuing , howe neate the maides bring them to market , wound vp in their worke , how finelye they are wound out of their worke , and their silken threedes wouen into diuers fine stuffes , as well cloath of golde , tissue , siluer , or tuffed or plaine veluet or satten , or stuffes of other names , the rarenes in the arte of it , and the neatenes in the dooing of it , it is a thousand times more contentiue , then to buye it in a shoppe , and to weare it in slappe : oh to see a generall in the middest of an armie , or a cittie besiedged ! to see the beautie of one , and note the strength of the other , and to tarrie the fortune of both , it would make you breake your spade , and your flaile , and as olde as you are , trye the fortune of your sworde , to see but one such a sight in all your life : why in a chamber to see a woman of worth sued to , by the better sort , to heare the excellencie of her wit deliuered at the ende of her tongue , with such a grace of modestie , as might cleere suspicion of vngratious action , when her eyes like starres did sparckle in the little element of her face , and her hayres like wiers , might winde vp the thoughts of loues heart , while her wordes like oracles , should coniure honour to loyaltie , to behold such a queene-like creature in the richest of her array . to reade her in the excellēcie of her wit , & heare her in the excellencie of her musicke , were such a contentment to the spirit of good vnderstanding , as would make the heart to rise , to the highest of his worldes ioy : and , is this to bee seene at home in a cupboord , or a corne-lofte , or a cowe pastor ? no , no , i confesse , flesh and blood , red and white , and louely browne , will doe well where are no better : but a countrey daunce is but a iigge to a stately pauen : no father had you seene that which i haue seene , and know that i knowe , you wold long as well as i to see that i would see : for an olde mans lesson , is knowledge by experience , and a young mans loue is varietie of vnderstanding , which is the fruite of trauaile . chre. well sonne , i sayed it not for nought , that boyes in these daies , haue wit at will , god send them grace to vse it well : but , now i haue heard you at leysure , giue mee leaue to answere you a little touching contentment : you say , euery house is a home , and euery countrie alike to a resolued spirit , but he that selleth land at home , to looke ouer land abroade , when his money is spent , and hee hath neither house nor home , what then followes , but , insteede of content , play mal-content : and for the commoditie of land , better haue an acre of land in cheape-side , then a hundreth in the land of waste , for it is either vnder water , or subiect to drowning , and therefore tell not mee of your outlandish earth nor the fruites of it : for , i can haue as good hearbes and fruites here at my doore for my money , as you can haue any where in your trauaile , i know it : for i haue heard thē say it , that haue tried it : why ? haue not we our cherry , our strawberry , our raspesse , our goose-berrie and our mulberie , and i knowe not how many berries , as the season serues ? haue not wee the plumme , the peare , the apricocke , the apple , the warden , and the quince , the walnut and the filberd , and the hasell nut , the medler , and the ches-nut , and al in their seasons , growing in our countries , & brought to our markets ? and are they not cheaper heere then to trauaile for them , i knowe not whether ? indeede , i thinke we haue them not in such aboundance , for i holde no such necessitie : now , for mineralles , i doe not thinke but you may finde more golde and siluer aboue the ground in one acre in cheape-side , then you may finde in ten of the best acres in your trauaile : and therefore , for earth i thinke we haue as good at home , as you can finde abroad : and so much for your earth . now for your fine wormes , and your worming maides , it is a prettie idle thing to stand peering on a worme , but , perhaps we haue wormes at home , that winde themselues vp in silke , though they bee not caried to market , one of which are better worth then a hundreth of your wormes , & for maides , if our maides be not as cleanely on the market day , as they are on a holy-day , trust mee no more , and i am sorrie you can say no more for yours : for they that bee not sluts , will bee neate , and there is an ende : and for your silkes and veluets , wee haue our sattens heere with such a glasse , that you may almost see your face in it , vppon the backeside of a vardingale : and therefore talke no more of it : wee haue it heere without trauaile , as well as you haue it thore with your trauaile , and so content your selfe : now for your parrats , your apes , your whales & your trickes , some of them we heare speake , and other we see daunce , & other wee heare of , and what care we for more ? they that will bee fooles to giue money for fancies , let thē alone with their follies , i wish not to trauaile for any such toyes : nowe for your campe and your cittie besiedged , howe gallant soeuer the sightes seeme pleasing to your humor , yet i thinke the heart of a wise man will bee better pleased with a poore peace , then a rich warre : though commonly warre bee the cause of pouertie , and peace of wealth : nowe for your wenching humor , so fine and so wise , so faire , and so sweete in her lookes , and her wordes , and her trickes , and her toyes , i thanke god , the thought of that world is done with mee , and i would it were neuer to bee thought on with you : for let an olde mans lesson bee what it will , a faire wench is a young mans loue , and so i allowe it should bee : but then i would haue it neere home , that i might iudge the better of it , for there are as i heare , so many painters of womens faces , so many instructers of womens tongues , and so manie flatterers of womens humors , that if a man haue not both his insight and his outsight , he may pay home for his blindenesse : and therefore , let wiers , and oracles , and such poeticall figures or fictions passe , and for a flaxen or a browne hayre , for a chaste eye , and an honest face , for a good complexion , and a gratious disposition , i thinke all the worlde is not better prouided for good wenches then our countrie , talke of your farre countries what you list , and therefore i see not howe you are benefited by your trauaile , more then to haue libertie to tell more then many well beleeue : but let mee aske you one thing in your trauaile , did you not reade any auncient histories ? pam. yes diuerse : and one which mee thinkes were worthie to bee reade of daily : of licurgus the great law-maker . chre. what might that bee , that you wish so to call in memorie ? pam. the law that he first made when he came into the cittie of athens , that all the fooles and iesters should bee whipt out of the cittie . chre that would goe sore nowe i tell you , for they thriue strangelie in these daies : but tell mee , haue you not reade , nor heard the opinions of the philosophers , touching their discriptions of some especiall matters ? pam. yes , i haue reade certaine discriptions of opinions , but , i finde not their names set downe : i haue reade a strange discription of a woman . chre. and not of a man ? pam. oh yes and that to good purpose . chre. i pray thee if thou canst remember them , recite them . pam. first i read that a woman was the cracke of a mans wit , & the trouble of his vnderstanding , the hardest part of his body , & the worst part of his substance , natures baby , and reasons torture . chre. and what of man ? pam. i reade that man is the pride of nature , the play of time , a womans foole , & an apes schoolemaster . chre. and what of riches ? pam. that they are the plague of wit , the subduer of reason , the tempter of nature , and the abuse of time . chre. and what of pouertie ? pam. that it is the badge of patience , the triall of vertue , the touchstone of grace , and the punishment of mercie . chre. good notes , but whom haue you noted the moste happie in the world ? pam. the foole. chre. your reason ? pam. because he knowes no vnhappinesse . chre. and who moste vnhappie ? pam. the athist , because he wants grace . chre. whome the richest ? pam. the wise : bcause , knowledge is a high treasure . chre. and who the wisest ? pam. the faithfull , because they are halfe way in heauen . chre. what is the best gouernement ? pam loue. chre ▪ and what is the best punishmen ? pam. fasting . chre. what is the best lawe ? pam. iustice. chre. and what the best pleading ? pam truth . chre. shorte , and sweete , i like all this well : nowe tell mee what is the best beautie ? pam. vertue : for that it makes the fowle faire , and the faire gratious . chre. what the best honour ? pam. wisdome , for that it serues god , & gouernes the worlde . chre. what hast thou read to be the greatest torment of the worlde ? pam. an vnquiet wife , because a man is bound to her . chre. and what the greatest comfort ? pam. a quiet conscience , because it keepes the soule in peace . chre. what finde you the moste precious ? pam. the word of god , for it directes the soule . chre. and what next ? pam. time , for it is wisdomes rule . chre. and what is most grieuous ? pam. a frustrate hope , for it grieues the heart . chre. and what moste ioyfull ? pam , a setled faith , for it is fearelesse . chre. which is the moste wittie creature in the world ? pam. a woman because shee can make a foole of a man. chre. and which is the moste foolish ? pam. a wicked man , because he leaues heauē for hel . chre. what holde you the least worthe ? pam. vanitie , because it is a hurt of wit. chre. what vertue holde you the greatest ? pam. patience , for it keepes the spirit in temper . chre. and what vice the vilest ? pam , drunkennesse , for it makes a beast of a man ▪ chre. what is the best studdie ? pam. diuinitie , for it is the schoole of wisdome . chre. what next ? pam. philosophie , for it is the schoole of nature . chre. what thinkest thou of loue ? pam. a trouble of wit. chre. what thinkest thou of beautie ? pam. a colour . chre. of youth ? pam. a spring . chre. of age ? pam. a blast . chre. of honour ? pam. a title ▪ chre. of power ? pam. a charge . chre. of wealth ? pam. a care . chre. of life ? pam. a trauaile . chre. of death ? pam. a rest . chre. truely sonne what thou hast benefited thy bodie by thy trauaile , i knowe not , but by the trauaile of thy spirit , i see thou hast so much bettered thy knowledge , that i care not whether thou goest , so thou returnest so well home : and were it not to wearie thee to much , i would aske thee a few more questions . pam. what please you i will answere the best i can and craue pardon , if al be not to your liking . chre. no thou canst not displease my loue , that ioyes not a little in thine vnderstanding : and therfore , let me first aske thee , where doost thou thinke is the most danger in the world ? pam. at the sea : for the windes , and the waues , the rockes & the sands doe often threaten distruction . chre. and where most safetie to liue ? pam. in heauen : for in the worlde there is none . chre. but in the world where is the sweetest life ? pam. in the vniuersitie : for there are the best wits , and the best rules . chre. and where the vainest life ? pam. among women : for there is but losse of time chre. and where the costliest ? pam. among courtiers : for there is much pride in apparell , and great causes of expence . chre. and where the idlest ? pam. in the ordinaries where there is nought but talke , and play , and cheere . chre. where is the quiet life ? pam. in the countrie , where wit may feede the spirit in contemplation . chre. where the noblest ? pam. in the warres : where valour may shew mercie , and wisdome gaine honour . chre. and where the moste blessed ? pam. in the church , where praier and fasting findes admirable comfort ▪ chre well said my good boy , but out of thine owne countrie , tell mee where thou didst finde moste contentment ? pam. in italie : for there i found the marchant rich , the souldiour valiant , the courtier affable , the lawyer learned , and the craftes-man cunning , the women faire , and the children toward : the earth fruitefull , the fruite pleasant , the climat temperate , and the labourer painefull . i cannot say but in other countries i found diuers of these , but not al , so much in any . chre. and where moste discontentment ? pam. in barberie , where the souldiour is bloodie , the iewe liues with the gentill , the marchant is of no pleasing carriage , the courtier i neuer saw , the women are not beautifull , the climat is hot , and the soile but euen so , so : and in summe , little good but hides and sugar . chre. i hope thou didst make no long stay there : pam. no sir , nor euer intend to come there againe : i had rather make salt my sugar , then trauaile thither againe for it . chre. where didst thou make thy longest aboade ? pam. in italie , and there , except at home with you , i had rather spend my life , then in many places of the world : and in venice of any place there . chre. your reason ? pam. because there i may feede mine eyes with manie faire obiects , and my minde with many deepe considerations : to beholde the platforme and scituation of the cittie , how it standeth enuironed with the sea : then to view the stately buildings of stones , as wel in their churches as their houses : vpon the realta , to see the varietie of strangers , to obserue the people , their habites , their languages , and their carriages : to see the treasurer of s. marco , the prouision in their arsenale , and the state in the dukes pallace : to note the strict & ciuill manner of their gouernement , to conuerse with fine wits , to accompany kinde natures , to beholde their faire ladies , and to enioy the libertie of conscience , to take a gondolo , and crosse a smooth sea , to their sweet riuers , and at pleasure to take the ayre of their pleasant villages : to feede of their sweet fruites , and drink of their delicate wines : with other needeles things to talke of , that except this countrie , and your house , i knowe no such place of contentment . chre. thou saist wel , these causes , of content may wel make thee in loue with the countrie : but i am glad to heare thee except thine owne countrie & my house , where i doubt not , thou shalt receiue as much true cōtent , as either italy , or all the world can affoord thee : at least if i can deuise it , it shall bee so : but if it cannot bee , it shal be my content , that thou shalt haue it where thou wilt , or canst deuise it : but , beeing now abroad , & supper will not be readie this hower : i pray thee recite me some prettie historie , or tell mee some prettie tale of somewhat that hath passed in the way of thy passage : i care not of what nature it be , it shall content me . pam. vpon the suddaine to call to minde any historie of aunciēt time , that may be worth the recounting , i shall haue somewhat to doe : but of some such matter as hath passed in my trauaile , whereof i haue bene either an eye witnes , or had perfect intelligence , that i may tel you the truth , i care not if i acquaint you with the discourse . chre , i pray thee doe , and thou saist well , for trauailers are giuen ( some say ) to begull the worlde with gudgins : especially such as long after newes & to heare strange things , though they neither vnderstand them in the telling of them , nor can remēber a word of them , but for thy selfe , though i were but a friend , yet i see , such is thy knowledge of good , as will not let thee cōmit so great an euil : & therfore , on gods name say what thou wilt , it shal content me , i will beleeue it , & thanke thee for it , for it will bee a good meane to passe away the time , and to make our walke seeme the shorter . pam. sir to tel you of a bloodie fight , a defeated armie , the sacke of a cittie , or the wracke of a shippe , were more lamentable thē comfortable : to tell you of a monster , that had bin the death of a man , would but mooue pittie and griefe to tell you of the plague in a countrie , and the ruyne of a kingdome , would but be a breeding of melancholly : to tell you of a shepheard and his dog , wold but shew you that you see euery day : to talke of a foxe and a goose , why the countrie is too full of them euerie where : to tell you of a wolfe & a lambe , why it would but make you pray for your flock : & therfore to leaue al idle & vnfitting humors , i wil tel you in my opinion , a true & prettie discourse of somewhat that hapned in a cittie , where i spent some time , which i hope shall not dislike you . chre. i pray thee doe . pam. then sir you shall vnderstand , in the cittie of venice , a place in which i spent some time , it was my hap , among other contentmēts to fal acquainted with a yoūg gētlemā , much of mine own yeres , had bin at the vniuersitie , seene something in trauaile , & there finding many pleasing spirits , thought good to spend some time among thē : it fell out one morning among other , going towards s. marco in my cōpany , passing by a house of a great magnifico or gentlemāly marchāt , he chanced to espy , in an entrie within the doore , a pretty , nay a young gentleman talking with a faire damsel , whom he imagined to be the yong mans mistris , but it fell out she was his sister : now the yoūg gentlemā wel acquainted with my friēd , beckned him into the house , & gaue not onely him , but mee also ▪ for his sake , a very kinde welcom , & procured no lesse at the hāds of his faire sister : whō though far short of her desert , i wil describe in her worthines her yeres about twenty the prime of natures pride and virginities honour : beautiful , so far , as a creature can be imagined . wise with that modesty that made her wit admirable : & kinde , with that care that made humility gratious ▪ her portiō though not for a prince , yet able to make a poore mā wealthy : & for her proportiō , the painter might be graced in her counterfaite ▪ loued she was of al that knew her , hated of none that could know her : serued of manie that were happie to attend her , and especially beloued of one that did truely honour her , who was the young man whom as my selfe i loued : often did hee sollicite his suite with such secret proofe of his affection , as made her parents no lesse willing to entertaine his kindenesse , then her his loue : his speech was sildom & not much , his letters few & not teadious , his gifts not many , but of worthe : and thus farre wrought her fauour with his affection , that for women though hee saw many , yet hee loued none but her : her vertue made him vowe chastitie , her beautie were his eyes blisse , her modestie , was his loues praise , & her loue , his lifes honour : she knew it , and was pleased in it ▪ i knewe it , and loue him for it : her parents vsed him as a sonne , her brother as himselfe , and she as her brother : now affection grew to passion , and patience to ioyne with reason , for the confirmation of a mutuall comfort : but what fortune doth in these courses , too many in their crosses can witnes : he was farre from his parents , & shee at home with her friendes : loath hee was to put her to aduenture of her honour , with his fortune , though in him shee reposed her worldes felicitie : loath shee was to leaue him for want of what with him , and yet her care was such of him , that shee would bee ruled by him : and therefore hauing betwixt themselues sealed with their hands , the infringible band offaith and troth in the heart , after a supper in her fathers house , & a breake-fast in her brothers lodging , as well as loue could giue him leaue , hee tooke leaue of his faire lady , to looke home toward his father , to whome hee would impart his suite , of whome hee would obtaine a blessing , and from whome hee would returne to her , with his fortune : to tell you the manner of their parting , if euer you were in the like perplexitie , would but reuiue a forgotten passion : but , when swallowed sighes , and bleeding teares had almost marr'd all on both sides , her brother caried her away , & i brought him away , and so went the world away : now many a night since haue i lyen with him , and heard him deliuer such due praises ofher worthinesse , and sigh out such deepe sorrowes of his own vnhappinesse , that if i could haue done him good , i could not haue denied him , and not being able , i could not but sorrowe with him . chre. alas poore gentleman , where did you leaue him ? pam. not farre from his fathers house . chre. and doth his father loue him ? pam. or else he were vnnaturall . chre. and doth he loue his father ? pam. deerely , i will swearefor him . chre. and will not his father helpe him ? pam. he is fearefull to charge him . chre. and doost thou loue him ? pam. as my selfe : and deerest of any but your selfe . chre. what will serue him ? pam , a thousand crownes . chre. i wil giue it him , and thee as much more to accompany him ▪ pam. and will you not repent it when you knowe him ? chre. why , i knowe he is not mine enemie , if he be thy friend : and if thou louest him , i will thinke nothing too deere for him ? pam , imagine it were my selfe : chre. haue i ought too deere for my sonne , that could finde me out such a daughter ? pam. then deere father pardon my circumstance , and fauour my suite , your sonne is the man ▪ my mistresse the lady : and in the performance of your worde , lies the hope of my comfort . chre. saist thou mee so boy ? gramercie for thy merrie tale : i will be as good as my worde to thee and better in my loue to thee : i will goe to her with thee , and make vp the match for thee : thy valour with her beautie , thy learning with her wit , thy honestie with her vertue , thy land with her money , i hope shall make a happie coniunction : for though thou wert a stranger , thou shalt be found no begger : and now thy mother is dead , and thy sister is married , i care not in my olde age to see a little of the world with thee : but yet by the way , now thy wooing is past , for thy wiuing let me tell thee : if shee gouerne thee , thou art gone : lord haue mercie vpon thee : and if shee will bee gouerned by thee , then beware of a fooles paradice , for women haue stomackes : and if they cannot pranke , they will powte , if they bee faire they are either idle or worse occupyed , if fowle eyther sullaine , or vncomfortable : if rich , eyther proude or froward : if wittie , in daunger of humors : if fantasticke , out of question amorous : if young , wilful : if aged : wayward : now tell me how wilt thou chuse a wife ? if thou fit not her humor she wil frown , if she fit not thine , thou wilt fret , & therfore though wit be gratious , & beautie be pretious , & kindenes be comfortable , & vertue bee honorable , and wealth doe wel , & loue be a wonderfull thing , & al this be in a woman , yet , when vse makes wearines , & wearines makes loathsomnes , & constancy is so cumbersom that it hinders much contētment : when she falles deafe , or thou blinde , or she sicke , & thou poore , or shee be of one minde or thou of an other , that complaintes must be made , causes must be decided , quarrells must bee ended , enemies must be reconciled , or parties parted , and how thē ? when will or wāt breedes woe or wickednes , & loue is an other thing then hath bene talked ofin the olde time , what then ? swearing & staring , scolding and brawling , cursing & banning , & crying : oh fine life for a mad dog , when the childe bawles in the cradle , the wife brawles at the table , the nurse wralles in the kitchin , & the maide mumbles in the seller , where are you then ? in a pittifull wood , alas the day that euer i did it : there is no helpe for it , & therefore in time looke to it ▪ if thy mistris be as thou saist , god keep her so : if she be not & holde not , if thou saiest thou louest her , i pray heartely that it holde it so : but hope saies the best , & i will beleeue it , & feare saies the worst , & i wil defie it onely this my sonne , let me tell thee touching the managing of a wife , maintaining loue with a wife , & the assured notes of a louing wife : & first for the managing of a wife note her yeres , her wit , her disposition , & her acquaintance : if she be young , be careful but not iealous of her , make not two beds with her , except in sickenes , & that not fained : let her not want such cōpany , as you thinke fit for her , for idlenes & solitarines , put many thoughts into a womans head , that may anger her husband at the heart : why a dreame sometime of vnkindenes will put strange passions into some womans head , & therfore awake let her not be without company to exercise her wits in good conference : least she be worse imploied in ill cogitations : let her bee apparrelled to thy calling , but no further , for feare of pride , & then a worse plague : let her feede holsomely , but not to daintily : for , as snow engēdreth haile , a licoris tongue will haue a couetous minde : you know my meaning , let her wāt no necessaries , nor feede her with superfluities , welcome her friēds that are honest , & keep her from tatling gossips , make some cōmend her modesty in her hearing , but vnseene : cherish al good humors in her ▪ let her lacke no silk , cruell , threed , nor flaxe , to worke on at her pleasure , force her to nothing ▪ rather prettily chide her frō her labour , but in any wise commend what she doth if she be learned and studious , perswade her to translation , it will keepe her from idlenes , & it is a cunning kinde taske : if she bee vnlearned , commend her huswifery , and make much of her carefulnesse , and bid her seruants take example at their mistris : winke at an ill worde , at least if it growe of ignorance : and sometime feede her humor , so it be not to thine owne dishonour : let her vse thy purse but not be priuie to thy state : if she bee giuen to play , take heede of a tricke , and if it be at tables , looke she beare not false : at boord be merrie with her , abroad kinde to her , alwaies louing to her , and neuer bitter to her for patient grizell : is dead long agoe , and women are flesh and blood , though some haue little wit & reason : if she bee wise obserue her , if vertuous loue her , if kinde requite her , & if constant make too much of her , for she is a iewell , and more worth then you can imagine her : beleeue me sonne what i tell thee , for i haue daunced the daunce before thee , and though i will not blowe the horne to thee , yet if thou hunt a good chase , i can teach thee : tush though boyes be mad wagges , yet an olde dogge bites sore : and therefore , my good boy , heare and note what i tell thee : thou wilt finde it will be good for thee : if she coll and kisse thee , and hang on thy lippes , take heede shee doe not flatter thee , and looke who is behinde thee : if she powte , and lowre at thee , she meanes no good to thee : words of course may be good , but course wordes are naught : take heede of a leering eye , and glibbe tongue , for they are commonly like a crosse-bowe , soone bent : take heede of a proud spirit and a fowle mouth , for they are moste of them eyther costlye , or vnquiet : take heede of a swearer & a drunkard , for they will surely bring thee to distruction : but what neede i to giue thee warning of these woes , when thou hast made a choice of so many comforts ? & therefore i will onely hope the best , and beleeue it , and helpe thee in what i can to it . pam. my good father , how much i holde my felfe bound to your kindenes , i cannot expresse , but will endeuour in my duetie to make you finde : for though i am assuredly perswaded of my iudgement , yet shall my wit giue place to your experience : and such and so manie are the merrie trickes of these daies , that foure paire of spectacles will scarcely helpe one paire of eyes , to see clearely into the true constancie ef a kinde woman : for though in my mistris , i hope it is not so , yet naturally in many , it is so : they haue strange humors in painting their faces , in borrowing their hayres , & changing their mindes : why , sure i thinke they are madde , when they thinke themselues wise : when running from god to the deuill , they can cuckolde their husbands with knaues , though sometime money makes such matches , that beggers liue better liues : and it is a fine iest , to see how the deuil teacheth them , to excuse their owne sin , as thus : flesh is fraile , these wicked men are ful of temptation , and my husband is such a , and so foorth : but this will not serue , when time shall serue , that they shall answere for their seruice to god , and their husbands : but i hope mine is not so , nor will prooue so : nor any honest husband is so ill wiued , nor any honest wife so ill minded : t is but a tale surmised to wrong poore wenches , and fright poore fooles , and therefore such as are good , god holde them so , and such as are to blame let them doe no more so . chre. amen boy say i to : but i doubt the worse , therewill be trickes in the world , that euerie man shall not bee acquainted with : but since we are entred into this same loue-talke , though it bee a matter past my reach many yere agoe , yet to refresh an olde wit , let me aske thee one question ? pam. as many as please you . chre. if loue be in the world , where dost thou thinke he liues ? pam. in mens hearts and womens eyes . chre. how is that found ? pam. by womens tongues , and mens wits . chre. how so ? pam. why their eyes speake kindely , & mens hearts beleeue it : and their tongues bewitch mens wits , that are carried away with it . chre. whither are they carried ? pam. to their willes . chre , and what to doe ? pam. to vndoe themselues . chre. is it so in all ? pam. for the moste part . chre. how then is it with thee ? pam. farre otherwise ▪ for when you shal see the subiect of my choice , i doubt not but you will say , if there be a phoenix in a woman , and an angell in an earthly creature , she is one . chre. oh but sonne , speake neither poetically , nor prophanely , for the phoenix is but a fiction , and an angel is a heauenly creature , if it bee a good one , or else i know not what to say to it , whether it may bee in a womā or not : for let me tel thee , a womā being the weaker vessell , i wonder how ( hauing a stronger spirit then her husbands ) she doth not burst with the force of it ? pam , no , no , as you say , it may be a worse spirit then her owne that doth haunt her but by fits , to trie her husbands patience , which being found , puts the furie to flight , and then she becomes her selfe againe : but from such spirits in women that vse men thus , good lord deliuer vs. chre. amen say i boy , for thy sake , for i haue done with them : but tel me now the reason of patience , why , a man than sees his miserie , knowes his abuse , and will abide it , why hee shold so befoole himselfe to disgest it . pam. because , in seeking to help himselfe , he may hurt himself , & of two euils the least is to be chosē , for shame cannor be recouered , griefe cannot bee put off , murther cannot be answered , & therefore a fault must be winked at : and in time either age or weakenes , wil make thē wearie of it that vse it , and then repentance makes the perfect creature : vertue is a diuine guifte , and euerie one hath it not : chastitie is good for alcamistrie , but that is a long studie : wisdome lines but with a few , and therefore a great many must be borne withall , and honestie is such a iewell , that there is little money to bee gotten by it ▪ and yet there are wise , and faire , rich , and vertuous women , and make men happie that can happen on them : among which it may bee that your mistris may be , and i hope will bee one of them . pam. oh father doubt it not , for a staied eye , a naturall beautie , a soft speech , a straite proportion , a gratious gesture , and an humble minde , shewe a true heart , a good wit , a blessed soule , and an excellent creature , and such is my mistresse . chre. and yet a staied eye , may haue a strange sight , a blushing cheeke , an ill fore-head , a softe speech , a slye meaning , and an humble minde , a couered crafte : but so i hope hath not your mistris . pam oh no , varietie of knowledge , solitarie walkes , holy obseruance and necessarie exercise : shew a carefull wit , a contemplatiue spirit , a zealous heart , and an industrious minde , and such hath my mistris . chre. and yet varietie may breede vanitie , solitarines may shadowe pride , holy shewes may hide hipocricie , and exercise may prooue cunning : but such i hope isnot your mistris . pam. no father , vertue and vanitie , are odde , solitarines and pride are of a contrarie humor , holines & ipocricie , are contraries , and labour and crafte are of sundrie natures , and my mistris and an ordinarie creature are different in their dispositions : and therefore i beseech you , if you speake of the best sorte , let her not be left out , & if of the worst , thinke not of her name , for she hath no place in their imperfections . chre. i like thee well boy , i see perswasion doth well in affection , thou wilt stand for thy mistris against the whole world : it is well done , for if shee bee worthie thy praise sticke to her , if thou bee worthy her fauour , neuer leaue her : but now leauing this loue tale till wee come where the matter is further to be talked of , let me haue an other bowte with you , for a few points of your opinion touching certaine propositions , that i meane to make you . pam. deere father your sonne will bee ready to performe his best to your pleasure : & therefore say what shall please you . chre. tell me then , if you must leaue your father , or your mistris , which would you leaue ? pam. my mistris . chre. your reason . pam. because i may haue such an other mistris , but such an other father i cannot haue . chre. but if your mistris were your wife , how then ? pam. i must leaue father and mother , and cleaue to my wife . chre. if you must loose your land or your loue , which would you ? pam. my land : for i may purchase other land but i cannot purchase such an other loue. chre. if you were without a wife , you may bee rich , and by a wife shall bee poore : which will you ? pam. a wife for godlines is great riches to him that is content with that he hath . chre. if you may bee wise , and will not , and would be wise and cannot , which would you chuse ? pam. the may be , for where there is power , wee may be perswaded , but where there is no power , will is not to be spoken of . chre. if example teach you , & you conceaue it not , or if you conceiue it , and regarde it not , which is the worse ? pam. not to conceaue , for will is sooner cured then wit , of any imperfection . chre. if a friend deceaue you , & an enemie help you , whome will you loue best ? pam. my friend ▪ for they doe both againe their wils , and the one out of no good , the other out of no euill minde . chre. thus much for a friend and a wife : now to other matters : what dost thou thinke moste needefull in the world ? pam. honestie there is so little of it , that it is in fewe mens hands . chre. and what least needefull ? pam. villanie , there is so much , that many hāg for it . chre. what is moste comfortable in the world ? pam , ayer , for it maintaines life . chre. what moste profitable ? pam. money , for it gaines thousands . chre. what least profitable ? pam. pride , for it spendes much . chre. which is the vylest creature in the world ? pam. the cucko , for she kiles the sparow that hatcht her chre. and which the kindest ? pam , the pellican , for she killes herselfe to feede her young . chre. who is the truest louer in the world ? pam. the turtle , for she neuer changeth whome she chuseth . chre. which is the most dogged bird in the world ? pam. the turkey-cocke for he beates his hen whē he hath troden her . chre. which is the most foolish bird ? pam. the woodcocke , for she is euer shewing her taile . chre. which is the best beast in the world ? pam. the vnicorne , for his horne killeth poyson , & he neuer hurteth a virgin. chre. which is the most stately ? pam. the lyon , because he stoopes all other with his looke chre. which is the moste craftie ? pam. the foxe , when he scrapes the huntsman . chre. and what the strangest ? pam. an ape , because he is like a man , chre. and which is the most monstrous beast ? pam. a wittoll , because he hath a world of hornes . ch. wel said , which is the nimblest beast in the world pam. a camelion , for hee can turne himselfe into diuerse colours in an instant . chre. which is the most profitable beast in the world pam. an oxe , for when he hath drawne al the yeare , he will make beefe against christmas . chre. what is the moste vnprofitable beast ? pam. a wolfe , for he is good for nothing while he liues , nor dead , but for his skinne . chre. which is the sweetest beast of the world ? pam. a ciuit cat. chre. and which is the moste vnsweet ? pam. a dogge when he hath eaten carrion . chre. well , thus i see thou art able to answere mee to good purpose , to whatsoeuer i shall propound thee ▪ but leauing this ticktacke , shall we goe to some other game ? pam. what please you . chre. then let mee bee merrie with thee : and to my questions answere me conceitedly . pam. as i can without offence . bhre . then first to your gramer rules , howe many parts of speech are there ? pam. two , to speake well or speake ill . chre. what is a nowne substantiue ? pam. a rich man , for hee can stand alone without helpe . chre. a nowne adiectiue ? pam. a begger , that liues of almes , for hee cannot stand alone . chre. what is a verbe ? pam. loue : for when you haue declined it to the ful , it makes nothing but a noise : for it hath no substāce . chre wel , leauing further to speak of these groundes of learning , let me aske you , when an english is giuen to be made in latine , what is to bee done ? pam. no harme , if it be well made . chre. how doe the nominatiue case , and the verbe agree ? pam. better then many neighbours , that can hardlye liue togither . chre. how vnderstand you the plurall number in one person ? pam , two wayes : one in haec homo the common of two or three : or in a wench great with childe , before she knowe her husband . chre. how make you a figure of a cipher ? pam. whē a foole keepes a place among wise men . chre. and howe a cipher of a figure ? pam. of a wisemā without money : for a purse without money is a body without life . chre. how figure you a gerunde ? pam. in hope , euer dooing , and neuer done . chre. and how a participle ? pam. in happe , done well or ill . chre. and how make you a broken number ? pam. with sighes , and sobbes . chre. and how a full point ? pam. at the graue : because i can goe no further at least in this world . chre. a good place for them that walke right , but for other , it is a sorrie gate to a heauie house : but leauing those pointes to men of more diuine studies , let vs a little more talke of the course of the worlde : and tell mee what is the reason , why one man that hath no wit , shal haue much money , and an other that is verie wise , can get little ? pam because the one hath gotten vnderstanding , and the other hath gotten to stand vnder . chre. indeede thou saiest well , the wise man stands ouer , and the couetous standes vnder his money : but tell me thy opinion , why should a knaue prosper , and an honest man goe downe the winde ? pam. because the one seekes his paradice heere , and the other in an other world . chre what doost thou thinke moste beautifull in the world ? pam. a faire day . chre. and what moste vncomfortable on the earth ? pam ▪ emprisonment . chre. and what most pleasing to nature ? pam. libertie . chre. and what moste grieuous ? pam. sicknes . chre. what is the best substance of a sillogisme ? pam. truth . chre. and what the best proofe of a good wit ? pam. to maintaine it . chre. thou saiest well , but i feare i trouble thee with to manie questions , and therefore not to trie thee too much , i wil onely tell thee a word or two , of my opinion of the world , and so we will goe into supper . pam. i thanke you sir : i shall be glad to heare it , and hope , not hastily to forget it . chre. i will tell thee : i thinke the world , a maze of wit , a walke of will , a trouble of reason , a poyson of nature , an enemie of rest , a labour of man , a laborinthe of time , a wildernesse of creatures , and a pilgrimage of patience : where the wise gouerne best , and the wicked thriue moste , the rich haue moste power , and the poore most miserie : where pride makes her triumphe , vanitie selles her wares , folly hunts after fortune , and honour followes wealth : where children haue long breeding , women bring charge , & men trauaile toward death : learning breedes studdie , arte breedes labour , and sickenesse weakenesse : the sea is daungerous , the aire infectious , the earth laborous , and the fier is terrible : in summe , no felicitie in it nor happines , but to leaue it , & therefore , when thou hast as wel past it as i , and knowest it as i doe , coelum virtutis patria , et non est hic mihi mundus : heauen is vertues countrie , and heere is no world for me : but for that thou art young , and some things are to be done in this world ( i hope ) before thou shalt goe out of it , i will first prouide for thy content in the happie course of thy wished comfort , & then leaue thee to the heauenly contemplation of thy spirits happinesse : but i see my seruant comming towards vs ; the messenger of my stomackes attendance , and the sunne is toward his declination , and therefore for this time i will trouble thee no further , but onely reioyce in thy happie health , and that i haue heard from thee : i see it is euen supper time , and therefore let vs away . pam. i will wayte vpon you . finis . imprinted at london for edward vvhite , and are to be solde at his shop neere the little north-doore of s. paules church , at the signe of the gun. . i pray you be not angry, for i will make you merry a pleasant and merry dialogue, betweene two travellers, as they met on the high-way. breton, nicholas, ?- ? approx. kb of xml-encoded text transcribed from -bit group-iv tiff page images. text creation partnership, ann arbor, mi ; oxford (uk) : - (eebo-tcp phase ). a stc estc s this keyboarded and encoded edition of the work described above is co-owned by the institutions providing financial support to the early english books online text creation partnership. this phase i text is available for reuse, according to the terms of creative commons . universal . the text can be copied, modified, distributed and performed, even for commercial purposes, all without asking permission. early english books online. (eebo-tcp ; phase , no. a ) transcribed from: (early english books online ; image set ) images scanned from microfilm: (early english books, - ; : ) i pray you be not angry, for i will make you merry a pleasant and merry dialogue, betweene two travellers, as they met on the high-way. breton, nicholas, ?- ? [ ] p. printed by b[ernard] a[lsop] and t[homas] f[awcet] for samuel rand, and are to be sold at his shop at holborne-bridge, london : . by nicholas breton. printer's name from stc. signatures: a-b⁴. running title reads: i pray you be not angry: for ile make you merry. reproduction of the original in the henry e. huntington library and art gallery. created by converting tcp files to tei p using tcp tei.xsl, tei @ oxford. re-processed by university of nebraska-lincoln and northwestern, with changes to facilitate morpho-syntactic tagging. gap elements of known extent have been transformed into placeholder characters or elements to simplify the filling in of gaps by user contributors. eebo-tcp is a partnership between the universities of michigan and oxford and the publisher proquest to create accurately transcribed and encoded texts based on the image sets published by proquest via their early english books online (eebo) database (http://eebo.chadwyck.com). the general aim of eebo-tcp is 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and markup reviewed and edited - pfs batch review (qc) and xml conversion i pray yov be not angry , for i will make you merry . a pleasant and merry dialogue , betweene two travellers , as they met on the high-way . london , printed by b. a. and t. f. for samvel rand , and are to be sold at his shop at holborne-bridge . . a merry dialogue betweene two travellers vpon the high-way , touching their crosses , and of the vertue of patience . fabiano , and fernunio . fernunio . fabian . good morrow : how d●e you ? and how farre walke you this way ? fab. i doe as you sée , neither of the best , nor the worst : and am trauelling not very farre ; and yet some what more then a pretty walke ; about some hundreth miles or two for a breathing , to teach the dauncing legges of my youth to plod for the prouision of mine old age : and since it is no better , it is well it i● no worse : for since i haue done my selfe more wrong , then i can make my selfe amends , i must content my selfe with a pudding , while other may feast , that haue better fare . fern. then i pray you be notangry : for patience is a playster for all paine , it is the very poyson of all sorrow , a preparatiue to all comfort , and the onely quieter of a troubled spirit . fab. why how now ? haue you béene a scholler since i saw you ? truely i desire not to trouble your memorie , with saying ouer your lesson without booke : all your aduerbes and your prouerbes , will not doe me a pinnes worth of pleasure . fern. oh fabian ! haue patience , be not angry with your fortune , there are flouds as well as ebbs : time hath his turne , and fortune may be as great a friend , as she has béene an enemie ; the starres may one day shine as well ouer your house , as your neighbours ; and therefore stay your hours , you know not when it will come ; and therefore take no thought : i p●ay you be not angry . fab. well ferna●o , to your sentences : let mee tell you , that you know that i know , that you know , and when you and i did first know one another , you know the world was better with me , then to let mee plod vp and downe in this manner , and with no more company but my dogge , and my plaine cudgell : but t is no matter , all is one , for hauing playd wily beguily with my selfe . i can thanke no body for my hard bargaine : for in the time of my youth ( the most perilous point of mans age ) falling into such acquaintance as were finally to my commoditie , as well of the masculine , as of the feminine gender , who so long fed mine humour with folly , that i fell almost into a consumption , before i found the nature of the disease : at length , ( though some what late , yet better la●te , then neuer ) remembring that my father left me more land then wit , and nature being more mistris then reason ouer my ill ruled senses : and séeing the world at such a passe , that i could haue well wished to haue béene out of it : finding my friends scorne of mee , my foes scoffe at mée , some few pitty me , & few comfort me , i resolued to shakeoff my shake-ragges , and to retire my selfe vnto some solitary place ; where hauing left one foole , to laugh at another ; one uillaine to cut anothers throate , and one honest-man to be example to a whole parish , i betooke me to a trauelling life , rather to heare then to speake how the world went : and note the courses of the wise , rather then to enter into the courses of the wicked whereof the world is so full , that a man can scarce escape their infection : why ? if i should tell you how i haue béene vsed among them , you would say , i had good cause to be angry with my selfe , or some body else . fern. and yet i say , i pray be not angry : for if it be with your selfe , fretting will but bréed melancholy , and melancholy bring you to such a sicknesse , that you may repent it when it is too late . and , to bee angry with any other , if yee cannot reuenge it , it is a folly : if you doe , it is vncharitably ; for you must forgiue . for , if i should tell you of some trickes that were put vpon me , when i was as wise as my goose on bedlame gréene , i should make you beléeue that , al-though i preach patience to you , i should haue cause to haue little acquaintance with her my selfe : but spight of the deuill , i hope to goe to heauen , and though i carry more crosses in my heart , then in my purse , yet i hope ( with my fellow begger ) to be in abrahams bosome , when a rich churle shall daunce with diues in a worse place : and therefore as a friend , let me say to you , knowing what is good for you ; whatsoeuer fortune befall you , i pray you be not angry . fab. i must confesse , it is good counsell to haue patience ; for patience is a pretty uertue , but that it waites vpon a number of uillanies : but let me tell you , if a man spend all the money in his purse vpon a company of vnthankfull uillaines , and when he commeth to the bottome of his purse , and there finding nothing , intreateth with his friends ( as he hath held them ) but for an ordinary or two ; and scoffingly put off , cannot get a penny among them : what can ye haue in all the rule of patience ? onely fret at the heart to heare men say , i pray you be not angry . fern. and yet let me tell you , that when anger will not auaile him , it is better to be patient , then angry : for i haue heard it spoken by a wiseman , that he who cannot be angry , is a foole , but he that will be angry , is more foole : for when i was ( as you said , and i may say ) in the prime of my time , i may say in the foolish pride of youth , when all the gold in the parish , was copper to my siluer : and my wit was beyond reason , when i was the onely foole of the world : oh then ( to tell you ) i was ouertaken in the halfe turne , would make one run out of his wits , and into them againe if it were possible : for say this , if a man hath a deformitie in his proportion , is no wood-cock for his ordinarie course of wit , hath wealth enough to liue by his neighbours without borrowing , is of parentage with the best of the parish , is in the way of good speed with a match worth the making of : and leauing all honest , wise , and good counsell , forsaketh his fortune , and binds himselfe prentice during life to an ill fauoured baggage , the worst child that her father had , whose beautie is like the backe of a sea-cole chimney , and for proportion , the true proportion of a sea-crab , as much wit as a gray goose , and manners as a blinde mare , and no more wealth then the wooll on a shorne shéepe : besides , the issue of idle drunkennesse , which being grounded in all foolishnesse , can away with nothing but worse then nothing : whose tougne can kéepe no secrets ; whose heart can thinke no goodnesse , and whose life is a world of vnquietnesse : and spight of his heart hauing taken her for better or worse , ( when she cannot well be worse , and will be no better ) must hold out his life worse then ten deaths with her : say your selfe , that when a man thinkes of this miserie , it would fret him to the very heart : but where is the remedie . fab. oh! i pray you be not angry : for , if a man should haue a sister whom he loueth dearely , whose beautie with vertue , were a dowrie for a prince , her linage noble , her personage comely , her nature kind , and her gouernment so discréet , that by the iudgment of the wise , she was a match for the worthy : to see this blessed creature , by the crueltie of the fates bestowed vpon the bastard sonne of a begger , whose father was a villaine , his mother a foole , and he a changling : whose eyes were thrée foote out of his head , his nose too long for his mouth , and his skinne too wide for his face , his head like a high-way with a little heath on either side , and his beard bending to the ale-house , from thence came the originall of his little honor : and for his vnder proportion , and answering to the vpper parts : whose wit was onely practised in villanie , whose heart studied but hell , while his soule was sworne seruant to the diuell : and yet this rascall uiper shall , onely with his golden clawes , créepe into the hands ( for in the heart he could neuer ) of a prettie wench and carry her away into such a world of discontentments , that she could neuer leaue sorrowing till she had got into her graue : would it not fret such a brother as had such a sister , : or chase such a louer as had such a loue , to see such an ouerthrow of his comfort , or confusion of his kind hope . fern. oh! i pray you be not angry : for marriage and hanging some say goe by destinie : and although hanging is but a short paine , and marriage is a lingring miserie , where disagréement is a deadly life : yet since we cannot goe against the will of the higher powers , patience is a playster , that will in time draw a mans heart out of his belly , except he haue more wit to gouerne his passion . but leauing loue toyes , let me tell you , that if a man finding by some old writings in his mothers chest , that his father had title to a péece of land , which for want of a good purse , he durst neuer make challenge to it : and say that i were the man , and i by the witnesse of my honest auncient neighbours , can approue it in good conscience to be mine owne in right of law ; and thereupon asking counsell , and paying for words by waight , and by my learned councell perswaded that it is mine past all plea : and thus playing with my nose , or rather with my purse , till all be spent : with demurrs and tricks he driues me to beggerie , with suing for mine owne right , while he goes gay with my money , and i starue with his words : a vengeance vpon his craftie conueyance . would not this fret a mans soule to think on it , and cannot helpe it . fab. now god forbid : i pray you be not angry : for law was ordained for the best ; and though in all professions some are to blame , yet no doubt , but some haue such consciences , that they would not be corrupted for a kingdome , but courts must haue their fees , and schollers must not study for nothing . but for that i am not a good lawyer , nor euer met with any bribes , i haue nothing to say to them , but wish the wicked their reward , while the honest may take héed by their example : and so leauing them all to the day of their death , i will tell you of another matter . say , that i had a friend , at least as i take him , and louing him so dearely , that i durst , nay i doe trust him with all that i am worth , and being to take a voyage eyther vpon command or commoditie , fearing some ill courses to be taken for my children if i should die , knowing women generally so sorrowfull for a lost husband , that they will not tarry long for a new : and what fathers in law be to orphants , while widdowes sigh & say nothing , hauing ( in trust to my friend ) made a secret déede of gift of all my estate vnto him , the rather that my wife and children may fare the better : and now i haue escaped many dangers by sea and land , and spoiled of all that i had with me , come home , hoping to find comfort yet at mine owne house with that i left behind me : and there no sooner entred in at the gate , but with a coy looke , and a cold welcome , i find my wife either turned out of doores , or so basely vsed within , that she could well wish to be without : & then , if i take it vnkindly , be bidden mend it as i can , and so with a frowne or a frumpe , almost thrust out of doores , be constrained to goe to law for mine owne liuing , while my mistaken f●●end hauing turned turke , ca●es for nothing but his owne commodity : & contrary to all conscience , playes with me for mine owne money , till the lawyer and he together , haue wonne me quite out of mine owne land , and so play me the traytor with my trust ; leaue me in the miserie of my fortune , to end my vnhappie daies : now can you say to this , i pray you be not angry ? fern. yes very well ; for since you sée no remedie , but god is such a god in the world , as makes the deuill work many wonders among men , is it not better with patience to endure a crosse , then to crucifie the soule with impatience : but say that you should haue a wife that you thought did loue you well , when she would stroake your beard , and neuer lie from your lipps , and would speake you as faire as eue did adam when she coosened him with an apple ; would not abide an oath for a bushell of gold , and be so sparing of her purse , that she would not loose the dropping of her nose : bridle it in her countenance like a mare that were knapping on a cow-thistle : would weare no ru●●s but of the smal set , though of the finest lawne that might be gotten , and edged with a lace of the best fashion : would not abide no embro●erie inther apparell , yet haue the best stuffe she could lay her hands 〈…〉 sparingly at dinn●● , when she had broke her fast in the bed : and missed not a sermon , though she pro●●ted little by the word : this dissembling péece of flesh , making a shew of lamentation , out of the abundance of her little loue , for lacke of your good company , if you were but a mile out of the towne : and if you were to take a iourney , would lay an o●ion to her eyes , to draw out the rheume in stéed of teares : and hauing eaten an apple , with ●inching in a backward wind , send out a belching sigh for sorrow of the absence of her goose-man : and then after all these , and a world of other trickes , to bring a man in a bad beliefe of her good minde : if you returning home a night sooner then expected , and a yéere sooner then welcome , should ( hauing keyes to your owne doores ) come in , and find in your owne bed betwixt the armes ( i goe no lower ) of your too much beloued , the liuing carkasse of a lubberly rascall , or perhaps the perfumed cores of some daintie companion , working vpon the ground of your pleasure , to plant the fruit of idle fancie , to the horne-griefe of your poore heart , could you be pacified with , i pray you be 〈◊〉 angry . fern. indéed you put me to it , with an , if : but i hope there are no such women , fie for shame ▪ it were enough to make murder , but patience being the meane to saue many a mans life , & that perhaps being her first fault , and she vpon repentance after a secret reprehension likely to turne honest , were it not better to steale away , and haue her mayd to wake her , the matter cleanly shuffled vp , and she with sorrow rather to confesse it in secret , and to bee sory for it , and in shame of her fault to leaue it while few know it rather then in a fury or frenzie bring in your neighbours , raise vp your house , beate your wife , imprison the knaue , bring your wife to shame , and make the world priuie to your ●u●koldry : and so she in a desperate madnesse , eyther shamelesse after a little shame , or gracelesse , in impatience to beare her correction , eyther cut her owne throat , or yours , or both , and so all come to confusion , through lacke of a little charitable discretion : no , god forbid , for rather th●n any such mischance should fall , is it not better to say , i pray you be not angry . for to quit your discontentment , say that i should ( as god forbid i should ) haue marryed an honest woman , that hath brought me many pretie children is a good huswife in her house , carefull for her children , and louing both to them and me , and for the space of many yeares , with a good opinion of all her neighbours , and good credit with all that know her , had passed some score of yeares or two with me with asmuch contentment as a reasonable man might desire : and to make her amends for all her kindnesse , i should eyther take a whore into my house , or kéepe her as a hackney at rack & manger abroad so long , till being led by the nose , to beléeue that she loues me , when i pay for the nursing of halfe a dozen of bastards : of which , if i be the wicked father , my conscience hath little comfort in ▪ and if any other ( as it is most likely ) be the father or fathers , how am i beguiled to play poore noddy , to let my purse bloud , to pay for the maintayning of anothers pleasure : and at the last , if shee find me● abridge my liberalitie , in a venemous humor come with an out●ry to my doore , with a nest of her fellow beggers , and there with rayling vpon ●e calling me old leacher , whoremonger , & i know not what , lay her brats downe before my gate , and so with gaping mouth goeth her way , leauing me to my purse onely , to séeke the sauing of my credit , and so become a griefe vnto my wife , a sorrow vnto my children , and a laughing stocke , to mine enemies , a by word among my neighbours , a shame to my selfe , and an enemy to mine owne soule : and thus séeing my wealth wasted , my credit lost or impared , and god so displeased , that i know not which way to turne my selfe : shall i neyther be angry with the whore for dewraying me , nor with my selfe to let her befoole me ? fe●n . no , i say as i did , i pray you be not angry , for shee did but her kind , to vse her eyes to the benefit of the rest of her members : and therefore you being a man of iudgement , ought rather to be sorry for her wickednesse , then to shew your owne weakenesse , in such yeares to haue a thought of wantonnesse : but sure the flesh is weake , and the strongest may fall , better is a sorrowfull repentance , then a fretting madnesse : and since fretting at your owne folly to sell all the land you haue , will not get you a foote of earth more then your graue , bee not at warres with your selfe to no purpose : cease from doing euill , make much of your honest wife , serue god in true repentance , and the deuill shall doe you no hurt : for , is it not better to beare your crosse , especially being of your owne making , then to run into further mischiefe by the wicked humour of impatience ? but to the purpose : say this , ( to quit you with another proposition ) put the ●●se that i being ( as you sée ) a proper man , and in the way of good-spéed with a handsome w●man , and she in state able to doe for an honest man that would loue her , and make much of her , and i hauing intent to deale honestly with her : and she giues me her faith and truth , and sweares by her very soule that i haue her heart so fast , that no man shall haue her hand from me and i thinking that because she is old she is honest : and , because she sweares , that she said true : goe about my businesses as she bids mee for some few dayes , and then to returne to the ioyning vp of the matter betwixt vs , & in the meane time , after that i haue spent perhaps more then halfe my yeares wages vpon her in wine and sugar , and good cheere , and hope to come to be merry , come and find her marryed to a filthy coosening knaue , who by a little more money than i had in my purse for the present , to bribe another rascall like himselfe , who was the maker of the match , dwels in my hoped house , giues me the bag for my money and hath my fat old sow in such a snare , that there is no getting of her out againe : when i am thus handled for my good will , with this wicked old peece of white-leather , to put my trust in an old hogs-stie for my habitation , and to bee thrust out of doores for my labour , shall i not be angry ? fab. oh no , in any ease : for women haue wits beyond mens reason , especially when they are past a child , or child-bearing , more then they that are past children . oh i tell you it is a perilous thing to slip occasion in matters of loue : and age is eyther froward or fraile , and therefore you should rather haue fed her humour full ere you had left her , then to thinke that shee would be vnprouided till you should come againe to her : and therefore , i say , as you say , i pray you bee not angry . for i will tell you , say that i being a man euery way to content an honest woman , and hauing vnhappily bestowed my selfe vpon a woman of the worst kind , which before i marryed her , being neither widdow , maid , nor wife , but a plaine whore : and this misery of my dayes , being by my folly brought to some better state then she was worthy : and séeing her selfe in a glasse growne fat through good fare & ease , and setting her countenance euen with the pride of her folly , beginning to thinke better of her selfe , then halfe the parish besides , should chance vpon a little kindnesse , grow in loue with my kinsman , or he with her and so they grow so great , that i should stand like iohn hold my staffe , while they take their pleasure : she should sit at the vpper end of the table , and i at the neyther end : she lye in one chamber , and i in another , and yet must not find fault with it for feare of a stab , or a fig , or some other villany , but with a séeming countenance beare all , as if pudding were the onely meate of the world , while one makes hornes at me , another moes at me , another cals me cuckold , another wittall , and i know all to bee true , and cannot , or dare not doe withall : doe you thinke that flesh and bloud can beare this , and not be angry . fern. yes very well : for as you haue flesh and bloud , so you haue wit and reason : and when your wit and reason can consider , how her trade brings more commoditie , and with lesse trauell then your trafficke : if you bee not willfull that you will heare no bodie speake but your selfe or so scornfull ; that you can endure no companion in kindnesse : or so couetous , that you will not spare a penny towards the nursing of your neighbours child : or so proud , that you scorne the gift of a friend : you will find that such a wife is worth too milch , cowes : and whatsoeuer the world saies , you are , beholding to none but her : and where others begger their husbands , she hath made you the head-man of the parish : and then cannot you winck at a little fault that is so full of profit ? yes i warrant you ; and therefore i may well say , i pray you be not angry ? fab. true , it may be that some good asse that knowes not how to liue without the basest trade of beggerie , will put on any patience , for profit : but from such a rascall nature god deliuer me . but to requite you with as good as you bring , let me tell you : if i should serue a man of great wealth , and he haue a wenching humour , and he keeping more maide-seruants in his house , then euer meant to be true uirgins , & one of these wilde cattle , that for the price of a red petticote would venture the lyning of her placket , should by a mischance of her masters making , fall into a two heeld timpanie , which could by no meanes be cured , without my consenting to a wicked marriage for a little money ; which i by the villanie of the trull , which would put the tricke vpon me , must séeme willingly to yeeld vnto for feare of i know not what to fall out , i know not why : and so giuing a countenance of contentment , to the confusion of my hearts comfort , when she should be deliuered of this mischiefe , hoping that she would meddle no more with any such matters , begin to make a little more of her then she was worthy : and she thereupon so lustie , that she cared not for the parish , so long as the constable was her friend , giue entertainment to whom she list , and vse me as she list : set more hornes then haires on my head , and care not if i were hanged for my good will. this rascall round about , without good complexion or good condition , as ill fauoured as mannered , and so spoken , as wicked : béeing thus voide of grace , carelesse of all credit , and irremoueable in her resolution , for the wicked course of her life , this ( i say ) hellish péece offlesh to dominéere ouer me , and with the countenance of her master , to make a slaue of her good-man , who should be sent of errands , while she were with her arrants : i should fetch wine for their drinking , turne the spit to their roast-meate , or walke their horses , while they were sadling my fillie : and yet all this ( and i say not what else ) i must beare , as though it were no burden for a small reckoning at the wéekes end , for washing a foule shirt , or setting of my ruffs right , or séething of a calues head , or making sauce to a tame goose , or for a nod of my master , that makes a noddy of his seruant : for such and such like matters , to make vp all matters , and swallow griefe so in my throat , that it is ready to choake me in the going downe : is it possible to doe all this , that you could doe , i , and not be angry ? fern. yes , very well : for profit is so pleasing , that it puts out a great many ill thoughts that would trouble a man that hath no wit , and for honesty , it is a good thing i must confesse : but , if a man be not borne rich and kéepe himselfe so , he shall gaine little by simplicitie : and therefore as i said , where patience brings profit , i say still , beare with your fortune , and bee not angrie . but leauing to talke more of female discontentments , let me say this : that i being a man of sufficiencie to supply the office of a good place , borne of a noble house , bred vp in all courses requisite for a gentleman , haue trauelled diuers countries , seen● much of the world by sea and land , and through want of my fathers discretion , not left so good a portion as may maintayne my reputation , without some better matter than mine owne estate , and driuen for my better comfort , to put my fortune vnder the fauour of him , whom i know not what hath made rich : and being onely wise in the world hath no féeling of gods grace , ●ut by a thousand ill practises , finde the meane before his death to look ouer a great deale of more ground then his graue and this captaine of the damned crue , who is haled to hell with a world of chaines , the son of a begger , & brother to a villaine , to gouerne ouer the honestie of my heart with the commandement of euill seruice : or finding me not for his humour , to frowne on me like an old frying-panne : or to rate me like a dog , because i will not be a deuill : to be employed in more vildnesse then halfe a christian could endure to heare of : now i say , to spend my time in this misery onely for picking of a sallad , waighting at a trencher , looking on a faire house , making curtesie to an old relique , hold the bason to the rheume ▪ or hearing the musicke of a rotten cough : and after many yeares patience in this purgatory , where all the wisedome i haue learned , were but to corrupt the nature of a good wit , eyther for a trifle to be frowned at , and by trickes to be wrought out : or with a liuery without a badge , to séeke my fortune in some other soyle , to haue serued long for nothing or for worse then nothing , when discontentments must be cancelled and i for feare of a mischiefe , must speake all honour of dishonour , and with a merry goe sorry sigh out my dayes that are no betterblessed : when i shall sée a f●ole graced , and better wits put downe : honestie scorned , and knauery in more accompt then commendable : and i coosening my selfe with an imagination , that seruice was an heritage , when i found nothing but losse of time and repentance ; haue i not cause thinke you with all this , to be angry ? fab. and yet i say , i pray you be not angry : for , if yée had so much of the grace of god , as to make you rather haue the hope of preferment , then to yéeld to an ill impl●yment , no doubt but eyth●r your priuate life will finde some secret contentment , or your patience will finde s●mewhere , aduancements of your vertues : and therefore rather be ioyful o● gods blessing , than impatient with your fortune , and thinke not amisse that i say , ● pray you be not angry . but to requite you : say that i hauing more money in my purse than a wise man would part with , but vpon the better reckoning , should be perswaded to play the usurer , and so with little reward to make my money multiply , & by the cunning working of a cunny-cat●hing knaue , i should be brought ( in hope of gaine ) to take in pawn for my money some lease of a good farme , or péece of rich plate : which being not fetcht by the day of payment , would returne me more than double my money : put my money out of my hands , which i haue fared full hard to get together , and i at the glad of m● forf●yt , hoping to gaine more than a good conscience would away withall , ●inde my lease not worth a point , by a former déede of gift , or such a conueyance as carryeth all away from my fingers , and leaue me ( for all my cunning ) in the law , to plead repentance to my folly : or my plate challenged for some péece of pilfery , and i brought to trouble for i know not what , and to get out i know not how , till i haue brought my stocke to a poore state where i may sée the iust reward of usury , when i looke in my purse and finde nothing : would not this make one angry ? fern. not a whit : for knaues will be knaues , and fooles must bée bitten ere they bee wise : of which if you be none , no ●oubt but there are enough in the world . and finde all the anger in the world will not recouer a penny losse , let me say to you , as you say to me , i pray you be not angry . and let me tell you , that vpon a time it was my hap to haue a friend ( as i thought ) wh●m i loued dearely : and building vpon the care of his conscience , that for a world of wealth hee would not play the iew with mée : it fell ●ut , that i hauing more than a moneths minde to a wench aboue a yeare old , whose worthinesse euery way might command a better seruant than my selfe , and yet it had so faine out betwixt vs , that our affections were so setled , that i thought ( without death ) there could be no remoue : and therefore fearing no fortune , relying so much vpon her loue , louing ( as i said ) my imagined friend mor●●hā a wise man should do ( for there is a measure to be kept in all thing●e made him acquainted with my secrets touching the intent to steale away my mistris from the place where shee had no pleasure to be kept in , ●s she had béene long , like a chicken in a coope : and to the performing of this purpose , hoping to haue vse of his best helpe , deliuer him a ring or a iewell of some value to present vnto my loue , when i know his meanes better than mine owne to h●ue accesse vnto her without suspition : and he after a worl● of protestations sealed with too many oathes , to deale so faithfully , carefully , and secretly for me , as my heart could desire ; when faith there was none nor care of me , nor secrecy , but in kéeping all from me , when like a dissembling iew , he vseth my iewell for a meane to rob me of my better iewell : when he presented it as from himselfe , and revealing some matter of secrecie betwixt vs , vnpleasing to her , and nothing to my profit , with inchanting charmes winnes her affection , and borroweth my money to cut my throat , till hauing carryed away my mistris , he eyther laugh at we , or write me a letter of excuse to collogue with mee : when i thinke how with trusting a knaue , i haue played the foole , in conscience say , if euer man would fall out with himselfe , haue i not cause to be angry . fab. no : for as you ●ayd to me , knaues will be knaues : and in matters of loue , he that will not be the follower of his owne cause , may hap to be ouerthrowne in his owne sute : and to looke for constancy in a woman , especially of young years , when bribes and gifts are able to worke great matters in those courses , it is a méere folly : for , say that some are ( i know not how many ) as constant as pen●l●pe , yet let danae take héed of a golden shower in her lap : and therefore , i pray you be not angry . for let me tell you , to bee deceiued by a friend , it is an ordinarie matter : to loose a wench , it is a thousand mens fortune : and therefore since she was so fickle to trust to thinke her better lost than found : and for him , get your golden iewels & your money from him , and let him walke with his wicked houshold-stuffe : and let me tell you of a discontentment of mind . it was my hap , ( i may say my ill hap ) to cast my affection of late vpon a very proper young man of a pure complexion , neyther effeminate , nor course face● , neyther of leather-sellers , nor painters company , but a good feature and well coloured : and for his countenance , neyther pauls stéeple height , nor with the fall of the tyde : but carryed in so good 〈◊〉 measure , as shewed his wits no more out of order than his members : for his voyce , neyther treble nor ba●e , but a good meine : and his spéech neyther rethoricall , nor logicall , nor tragicall , nor colasticall : but such 〈◊〉 neyther too little , nor too much , as answering directly to euery question : and speaking nece●●arily vpon good occasion wan him such commendation for his discretion , as increasing much my affection , made me ( as i thought ) vpon good iudgement , mak● him a great ●ubiect to my contentment : in briefe , i ●ingled him out of company , to make him my companion tooke him to my house , bestowed bountifully vpon him , let h●m not want any thing that was needfull for him : my table to dine at , a faire chamber for his lodging , yea & sometime made him my bedfellow ▪ furnished him with money , horse , apparell , bookes , and credit for whatsoeuer hee would demand , yea , and in my absence t●usted him with the gouernement of my whole house , till my fauour bred in ●is folly that that at the first i saw not , such a presumption of his owne worthinesse , as i liked not , where controulling euen my selfe for a trifle , himselfe to blame in the selfe same nature for a greater matter , thinking all too little that was done for him , and vrging more than was méete for him : a● last not able to suppresse the venome of his pride , till his heart made his head swell as big as a cods-head ; in recompence of all my kindenesse , playes false with my seruant mayde , steales away my eldest daughter , robs my cofers , troubles my conscience , crackes my credit , befooles m● wit and doth what he may to seeke the ruine of my state ; is it possibl● that a ma● could thinke of such a villaine , and not be angry ? fern. yea very well ; and i say vnto you : i pray you be not angry : for , still knaues will be knaues ; and a man had néede eate a bushell of salt with a man , before hee grow too farre to trust him : for he w●s a worldling , and out of the simplicitie of your honestie , thinking him to be that he was not , might learne him to trust his like , or any of all , at least with your house , your daughter , ( if you haue any ) or your seruants , i● you kéepe any : and hauing patience with your lacke of iudgement , doe for your daughter , as you haue cause in nature and reason , and pray in charitie ●or his soule , what euer become of his carkasse and since ( i hope ) you will take this for no ill counsell , i say as i did , i pray you be not angry . finis . the good and the badde, or descriptions of the vvorthies, and vnworthies of this age where the best may see their graces, and the worst discerne their basenesse. breton, nicholas, ?- ? approx. kb of xml-encoded text transcribed from -bit group-iv tiff page images. text creation partnership, ann arbor, mi ; oxford (uk) : - (eebo-tcp phase ). a stc estc s this keyboarded and encoded edition of the work described above is co-owned by the institutions providing financial support to the early english books online text creation partnership. this phase i text is available for reuse, according to the terms of creative commons . universal . the text can be copied, modified, distributed and performed, even for commercial purposes, all without asking permission. early english books online. (eebo-tcp ; phase , no. a ) transcribed from: (early english books online ; image set ) images scanned from microfilm: (early english books, - ; : ) the good and the badde, or descriptions of the vvorthies, and vnworthies of this age where the best may see their graces, and the worst discerne their basenesse. breton, nicholas, ?- ? [ ] p. printed by george purslowe for iohn budge, and are to be sold at the great south-dore of paules, and at brittaines bursse, london : . dedication signed: nicholas breton. signatures: a-f⁴. the first leaf is blank. running title reads: descriptions of the worthies, and vnworthies of this age. reproduction of the original in cambridge university library. created by converting tcp files to tei p using tcp tei.xsl, tei @ oxford. re-processed by university of nebraska-lincoln and northwestern, with changes to facilitate morpho-syntactic tagging. gap elements of known extent have been transformed into placeholder characters or elements to simplify the filling in of gaps by user contributors. eebo-tcp is a partnership between the universities of michigan and oxford and the publisher proquest to create accurately transcribed and encoded texts based on the image sets published by proquest via their early english books online (eebo) database (http://eebo.chadwyck.com). the general aim of eebo-tcp is to encode one copy (usually the first edition) of every monographic english-language title published between and available in eebo. eebo-tcp aimed to produce large quantities of textual data within the usual project restraints of time and funding, and therefore chose to create diplomatic transcriptions (as opposed to critical editions) with light-touch, mainly structural encoding based on the text encoding initiative (http://www.tei-c.org). the eebo-tcp project was divided into two phases. the , texts created during phase of the project have been released into the public domain as of january . anyone can now take and use these texts for their own purposes, but we respectfully request that due credit and attribution is given to their original source. users should be aware of the process of creating the tcp texts, and therefore of any assumptions that can be made about the data. text selection was based on the new cambridge bibliography of english literature (ncbel). if an author (or for an anonymous work, the title) appears in ncbel, then their works are eligible for inclusion. selection was intended to range over a wide variety of subject areas, to reflect the true nature of the print record of the period. in general, first editions of a works in english were prioritized, although there are a number of works in other languages, notably latin and welsh, included and sometimes a second or later edition of a work was chosen if there was a compelling reason to do so. image sets were sent to external keying companies for transcription and basic encoding. quality assurance was then carried out by editorial teams in oxford and michigan. % (or pages, whichever is the greater) of each text was proofread for accuracy and those which did not meet qa standards were returned to the keyers to be redone. after proofreading, the encoding was enhanced and/or corrected and characters marked as illegible were corrected where possible up to a limit of instances per text. any remaining illegibles were encoded as <gap>s. understanding these processes should make clear that, while the overall quality of tcp data is very good, some errors will remain and some readable characters will be marked as illegible. users should bear in mind that in all likelihood such instances will never have been looked at by a tcp editor. the texts were encoded and linked to page images in accordance with level of the tei in libraries guidelines. copies of the texts have been issued variously as sgml (tcp schema; ascii text with mnemonic sdata character entities); displayable xml (tcp schema; characters represented either as utf- unicode or text strings within braces); or lossless xml (tei p , characters represented either as utf- unicode or tei g elements). keying and markup guidelines are available at the text creation partnership web site . eng characters and characteristics -- early works to . - tcp assigned for keying and markup - apex covantage keyed and coded from proquest page images - andrew kuster sampled and proofread - andrew kuster text and markup reviewed and edited - pfs batch review (qc) and xml conversion the good and the badde , or descriptions of the worthies , and vnworthies of this age. where the best may see their graces , and the worst discerne their basenesse . london , printed by george purslowe for iohn budge , and are to be sold at the great south-dore of paules , and at brittaines bursse . . to the right vvorshipfvll and vvorthy , sir gilbert houghton , of houghton knight , the noble fauourer of all vertuous spirits : the highest power of heauen grant the blessing of all happinesse to his worthy hearts desire . vvorthy knight : the worthinesse of this subiect , in which is set downe , the difference of light and darkenesse , in the nature of honour and disgrace , to the deseruers of either , hath made me ( vpon the note of the noblenesse of your spirit ) like the eagle , still looking towards the sunne ; to present to your patience , the patronage of this little treatise , of the vvorthies and vnworthies of this age : wherein , i hope , you will finde some things to your content , nothing to the contrary : which leauing to the acceptance of your good fauour , with my further seruice to your command : i humbly rest , your vvorships deuoted , to be commanded , nicholas breton . to the reader . i am sure that if you read thorough this booke , you will finde your description in one place or other : if among the worthies , holde you where you are , and change not your carde for a worse : if among the other , mend that is amisse and all will be well . i name you not , for i know you not ; but , i will wish the best , because the worst is too bad : i hope there will no body be angry , except it be , with himselfe for some-what that hee findes out of order , if it bee so , the hope is the greater , the bad will be no worse : yet the world being at such a passe , that liuing creatures are scarcely knowne from pictures till they moue , nor wise-men from fooles till they speake , nor arteists from bunglers , till they worke ; i will onely wish the worthy their worth , and the contrary , what may mend their condition ; and for my selfe but pardon for my presumption , in writing vpon the natures of more worth then i am worthy to write of , and fauourable acceptation of no worthy intention of reprehension , by the least thought of malicious disposition . so leauing my booke to your best like , with my better labours to the like effect : in hope to finde you among the worthies : i rest , at your command , if worthy , n. b. the good and the badde : or , descriptions of the worthies , and vnworthies of this age. a worthy king . a worthy king is a figure of god , in the nature of gouernment : he is the chiefe of men , and the churches champion , natures honour , and earths maiesty : is the director of law , and the strength of the same , the sword of iustice and the scepter of mercy , the glasse of grace , and the eye of honour , the terror of treason , and the life of loyalty . his commaund is general , and his power absolute , his frowne a death , and his fauour a life , his charge is his subiects , his care their safety , his pleasure their peace , and his ioy their loue : he is not to be paraleld , because he is without equalitie , and the prerogatiue of his crowne must not be contradicted : hee is the lords anointed , and therefore must not be touched , and the head of a publique body , and therefore must be preserued : he is a scourge of sinne , and a blessing of grace , gods vicegerent ouer his people , and vnder him supreme gouernour , his safety must bee his councels care , his health , his subiects prayer , his pleasure , his peeres comfort ; and his content , his kingdomes gladnesse : his presence must be reuerenced , his person attended , his court adorned , and his state maintained ; his bosome must not be searched , his will not disobeyed , his wants not vnsupplied , nor his place vnregarded . in summe , he is more then a man , though not a god , and next vnder god to be honoured aboue man. an vnworthy king. an vnworthy king , is the vsurper of power , where tyranny in authority loseth the glory of maiesty , while the feare of terror frighteth loue from obedience : for when the lyon plaies the wolfe , the lambe dies with the ewe . hee is a messenger of worth to be the scourge of sinne , or the triall of patience , in the hearts of the religious : he is a warrant of woe , in the execution of his fury , and in his best temper , a doubt of grace : hee is a dispeopler of his kingdome , and a prey to his enemies , an vndelightfull friend , and a tormentor of himselfe : he knowes no god , but makes an idoll of nature , and vseth reason but to the ruine of sense : his care is but his will , his pleasure but his ease , his exercise but sinne ; and his delight but vnhumane : his heauen is his pleasure , and his golde is his god : his presence is terrible , his countenance horrible , his words vncomfortable , and his actions intolerable . in summe , he is the foyle of a crowne , the disgrace of a court , the trouble of a councell , and the plague of a kingdome . a worthy queene . a worthy queene is the figure of a king , who vnder god in his grace , hath a great power ouer his people : she is the chiefe of women , the beauty of her court , and the grace of her sexe in the royalty of her spirit : she is like the moone , that giueth light among the starres , and but vnto the sunne , giues none place in her brightnesse : she is the pure diamond vpon the kings finger , and the orient pearle vnprizeable in his eye , the ioy of the court in the comfort of the king , and the wealth of the kingdome in the fruit of her loue : shee is reasons honour , in natures grace , and wisedomes loue in vertues beautie . in summe , she is the handmaid of god , and the kings second selfe , and in his grace , the beauty of a kingdome . a worthy prince . a worthy prince is the hope of a kingdom , the richest iewell in a kings crowne , and the fairest flowre in the queenes garden : hee is the ioy of nature in the hope of honour , and the loue of wisedome , in the life of worthinesse : in the secret carriage of his hearts intention , til his dissignes come to action , he is a dumbe shew to the worlds imagination : in his wisedome hee startles the spirits of expectation in his valour , he subiects the hearts of ambition in his vertue , hee winnes the loue of the noblest , and in his bounty bindes the seruice of the most sufficient : he is the crystall glasse , where nature may see her comfort ; and the booke of reason , where vertue may reade her honour : hee is the morning-starre , that hath light from the sunne , and the blessed fruit of the tree of earths paradise : hee is the studie of the wise in the state of honour , and in the subiect of learning , the history of admiration . in summe , he is in the note of wisdome , the aime of honour , and in the honour of vertue the hope of a kingdome . an vnworthy prince . an vnworthy prince is the feare of a kingdome , when will and power carrie pride in impatience , in the close cariage of ambitious intention , he is like a fearefull dreame to a troubled spirit : in his passionate humours he frighteth the hearts of the prudent , in the delight of vanities hee loseth the loue of the wise , and in the misery of auarice is serued onely with the needy : he is like a little mist , before the rising of the sunne , which , the more it growes , the lesse good it doth : hee is the kings griefe , and the queenes sorrowe , the courts trouble , and the kingdomes curse . in summe , he is the seede of vnhappinesse , the fruit of vngodlinesse , the taste of bitternesse , and the digestion of heauinesse . a worthie priuie counceller . a worthy priuie counceller is the pillar of a realme , in whose wisedome and care , vnder god , and the king , stands the safety of a kingdome : he is the watch-towre to giue warning of the enemy , and a hand of prouision for the preseruation of the state : hee is an oracle in the kings eare , and a sword in the kings hand , an euen weight in the ballance of iustice , and a light of grace in the loue of truth : he is an eye of care in the course of lawe , a heart of loue in his seruice to his soueraigne , a mind of honour in the order of his seruice , and a braine of inuention for the good of the common-wealth : his place is powerfull , while his seruice is faithfull , and his honour due in the desert of his employment . in summe , hee is as a fixed planet mong the starres of the firmament , which through the cloudes in the ayre , shewes the nature of his light . an vnworthie counceller . an vnworthy counceller is the hurt of a king , and the danger of a state , when the weaknes of iudgement may commit an error , or the lacke of care may giue way to vnhappinesse : he is a wicked charme in the kings eare , a sword of terror in the aduice of tyranny : his power is perillous in the partiality of will , and his heart full of hollownesse in the protestation of loue : hypocrisie is the couer of his counterfaite religion , and traiterous inuētion is the agent of his ambition : he is the cloud of darknesse , that threatneth foule weather ; and if it growe to a storme , it is fearefull where it falls : hee is an enemy to god in the hate of grace , and worthie of death in disloyalty to his soueraigne . in summe , he is an vnfit person for the place of a counceller , and an vnworthy subiect to looke a king in the face . a noble man. a noble man is a marke of honour , where the eye of wisedome in the obseruation of desert sees the fruit of grace : hee is the orient pearle that reason polisheth for the beauty of nature , and the diamond sparke where diuine grace giues vertue honour : he is the note-booke of morall discipline , where the conceit of care may finde the true courtier : he is the nurse of hospitality , the reliefe of necessitie , the loue of charity , and the life of bounty : hee is learnings grace , and valours fame , wisedomes fruit , and kindnesse loue : hee is the true falcon that feedes on no carrion , the true horse that will bee no hackney , the true dolphin that feares not the whale , and the true man of god , that feares not the diuell . in summe , he is the darling of nature , in reasons philosophy ; the load-starre of light in loues astronomie , the rauishing sweet in the musique of honour , and the golden number in graces arithmeticke . an vnnoble man. an vnnoble man is the griefe of reason , when the title of honour is put vpon the subiect of disgrace ; when , either the imperfection of wit , or the folly of will shewes an vnfitnesse in nature for the vertue of aduancement : he is the eye of basenesse , and spirit of grossenesse , and in the demeane of rudenesse the skorne of noblenesse : he is a suspicion of a right generation in the nature of his disposition , and a miserable plague to a feminine patience : wisedome knowes him not , learning bred him not , vertue loues him not , and honour fits him not : prodigality or auarice are the notes of his inclination , and folly or mischiefe are the fruits of his inuention . in summe , he is the shame of his name , the disgrace of his place , the blot of his title , and the ruine of his house . a worthie bishop . a worthy bishop is an ambassadour from god vnto man , in the midst of warre to make a treaty of peace ; who , with a generall pardon vpon confession of sinne , vpon the fruit of repentance , giues assurance of comfort : hee brings tidings from heauen , of happinesse to the world , where the patience of mercie calls nature to grace : hee is the siluer trumpet in the musicke of loue , where faith hath a life that neuer failes the beloued : hee is the director of life in the lawes of god , and the chirurgion of the soule , in launcing the sores of sinne , the terror of the reprobate , in pronouncing their damnation ; and the ioy of the faithfull , in the assurance of their saluation . in summe , hee is in the nature of grace , worthy of honour , and in the message of life , worthy of loue : a continuall agent betwixt god and man , in the preaching of his word , and prayer for his people . an vnworthy bishop . an vnworthy bishop is the disgrace of learning , when the want of reading , or the abuse of vnderstanding , in the speech of error may beget idolatry . he is gods enemy , in the hurt of his people , and his owne woe , in abuse of the word of god : he is the shadow of a candle , that giues no light ; or , if it be any , it is but to leade into darkenesse : the sheepe are vnhappy , that liue in his fold , when they shall either starue , or feede on ill ground : hee breeds a warre in the wits of his audience , when his life is contrary to the nature of his instruction : hee liues in a roome , where he troubles a world , and in the shadow of a saint , is little better then a deuill ; hee makes religion a cloake of sinne , and with counterfeit humility , couereth incomparable pride . hee robs the rich , to relieue the poore , and makes fooles of the wise , with the imagination of his worth : hee is all for the church , but , nothing for god , and for the ease of nature , loseth the ioy of reason . in summe , he is the picture of hypocrisie , the spirit of heresie ; a wound in the church , and a woe in the world. a worthy iudge . a iudge is a doome , whose breath is mortall vpon the breach of law , where criminall offences must bee cut off from a common-wealth : hee is a sword of iustice in the hand of a king ; and , an eye of wisedome in the walke of a kingdome : his study is a square for the keeping of proportion , betwixt command , and obedience , that the king may keepe his crowne on his head , and the subiect his head on his shoulders . hee is feared but of the foolish , and cursed but of the wicked ; but , of the wise honoured , and of the gracious beloued : hee is a surueier of rights , and reuenger of wrongs , and in the iudgement of truth , the honor of iustice. in summe , his word is law , his power grace , his labour peace , and his desert honour . an vnworthy iudge . an vnworthy iudge is the griefe of iustice in the error of iudgement , when , through ignorance , or will , the death of innocency lies vpon the breath of opinion : hee is the disgrace of law , in the desert of knowledge , and the plague of power , in the misery of oppression : he is more morall , then diuine , in the nature of policy , and more iudicious , then iust , in the carriage of his conceit : his charity is cold , when partiality is resolued , when the doome of life lies on the verdict of a iury , with a sterne looke , hee frighteth an offender , and giues little comfort to a poore mans cause . the golden weight ouerwaies his grace ; when angels play the diuels in the hearts of his people . in summe , where christ is preached , hee hath no place in his church ; and in this kingdome , out of doubt , god will not suffer any such diuell to beare sway . a worthie knight . a worthy knight is a spirit of proofe , in the aduancement of vertue , by the desert of honour , in the eye of maiestie : in the field hee giues courage to his souldiers , in the court , grace to his followers , in the cittie , reputation to his person , and in the country honour to his house . his sword and his horse make his way to his house , and his armor of best proofe is an vndaunted spirit ; the musicke of his delight , is the trumpet and the drumme , and the paradise of his eye , is an army defeated , the reliefe of the oppressed , makes his conquest honourable , and the pardon of the submissiue makes him famous in mercy : hee is in nature milde , and in spirit stout , in reason iudicious , and in all , honourable . in summe , hee is a yeomans commander , & a gentlemans superiour , a noble mans companion , and a princes worthy fauourite . an vnworthy knight . an vnworthy knight is the defect of nature , in the title of honour , when to maintaine valor , his spurres haue no rowels , nor his sword a point ; his apparell is of proofe , that may weare like his armour , or like an olde ensigne , that hath his honour in ragges . it may be he is the taylors trouble in fitting an ill shape , or a mercers wonder , in wearing of silke ; in the court he stands for a cipher , and among ladies like an owle among birds : hee is worshipt onely for his wealth , and if hee be of the first head , hee shall be valued by his wit , when if his pride goe beyond his purse , his title will be a trouble to him . in summe , hee is the child of folly , and the man of gotham , the blind man of pride , and the foole of imagination : but in the court of honour , are no such apes , and i hope that this kingdome will breed no such asses . a worthy gentleman . a worthy gentleman , is a branch of the tree of honour , whose fruites are the actions of vertue , as pleasing to the eye of iudgement , as tastefull to the spirit of vnderstanding : whatsoeuer hee doth , it is not forced , except it bee euill , which either through ignorance vnwittingly ; or , through compulsion vnwillingly , he fals vpon , hee in nature kinde , in demeanour courteous , in alleageance loyall , and in religion zealous , in seruice faithfull , and in reward bountifull : hee is made of no baggage stuffe , nor , for the wearing of base people ; but is wouen by the spirit of wisedome , to adorne the court of honour . his apparell is more comely then costly , and his diet more wholsome then excessiue , his exercise more healthfull then painefull , and his study more for knowledge then pride ; his loue not wanton , nor common , his gifts not niggardly , nor prodigall : and his carriage neither apish , nor sullen . in summe , he is an approuer of his pedigree , by the noblenesse of his passage , and , in the course of his life , an example to his posterity . an vnworthy gentleman . an vnworthy gentleman is the scoffe of wit , and the scorne of honour , where more wealth then wit is worshipt of simplicity : who spends more in idlenesse , then would maintaine thrift , or hides more in misery , then might purchase honour : whose delights are vanities , and whose pleasures fopperies , whose studies fables , and , whose exercise , worse then follies : his conuersation is base and his conference ridiculous , his affections vngracious , and his actions . ignominious . his apparell out of fashion , and his diet out of order , his cariage out of square , and , his company out of request . in summe , he is like a mungrell dogge with a veluet coller , a cart-horse with a golden saddle , a buzzard kite with a fawlcons bels , or a baboune with a pied ierkin . a worthy lawyer . a worthy lawyer is the studient of knowledge , how to bring controuersies into a conclusion of peace , and out of ignorance to gaine vnderstanding : hee diuides time into vses , and cases into constructions : hee layes open obscurities , and is praysed for the speech of truth , and in the court of conscience pleads much in forma pauperis , for small fees : he is a meane for the preseruation of titles , and the holding of possessions , and a great instrument of peace in the iudgement of impartiality : hee is the clyents hope , in his cases pleading , and his hearts comfort in a happy issue : hee is the finder out of tricks in the craft of ill conscience , and the ioy of the distressed in the reliefe of iustice. in summe , hee is a maker of peace , among the spirits of contention , & a continuer of quiet , in the execution of the law. an vnworthy lawyer . an vnlearned and vnworthily called a lawyer , is the figure of a foot-post , who carries letters , but knowes not what is in them , only can read the superscriptions , to direct them to their right owners . so trudgeth this simple clarke , that can scarce read a case when it is written , with his hand-full of papers , from one court to another , and from one counsellors chamber to another , when by his good payment , for his paines , hee will bee so sawcy , as to call himselfe a sollicitor : but what a taking are poore clients in , when this too much trusted cunning companion , better read in pierce plowman , then in ploydon , and in the play of richard the third , then in the pleas of edward the fourth ; perswades them all is sure , when hee is sure of all ? and in what a misery are the poore men , when , vpon a nihil dicit , because indeede , this poore fellow , nihil potest dicere , they are in danger of an execution , before they know wherefore they are condemned : but , i wish all such more wicked then witty , vnlearned in the law and abusers of the same , to looke a little better into their consciences , and to leaue their crafty courses , lest when the law indeede laies them open , in steade of carrying papers in their hands , they weare not papers on their heads , and in stead of giuing eare to their clients causes , or rather eies into their purses , they haue nere an eare left to heare withal , nor good eie to see withall ; or at least honest face to looke out withall : but as the grashoppers of egypt , bee counted the caterpillers of england , and not the foxe that stole the goose , but the great foxe that stole the farme , from the gander . a worthy souldier . a worthy souldier is the childe of valour , who was borne for the seruice of necessitie , and to beare the ensigne of honour , in the actions of worth : he is the dyer of the earth with blood , and the ruine of the erections of pride : hee is the watch of wit , in the aduantage of time , and the executioner of wrath vpon the wilfull offender : he disputes questions with the point of a sword , and preferres death to indignities : hee is a lyon to ambition , and a lambe to submission : hee hath hope fast by the hand , and treads vpon the head of feare . hee is the kings champion , and the kingdomes guard , peaces preseruer , and rebellions terror : he makes the horse trample at the sound of a trumpet , and leades on to a battaile , as if hee were going to a break-fast ; hee knowes not the nature of cowardise , for his rest is set vp vpon resolution : his strongest fortification is his mind , which beates off the assaults of idle humors , and his life is the passage of danger , where , an vndaunted spirit stoopes to no fortune ; with his armes hee wins his armes , and by his desert in the field , his honour in the court. in summe , in the truest man-hood hee is the true man : and in the creation of honour , a most worthy creature . an vntrained souldier . an vntrained souldier is like a young hound , that when the first falls to hunt , he knowes not how to lay his nose to the earth : who hauing his name but in a booke , and marched twise about a market place , when he comes to a piece of seruice , knowes not how to bestowe himselfe : he marches as if he were at plough , carries his pike like a pike-staffe , and his sword before him , for feare of losing from his side : if he be a shot , he will be rather ready to say a grace ouer his peece , and so to discharge his hands of it , then to learne how to discharge it with a grace : he puts on his armour ouer his eares , like a waste-coate , and weares his murrian like a night-cap ; when he is quartered in the field , he looks for his bed , and when he sees his prouant , he is readie to crie for his victuals ; and ere hee knowe well where he is , wish heartily hee were at home againe , with hanging downe his head , as if his heart were in his hose : sleepe till a drumme , or a deadly bullet awake him , and so carrie himselfe in all companies , that till martiall discipline haue seasoned his vnderstanding , he is like a cipher among figures , an owle among birds , a wise man among fooles , and a shadow among men . a worthy physician . a worthy physician is the enemy of sicknesse , in purging nature from corruption : his action is most in feeling of pulses , and his discourses chiefely of the natures of diseases : he is a great searcher out of simples , and accordingly makes his composition : hee perswades abstinence , and patience , for the benefit of health , while purgeing and bleeding are the chiefe courses of his counsaile : the apothecarie , and the chirurgeon are his two chiefe attendants , with whom conferring vpon time , growes temperate in his cures : surfets , and wantonnesse are great agents for his imploiment , when by the secret of his skill , out of others weaknes hee gathers his owne strength . in summe , hee is a necessary member for an vnnecessary malady , to find a disease and to cure the diseased . an vnworthy physician . an vnlearned , and so vnworthy physician , is a kinde of horse-leech , whose cure is most in drawing of bloud , and a desperate purge , either to cure , or kill , as it hits ; his discourse is most of the cures that hee hath done , and them afarre off : and not a receipt vnder a hundreth pounds , though it be not worth three halfe-pence : vpon the market day he is much haunted with vrinals , where if he finde any thing ( though he knowe nothing ) yet hee will say some-what , which if it hit to some purpose , with a fewe fustian words , hee will seeme a piece of strange stuffe : hee is neuer without old merry tales , and stale iests to make olde folkes laugh , and cumfits , or plummes in his pocket , to please little children : yea , and he will be talking of complexions , though he know nothing of their dispositions : and if his medicine doe a feate , he is a made man among fooles : but being wholly vnlearned , and oft-times vnhonest , let me thus briefly describe him : he is a plaine kinde of mountebanke , and a true quackesaluer , a danger for the sicke to deale withall , and a dizard in the world to talke withall . a worthy marchant . a worthy marchant is the heire of aduenture , whose hopes hang much vpon winde : vpon a wodden horse he rides through the world , and in a merry gale , makes a path through the seas : he is a discouerer of countries , and a finder out of commodities , resolute in his attempts , and royall in his expences : he is the life of traffick , and the maintainer of trade , the sailers master , and the souldiers friend ; hee is the exercise of the exchange , the honor of credit , the obseruation of time , and the vnderstanding of thrift : his studie is number , his care his accounts , his comfort his conscience , and his wealth his good name : he feares not silla , and sayles close by caribdis , and hauing beaten out a storme , rides at rest in a harbour : by his sea gaine , he makes his land-purchase , and by the knowledge of trade , findes the key of treasure : out of his trauailes , he makes his discourses , and from his eye-obseruations , brings the moddels of architectures ; he plants the earth with forraine fruits , and knowes at home what is good abroad : he is neat in apparell , modest in demeanure , dainty in dyet , and ciuill in his carriage . in summe , hee is the pillar of a city , the enricher of a country , the furnisher of a court , and the worthy seruant of a king. an vnworthy marchant . an vnworthy merchant is a kinde of pedler , who ( with the helpe of a broker ) gets more by his wit , then by his honestie : hee doth sometime vse to giue out money to gamesters , bee paide in post , vpon a hand at dice : sometime , he gaines more by bawbles , then better stuffes , and rather then faile , wil aduenture a false oath for a fraudulent gaine ; hee deales with no whole sale , but all his honesty is at one word : as for wares and weights he knows how to hold the ballance , and for his conscience , he is not ignorant what to do with it : his trauaile is most by land , for he fears to be too busie with the water , and whatsoeuer his ware be , hee will be sure of his money : the most of his wealth is in a packe of trifles , and for his honesty , i dare not passe my word for him ; if he be rich , t is tenne to one of his pride , and if he be poore , he breakes without his fast . in summe , hee is the disgrace of a marchant , the dishonour of a citty , the discredit of his parish , and the dislike of all . a good man. a good man is an image of god , lord ouer all his creatures , and created only for his seruice : he is made capable of reason , to know the properties of nature , and by the inspiration of grace , to know things supernaturall : he hath a face alwaies to looke vpward , and a soule that giues life to all the sences , hee liues in the world as a stranger , while heauen is the home of his spirit : his life is but the labour of sence ; and his death , the way to his rest : his study is the word of truth , and his delight is in the lawe of loue : his prouision is but to serue necessity , and his care the exercise of charitie : he is more conuersant with the diuine prophets , then the worlds profits , and makes the ioy of his soule in the tidings of his saluation : he is wise in the best wit , and wealthy in the richest treasure : his hope is but the comfort of mercy , and his feare but the hurt of sinne : pride is the hate of his soule , and patience the worker of his peace , his guide is the wisedome of grace , and his trauaile but to the heauenly ierusalem . in summe , hee is the elect of god , the blessing of grace , the seede of loue , and the fruite of life . an atheist , or most badde man. an atheist is a figure of desperation , who dare do any thing euen to his soules damnation : he is in nature a dogge , in wit an asse , in passion a bedlam , and in action a diuell : hee makes sinne a iest , grace an humour , truth a fable , and peace a cowardice : his horse is his pride , his sword is his castle , his apparell his riches , and his punke his paradise : hee makes robberie his purchase , lechery his solace , mirth his exercise , and drunkennesse his glory : hee is the daunger of society , the loue of vanitie , the hate of charitie , and the shame of humanitie : hee is gods enemie , his parents griefe , his countries plague , and his owne confusion ; hee spoiles that is necessarie , and spends that is needlesse ; he spightes at the gracious , and spurnes at the godly : the tauerne is his palace , & his belly is his god , a whore is his mistris , and the diuell is his master : oathes are his graces , wounds his badges ; shifts are his practices , and beggery his paiments : hee knowes not god , nor thinkes of heauen , but walkes thorow the world , as a diuell towards hell : vertue knowes him not , honesty findes him not , wisedome loues him not , and honour regards him not : hee is but the cutlers friend , and the chirurgeons agent , the thiefes companion , and the hangmans benefactor : he was begotten vntimely , and borne vnhappily , liues vngraciously , and dies vnchristianly : hee is of no religion , nor good fashion , hardly good complexion , & most vile in condition . in summe , hee is a monster among men , a iewe among christians , a foole among wisemen , and a diuell among saints . a wise man. a wise man , is a clocke that neuer strikes but at his houre , or rather like a diall , that being set right with the sunne , keepes his true course in his compasse . so the heart of a wise man , set in the course of vertue by the spirit of grace , runnes the course of life , in the compasse of eternall comfort : hee measureth time , and tempreth nature , imployeth reason , and commandeth sense : hee hath a deafe eare to the charmer , a close mouth to the slaunderer , an open hand to charity , and an humble mind to piety : obseruation and experience are his reasons labours , and patience with conscience are the lines of his loues measure , contemplation , and meditation are his spirits exercise , and god and his word are the ioy of his soule : hee knowes not the pride of prosperity , nor the misery of aduersitie , but takes the one as the day , the other as the night : hee knowes no fortune , but builds all vpon prouidence , and through the hope of faith , hath a fayre ayme at heauen : his words are weighed with iudgement , and , his actions are the examples of honour : hee is fit for the seat of authority , and deserues the reuerence of subiection : hee is precious in the counsell of a king , and mighty in the sway of a kingdome . in summe , hee is gods seruant , and the worlds master , a stranger vpon earth , and a citizen in heauen . a foole. a foole is the abortiue of wit , where nature had more power then reason , in bringing forth the fruit of imperfection , his actions are most in extremes , and the scope of his braine is but ignorance : onely nature hath taught him to feede , and vse , to labour without knowledge : hee is a kind of shadow of a better substance , or , like the vision of a dreame , that yeelds nothing awake : he is commonly knowne by one of two speciall names , deriued from their qualities , as , from wilfull willfoole , and hodge from hodge-podge ; all meates are alike , all are one to a foole : his exercises are commonly diuided into foure parts , eating and drinking , sleeping and laughing : foure things are his chiefe loues : a bawble , and a bell , a coxecombe , and a pide-coate : hee was begotten in vnhappinesse , borne to no goodnes , liues but in beastlinesse , and dies but in forgetfulnesse . in summe , he is the shame of nature , the trouble of wit , the charge of charity , and the losse of liberality . an honest man. an honest man is like a plaine coate , which , without welt or gard , keepeth the body from winde and weather , and being well made , fits him best that weares it ; and where the stuffe is more regarded then the fashion , there is not much adoe in the putting of it on : so , the mind of an honest man without tricks or complements , keepes the credit of a good conscience from the scandal of the world , and the worme of iniquity : which , being wrought , by the worke-man of heauen , fits him best that weares it to his seruice : and , where vertue is more esteemed then vanity , it is put on , and worne with that ease , that shewes the excellency of the workeman : his study is vertue , his word truth , his life the passage of patience , and his death the rest of his spirit : his trauaile is a pilgrimage , his way is plainnesse , his pleasure peace , and his delight is loue : his care is his conscience , his wealth is his credit , his charge is his charity , and his content is his kingdome . in summe , hee is a diamond among iewels , a phaenix among birds , an vnicorne among beasts , and a saint among men . a knaue . a knaue is the scumme of wit , and the scorne of reason , the hate of wisedome , and the dishonour of humanity : he is the danger of society , and the hurt of amity , the infection of youth , and the corruption of age : he is a traytor to affiance , and abuse to imployment , and a rule of villany , in a plot of mischiefe : hee hath a cats eye , and a beares paw , a sirens tongue , and a serpents sting : his words are lies , his oaths periuries , his studies subtilties , and his practices villanies , his wealth is his wit , his honour is his wealth , his glory is his gaine , and his god is his gold : he is no mans friend , and his owne enemy , cursed on earth , and banished from heauen : hee was begotten vngraciously , borne vntimely , liues dishonestly , and dies shamefully : his heart is a puddle of poyson , his tongue a sting of iniquity , his braine a distiller of deceit , and his conscience a compasse of hell. in summe , hee is a dogge in disposition , a foxe in wit , a wolfe in his prey , and a diuell in his pride . an vsurer . an vsurer is a figure of misery , who hath made himselfe a slaue to his money : his eye is clos'd from pitty , and his hand from charity , his eare from compassion , and his heart from piety : while hee liues , hee is the hate of a christian , and , when he dies , hee goes with horror to hell : his study is sparing , and his care is getting , his feare is wanting , and his death is loosing : his diet is either fasting , or poore fare , his cloathing the hang-mans wordrobe , his house the receptacle of theeuery , and his musick the chinking of his money : hee is a kind of canker , that with the teeth of interest , eates the hearts of the poore , and a venimous fly , that sucks out the blood of any flesh that hee lights on . in summe , hee is a seruant of drosse , a slaue to misery , an agent for hell , and a diuell in the world. a beggar . a beggar is the childe of idlenesse , whose life is a resolution of ease , his trauaile is most in the high-wayes , and his randevows is commonly in an ale-house : his study is to counterfeit impotency , and his practice , to cozen simplicity of charity , the iuice of the malt is the licour of his life , and at bed , and at boord a louse is his companion : hee feares no such enemy , as a constable , and , beeing acquainted with the stocks , must visite them , as hee goes by them : hee is a drone that feedes vpon the labours of the bee , and vnhappily begotten , that is borne for no goodnesse ; his staffe and his scrippe are his walking furniture , and what hee lackes in meat , hee will haue out in drinke : he is a kinde of caterpiller that spoiles much good fruite , and an vnprofitable creature to liue in a common-wealth : hee is seldome handsome , and often noysome , alwaies troublesome , and neuer welcome : hee prayes for all , and preyes vpon all , begins with blessing , but ends often with cursing : if hee haue a licence , hee shewes it with a grace , but if hee haue none , hee is submissiue to the ground : sometime he is a thiefe , but , alwaies a rogue , and in the nature of his profession , the shame of humanity . in sum , hee is commonly begot in a bush , borne in a barne , liues in a high-way , and dyes in a ditch . a virgin. a virgin is the beauty of nature , where the spirit gracious makes the creature glorious : she is the loue of vertue , the honour of reason , the grace of youth , and the comfort of age : her studie is holinesse , her exercise goodnesse , her grace humility , and her loue is charity : her countenance is modesty ; her speech is truth , her wealth grace , and her fame constancy : her vertue continence , her labour patience , her dyet abstinence , and her care conscience : her conuersation heauenly , her meditations angel-like , her prayers deuout , and her hopes diuine : her parents ioy , her kindreds honour , her countreys fame , and her owne felicity : she is the blessed of the highest , the praise of the worthiest , the loue of the noblest , and the neerest to the best : shee is of creatures the rarest , of women the chiefest , of nature the purest , and of wisedome the choysest . her life is a pilgrimage , her death but a passage , her description a wonder , and her name an honour . in summe , shee is the daughter of glory , the mother of grace , the sister of loue , and the beloued of life . a wanton woman . a wanton woman is the figure of imperfection , in nature , an ape , in quality , a wagtaile , in countenance , a witch , and in condition , a kinde of diuell : her beck is a net , her word a charme , her looke an illusion , and her companie a confusion : her life is the play of idlenesse , her diet the excesse of dainties , her loue the change of vanities , and her exercise the inuention of follies : her pleasures are fansies , her studies fashions , her delight colours , and her wealth her cloathes : her care is to deceiue , her comfort her company , her house is vanity , and her bed is ruine , her discourses are fables , her vowes , dissimulations , her conceits subtilties , and her contents varieties : she would she knowes not what , and spends she cares not what , she spoiles she sees not what , and doth shee thinks not what : she is youths plague , and ages purgatory , times abuse , and reasons trouble . in summe , shee is a spice of madnesse , a sparke of mischiefe , a tutch of poyson , and a feare of destruction . a quiet woman . a quiet woman is like a still winde , which neither chils the body , nor blowes dust in the face : her patience is a vertue that winnes the heart of loue , and her wisedome makes her will well worthy regarde : she feares god , and flyeth sinne , sheweth kindnesse and loueth peace : her tongue is tied to discretion , and her heart is the harbor of goodnesse : shee is acomfort of calamity , and in prosperity a companion , a physician in sicknesse , and a musician in helpe : her wayes are the walke toward heauen , and her guide is the grace of the almighty : she is her husbands downe-bed , where his heart lyes at rest , and her childrens glasse in the notes of her grace , her seruants honour in the keeping of her house , and her neighbours example in the notes of a good nature : she skorns fortune , and loues vertue , and out of thrift gathereth charity : she is a turtle in her loue , a lambe in her meekenesse , a saint in her heart , and an angell in her soule . in summe , shee is a iewell vnprizeable , and a ioy vnspeakable , a comfort in nature incomparable , and a wife in the world vnmatchable . an vnquiet woman . an vnquiet woman is the misery of man , whose demeanure is not to be described , but in extremities : her voice is the skrieching of an owle , her eye the poison of a cockatrice , her hand the clawe of a crocadile , and her heart a cabinet of horrour : she is the griefe of nature , the wound of wit , the trouble of reason , and the abuse of time : her pride is vnsupportable , her anger vnquenchable , her will vnsatiable , and her malice vnmatchable : she feares no colours , she cares for no counsaile , she spares no persons , nor respects any time ; her command is must , her reason will , her resolution shall , and her satisfaction so : she looks at no lawe , and thinkes of no lord , admits no commaund , and keepes no good order : she is a crosse , but not of christ , and a word , but not of grace , a creature , but not of wisedome , and a seruant , but not of god. in summe , she is the seede of trouble , the fruit of trauaile , the taste of bitternesse , and the digestion of death . a good wife . a good wife is a world of wealth , where iust cause of content makes a kingdome in conceit : she is the eye of warinesse , the tongue of silence , the hand of labour , and the heart of loue : a companion of kindnesse , a mistris of passion , an exercise of patience , and an example of experience : she is the kitchin physician , the chamber comfort , the halls care , and the parlours grace : she is the dairies neatnesse , the brue-house wholsomnesse , the garners prouision , and the gardens plantation : her voice is musicke , her countenance meekenesse , her minde vertuous , and her soule gracious : she is her husbands iewell , her childrens ioy , her neighbors loue , and her seruants honour ; she is pouerties praier , and charities praise , religions loue , and deuotions zeale : she is a care of necessity , and a course of thrift , a booke of huswifery , and a mirror of modestie . in summe , she is gods blessing , and mans happinesse , earths honour , and heauens creature . an effeminate foole. an effeminate foole is the figure of a baby ; he loues nothing but gay , to look in a glasse , to keepe among wenches , and , to play with trifles : to feed on sweet meats , and to be daunced in laps , to be imbraced in armes , and to be kissed on the cheeke : to talke idlely , to looke demurely , to goe nicely , and to laugh continually : to be his mistresse seruant , and her mayds master , his fathers loue , and his mothers none-child ; to play on a fiddle , and sing a loue-song , to weare sweet gloues , and looke on fine things : to make purposes , and write verses , deuise riddles , and tell lies : to follow plaies , and study daunces , to heare newes , and buy trifles : to sigh for loue , and weepe for kindnesse , and mourne for company , and bee sicke for fashion : to ride in a coach , and gallop a hackney , to watch all night , and sleepe out the morning : to lie on a bed , and take tobacco , and to send his page of an idle message to his mistresse : to go vppon gigges , to haue his ruffes set in print , to picke his teeth , and play with a puppet . in summe , hee is a man-childe , and a womans man , a gaze of folly , and wisedomes griefe . a parasite . a parisite is the image of iniquity , who for the gaine of drosse , is deuoted to all villanie : he is a kinde of thiefe , in committing of burglarie , when hee breakes into houses with his tongue , and pickes pockets with his flatterie : his face is brazed that he cannot blush , and his hands are limed to catch holde what hee can light on : his tongue is a bell ( but not of the church , except it be the diuels ) to call his parish to his seruice : hee is sometime a pander to carry messages of ill meetings , and perhaps hath some eloquence to perswade sweetnesse in sinne : he is like a dogge at a doore , while the diuels dance in the chamber , or like a spider in the house top , that liues on the poison belowe : hee is the hate of honesty , and the abuse of beauty , the spoile of youth , and the misery of age. in summe , he is a danger in a court , a cheater in a citie , a iester in the countrey , and a iacke-an-apes in all . a bawde . a bawde is a kinde of woman-beast , who hauing lost the honour of her virginity in her youth , meanes to goe to hell in her age : she is dangerous among young people , for feare of the infection of the falling sicknesse , and not to teach children to spel , lest she learne them too soone to put together : shee is partly a surgeon , but most for the the allaying of swellings in the lower parts , and hath commonly a charme to coniure the diuell into hell : shee grieues at nothing more , then at disability to sinne , and is neuer so merry , as when she is perswaded to be young : she feares nothing more then the cart , and cares for nothing but ease , and loues a cup of sacke and a pot of ale , almost as well as the hope of her saluation : shee is much subiect to sore eyes , and ill teeth , with sitting vp late , and feeding on sweete things : she is a gossip at a childe-birth , where , her mirth is a bawdy tale ; and a matrone in an hospitall , to see young wenches well set to worke . in summe , shee is the loathsomenesse of nature , the hate of vertue , the spoile of wealth , and the ruine of mayden-heads . a drunkard . a drunkard is a nowne adiectiue , for he cannot stand alone by himselfe ; yet in his greatest we aknesse , a great trier of strength , whether health or sicknesse will haue the vpper hand in a surfet : he is a spectacle of deformitie , and a shame of humanity , a viewe of sinne , and a griefe of nature : he is the anoiance of modesty , and the trouble of ciuility , the spoile of wealth , and the spight of reason : he is only the bruers agent , and the ale-house benefactor , the beggers companion , and the constables trouble : he is his wifes woe , his childrens sorrow , his neighbours scoffe , and his owne shame . in summe , hee is a tubbe of swill , a spirit of sleepe , a picture of a beast , and a monster of a man. a coward . a coward is the childe of feare , hee was begotten in colde bloud , when nature had much adoe to make vp a creature like a man : his life is a kinde of sicknesse , which breeds a kinde of palsey in the ioynts , and his death the terror of his conscience , with the extreme weakenesse of his faith : hee loues peace as his life , for he feares a sword in his soule : if he cut his finger , hee looketh presently for the signe , and if his head ake , he is ready to make his will : a report of a cannon strikes him flat on his face , and a clap of thunder makes him a strange metamorphosis : rather then he will fight , he will be beaten , and if his legges will helpe him , he will put his armes to no trouble : he makes loue commonly with his purse , and brags most of his mayden-head , he will not marry but into a quiet family , and not too faire a wife , to auoide quarrels : if his wife frowne vpon him , he sighes , and if shee giue him an vnkinde word , he weepes : hee loues not the hornes of a bull , nor the pawes of a beare : and if a dogge barke , he will not come neere the house : if hee be rich , he is afraide of theeues , and if he be poore he will be slaue to a begger . in summe , hee is the shame of man-hood , the disgrace of nature , the skorne of reason , and the hate of honour . an honest poore man. an honest poore man is the proofe of miserie , where patience is put to the trial of her strength to endure griefe without passion , in staruing with concealed necessity , or standing in the aduentures of charitie : if he be married , want rings in his eares , and woe watreth his eyes : if single , he droopeth with the shame of beggery , or dyes with the passion of penurie : of the rich , he is shunned like infection , and of the poore learnes but a heart-breaking profession : his bed is the earth , and the heauen is his canapy , the sunne is his summers comfort , and the moone is his winter candle : his sighes are the notes of his musick , and his song is like the swanne before her death : his study , his patience , and his exercise prayer ; his dyet , the herbes of the earth , and his drinke , the water of the riuer : his trauell is the walke of the woful , and his horse bayard of ten-toes : his apparell but the clothing of nakednesse , and his wealth but the hope of heauen : he is a stranger in the world , for no man craues his acquaintance , & his funerall is without ceremony , when there is no mourning for the misse of him : yet may he be in the state of election , and in the life of loue , and more rich in grace , then the greatest of the world. in sum , he is the griefe of nature , the sorrow of reason , the pittie of wisedome , and the charge of charity . a iust man. a iust man is the child of truth , begotten by vertue and kindnesse , when nature in the temper of the spirit , made euen the ballance of indifferency : his eye is cleere from blindnesse , and his hand from bribery , his will from wilfulnesse , and his heart from wickednesse : his word and deed are all one , his life shewes the nature of his loue , his care is the charge of his conscience , and his comfort , the assurance of his saluation : in the seat of iustice , he is the grace of the lawe , and in the iudgement of right , the honour of reason : he feares not the power of authority to equall iustice with mercie , and ioyes but in the iudgement of grace , to see the execution of iustice : his iudgement is worthy of honour , and his wisedome is gracious in truth : his honour is famous in vertue , and his vertue is precious in example . in summe , he is a spirit of vnderstanding , a braine of knowledge , a heart of wisedome , and a soule of blessednesse . a repentant sinner . a repentant sinner is the child of grace , who being borne for the seruice of god , makes no reckoning of the mastershippe of the world , yet , doth he glorifie god in the beholding of his creatures , and in giuing praise to his holy name , in the admiration of his work-manship : he is much of the nature of an angell , who being sent into the world but to do the will of his master , is euer longing to bee at home with his fellowes : he desires nothing but that is necessary , and delighteth in nothing that is transitory , but contemplates more then hee can conceiue , and meditates onely vpon the word of the almighty ; his senses are the tyrers of his spirit , while , in the course of nature , his soule can find no rest : he shakes off the ragges of sinne , and is cloathed with the robe of vertue : he puts off adam , and puts on christ : his heart is the anuile of truth , where the braine of his wisedome beates the thoughts of his minde , till they be fit for the seruice of his maker : his labour is the trauaile of loue , by the rule of grace to find the high-way to heauen : his feare is greater then his loue of the world , and his loue is greater then his feare of god. in summe , he is in the election of loue , in the booke of life , an angell incarnate , and a blessed creature . a reprobate . a reprobate is the childe of sinne , who being borne for the seruice of the deuill , cares not what villany he does in the world : his wit is alwaies in a maze , for his courses are euer out of order , and while his will stands for his wisedome , the best that fals out of him , is a foole : hee betrayes the trust of the simple , and sucks out the blood of the innocent . his breath is the fume of blasphemy , and his tongue the fire-brand of hell : his desires are the destruction of the vertuous , and his delights are the traps to damnation : hee bathes in the bloud of murther , and sups vp the broth of iniquity : he frighteth the eyes of the godly , & disturbeth the hearts of the religious : he marreth the wits of the wise , and is hatefull to the soules of the gracious . in summe , he is an inhumane creature , a fearefull companion , a man-monster , and a diuell incarnate . an old man. an old man is the declaration of time , in the defect of nature , and the imperfection of sense in the vse of reason : he is in the obseruation of time , a kalender of experience , but in the power of action , he is a blanke among lots : he is the subiect of weakenesse , the agent of sicknesse , the displeasure of life , and the forerunner of death : hee is twise a child , and halfe a man , a liuing picture , and a dying creature : he is a blowne bladder , that is onely stuffed with winde , and a withered tree , that hath lost the sappe of the roote : or an old lute with strings all broken , or a ruined castle that is ready to fall : hee is the eye-sore of youth , and the iest of loue , and in the fulnesse of infirmitie , the mirror of misery . yet , in the honour of wisedome , he may be gracious in grauity , and in the gouernment of iustice , deserue the honour of reuerence : yea , his words may be notes for the vse of reason , and his actions examples for the imitation of discretion . in summe , in whatsoeuer estate , he is but as the snuffe of a candle , that pinke it neuer so long , it will out at last . a young man. a young man is the spring of time , when nature in her pride shewes her beauty to the world : he is the delight of the eye , and the study of the minde , the labour of instruction , and the pupil of reason : his wit is in making or marring , his wealth in gaining or losing , his honour in aduancing or declining , and his life in abridging or increasing : he is a bloome , that either is blasted in the bud , or growes to a good fruit , or a bird that dies in the nest , or liues to make vse of her wings : hee is a colt that must haue a bridle , ere hee bee well managed , and a faulcon that must be well man'd , or hee will neuer be reclaimde : hee is the darling of nature , and the charge of reason , the exercise of patience , and the hope of charity : his exercise is either study or action , and his study either knowledge or pleasure : his disposition giues a great note of his generation , and yet , his breeding may eyther better or worse him , though to wish a black-moore white , bee the losse of labour , and what is bred in the bone , will neuer out of the flesh . in summe , till experience haue seasoned his vnderstanding , hee is rather a childe then a man , a prey of flattery , or a praise of prouidence , in the way of grace , to proue a saint , or in the way of sinne , to grow a deuill . a holy man. a holy man is the chiefest creature in the workemanship of the world : he is the highest in the election of loue , and the neerest to the image of the humane nature of his maker : hee is serued of all the creatures in the earth , and created but for the seruice of his creator : hee is capable of the course of nature , and by the rule of obseruation , finds the art of reason ; his senses are but seruants to his spirit , which is guided by a power aboue himselfe : his time is onely knowne to the eye of the almighty , and what hee is in his most greatnesse , is as nothing , but in his mercy : he makes law by the direction of life , and liues but in the mercy of loue : he treads vpō the face of the earth , til in the same substāce he be trod vpon , though his soule that gaue life to his senses , liue in heauen , till the resurrection of his flesh : hee hath an eye to looke vpward towards grace , while labour is onely the punishment of sinne : his faith is the hand of his soule , which layeth hold on the promise of mercy : his patience , the tenure of the possession of his soule , his charity , the rule of his life , and his hope , the anchor of his saluation : his study is the state of obedience , and his exercise the continuance of prayer ; his life but a passage to a better , and his death , the rest of his labours : his heart is a watch to his eye , his wit , a doore to his mouth , his soule , a guard to his spirit , and his limmes , but labourers for his body . in summe , hee is rauisht with diuine loue , hatefull to the nature of sinne , troubled with the vanities of the world , and longing for his ioy but in heauen . finis .