To the worshipfull and right vertuous yong Gentylman, GEORGE MAINVVARING Esquier: IS. VV. wissheth happye health with good succsesse in all his godly affayres.
WHen I (good M. MAINVVARING) had made this simple Nosegaye: I was in minde to bestow the same on some dere frind, of which number I haue good occasion to accompt you chiefe: But waying with my selfe, that although the Flowers bound in the same were good: yet so little of my labour was in them that they were not ( [...] be they should) to bee [...]for the least of a great number of benefits, which haue frō time to time (euen from our Childhoo [...]) receaued of you: yet [...] by me, you [...] be occasioned to say, as ANTI [...]ATER s [...]DEMADES of Athens, that [...]him with geueing, I woulde [...]o [...]y selfe [...]ffied, gratifye your Guifts, and also by the [...] confessions that by deedes you haue deserued benefits: which as DIOGENES [Page] saith) is [...] worth then be [...]eu [...] or [...] by receauing of many [...] benefits (Which to do is not alotted me) to accquit your curtesies, I come to prefer you [...]pore [...] which hauing no goods, ca [...] with his hands full of water to meet the Persian Prince withal, who respecting the good wyll of the man [...] did not disdayne his simple Guift: euen so, I being [...] to bestow some Present on you, by the same thinking to make part of a [...]onder for the [...]merited, to perfourme the dutie of a friend, [...]expresse the good wyll that should rest in Countrie folke, & not hauyng of mine owne to discharge that I go about (like to that poore Fellow which [...] into an others ground for his water) did shaping anothers garden for these Flowers: which I [...] you (as DARIVS did,) to accept: and though they be of anothers growing, yet considering they be of my owne gathering and making [...]spect my labour and regard my good wil and [...] them, but vouch [...] to be a protected [...] him from the spightful, which (perhaps) wil [...]hat leith as presented you, or gathered th [...]ad done one, or both: and so might spoyle [...] Nosegay, and not to let it come so happili [...] handes, as I wish it mai. And though the Garden of your godly mind be full fraught with [...] Flowers, which I [Page] know in your infancie to take roote, and which all may see now to florish, with an vndoubted hope of their yeelding fruite hereafter: yet ordaine to smell so these, and when you come into a pestilent aire that might infect your sound minde: yet sauour to these SLIPS in which I trust you shal finde safety: And yf you take pleasure in them, I shal not only be occasioned to endeuour my selfe to make a further viage for a more dayntier thing (then Flowers are) to present you withall: but also haue good hope that you wil accept this my labour, for recompence of al that which you are vnrecompenced for, as knoweth god: who I beseeche geue vnto you a longe and a lucky lyfe with increase of all your vertuous studies.
From Abchurch Lane, the 20 of October, 1573. ¶By your wel willyng Countriwoman.
IS. VV.
¶The Auctor to the Reader.
THis Haruesttyme, I Haruestlesse,
and servicelesse also:
And subiect vnto sicknesse, that
abrode I could not go.
Had leasure good, (though learning lackt)
some study to apply:
To reade such Bookes, wherby I thought
myselfe to edyfye.
Somtime the Scriptures I perusd;
but wantyng a Deuine:
For to resolue mée in such doubts;
as past this head of mine
To vnderstand: I layd them by
and Histories gan read:
Wherin I found that follyes earst,
in people did exceede
The which I see doth not decrease,
in this our present time
More pittie it is we folow them,
in euery wicked crime.
I straight waxt wery
[...]es,
and many other mo
[...]
As VIRGILL, OVID
[...]ANTVAN,
which many wonders
[...]e.
And to refresh my masede
[...]
and cheare my
[...]
And for to trye if that my limmes.
had got thier strength agayne
[Page]I walked out: but sodenly
a friend of mine mée met:
And sayd, yf you regard your health:
out of this Lane you get
And shift you to some better aire.
for feare to be infect:
With noysome smell and sauours yll,
I wysh on that respect.
And haue regard vnto your health,
or els perhaps you may:
So make a dye, and then adieu,
your wofull friends may say,
I thankt him for his carefulnes,
and this for answer gaue:
I'le neither shun, nor seeke for death,
yet oft the same I craue,
By reason at my lucklesse lyfe,
beléeue mée this is true:
In that (says he) you doo a misse,
than had he mée adieu.
For he was hastyng out of Towne,
and could no longer byde:
And I went home, all sole alone,
good Fortune was my guyde.
And though sh
[...]er hath denyde,
to hoyce m
[...] on her Wheele:
Yet now she stood me in some steede,
and made mée pleasures féele.
For she so
Plat his Plot mée brought,
where fragrant Flowers abound:
[Page]The smell whereof preuents ech harms,
if yet your selfe be sound,
Amongst those Beds so brauely deckt,
with euery goodly Flower:
And Bankes and Borders finely framde,
I mée reposde one howre.
And longer wolde, but leasure lackt,
and businesse had mée hye:
And come agayne some other time,
to fill my gasing eye.
Though loth: yet at the last I went,
but ere I parted thence:
A slip I tooke to smell vnto,
which might be my defence,
In stynking stréetes, or lothsome Lanes
which els might mée infect:
And sence that time, I ech day once
haue viewd that braue prospect.
And though the Master of the same,
I yet dyd neuer sée:
It seemes he is a Gentylman,
and full of courteisye:
For none that with good zeale doth come,
doo any one resist:
And such as wyll with or
[...] get,
may gather whilst they
[...]t.
Then pytite were it to destroy,
what he with payne did plant
The moderate heere may be suffizde
and he no whit shall want.
[Page]And for my part, I may be bolde,
to come when as I wyll:
Yea, and to chuse of all his Flowers,
which may my fancy fill.
And now I haue a Nosegay got,
that would be passing rare:
Yf that to sort the same aright,
weare lotted to my share,
But in a bundle as they hée,
(good Reader them accept:
It is the geuer: not the guift,
thou oughtest to respect,
And for thy health, not for thy eye,
did I this Posye frame:
Because my selfe dyd safety finde,
by smelling to the same,
But as we are not all alyke,
nor of complexion one:
So that which helpeth some we sée.
to others good doth none,
I doo not say, it dyd mée help,
I no infection felt:
But sure I think they kept mée free,
because to them I smelt.
And for because I lyke them well,
and good haue found therby:
I for good wyll, doo gaue them thée,
fyrst tast and after trye.
But yf thy mind infected be,
then these wyll not preuayle:
[Page]Sit
Medicus with stronger Earbes,
thy maliadye must quayle
For these be but to keepe thée sound,
which if thou vse them well:
(Paynes of my lyfe) in healthy state
thy mind shall euer dwell;
Or if that thy complexion,
with them doo not agree:
Refer them to some friend of thine,
tyll thou their vertue sée.
And this I pray the, whether thou,
infected wast afore:
Or whether with thy nature strong;
they can agree no more,
That thou my Nosegay not misuse,
but leaue it to the rest:
A number may such pleasure finde,
to beare it in their brest.
And if thy selfe wolde gather more,
then I have herein bound:
My counsell is that thou repayre,
to Master
Plat his ground,
And gather there what I dyd not,
perhaps thy selfe may light:
On those which for thee fitter are,
then them which I resighte.
Which if thou doo, then render thanks,
to him which sowed the soyle,
Yf not, thou nedes must him commend,
when as thou viewest his toyles
[Page]In any wise, be chary that
thou lettest in no Swine:
No Dog to scrape, nor beast that doth
to rauin styll inclyne,
For though he make no spare of them,
to such as haue good skyll:
To slip, to shere, or get in time,
and not his braunches kyll:
Yet barres he out, such gréedy guts,
as come with spite to toote:
And without skill, both Earb & Flower
pluck rashly by the roote.
So wishing thée, to finde such Flowers,
as may thée comfort bring:
And eke that he which framd the Plot,
with vertues styll may spring.
I thée commend to mighty
IOVE,
and thus I thée assure:
My Nosegay wyll increase no payne,
though sicknes none it cure,
Wherfore, if thou it hap to weare
and feele thy selfe much worse:
Promote mée for no Sorceresse,
nor doo mée ban or curse.
For this I say the Flowers are good,
which I on thee bestow:
As those which weare them to the stalkes,
Shall by the sequell know.
[Page]One word, and then adieu to thée,
yf thou to
Plat his Plot
Repayre: take héede it is a
Maze
to warne thée I forgot.
*FINIS. quod
IS. VV.
T.B. in commendation of the Authour.
MArching among the woods of fine delighte
VVhere as the Laurell branch doth bring increase
Seelde, of Ladies fresh, a solem sight:
I viewd, whose walkes betokened all their ease:
And bow in friendly wise, it did them please:
VVhiles some did twist the Silke of liuely hewe
Some others slipt the Brannch for preyses dew.
*Nor musing did not rest, nor scorne my sight,
nor prest in haste to breake their silence I
But as at first, they held their whole delight:
and casting mirth, said Friend that passest bye
did neuer wrethes of loue that binde perdy:
As thus: who framde her Plot in G
[...]
So orderly, as best she might deuise.
Not yet (quoth I,) but you might forte the same
whose face doth staine the colour red as Rose:
No VIRGILL this, nor OVID eke may blam,
For Beautie pressing as the Cunduit floes,
was cause that PARIS greatess loue arose:
who lou'd before, though neuer touched soe,
As OVID showes, with many writers moe.
*But Ladies sure, my loue consistes in this
my whole delight, and pleasure all I take
To decke the wight, that worthie praises is:
and sure my great goodwyll must neuer slake
From VVHITNEY: loe, herein some partie take
For in her worke is plainly to be seène,
Why Ladies place in Garlands Laurell greene.
*She flattering Fate too much, nor skies doth trust:
suche labor lîeth finisht with the lyfe:
She neuer did accompt Dame Fortune iust,
that tosseth vs with toyes and plunges rife:
But her defieth, as Auctor of her stryfe:
She doth not write the brute or force in Armes,
Nor pleasure takes, to sing of others harmes,
*But mustred hath and wrapped in a packe
a heape of Flowers of Philosophie:
No braunche of perfect wisdome here doth lacke
But that the brused mynde, refresht may bee,
[Page]And that it is no fable, you shall see:
For here at large the sequell will declare
To Cuntrey Dearde, her loue and friendly care.
*The smelling Flowers of an Arbor sweete,
An Orcharde pickt presented is to thee:
And for her seconde worke, she thought it meete,
sithe Maides with loftie stile may not agree:
In hoape hereby, somthynge to pleasure thee,
And when her busie care from head shall lurke,
She practize will, and promise longer worke.
*Now happie Dames, if good deserueth well,
her praise for Flowers philosophicall:
And let your Branches twyned that excell
her head adorne: wherein she floorish shall:
And BERRIE so, restes alwaies at your call,
The purple blew, the red, the white I haue,
To wrappe amyd your Garlands fresh & braue.
FINIS.
THO. BIR.
A sweet Nosgay, Or pleasant Posye: contayning a hundred and ten Phylosophicall Flowers. &c.
¶The I. Flower.
SUch freendes as haue ben absent
more ioyful be at meeting
Then those which euer presēt are long
and dayly haue their greetyng.
¶The II
¶When peryls they are present, then
doth absence keepe thee free:
Whereas, if that thou present werte
might dangers light on thee.
The III.
¶The presence of the mynd must be
preferd, if we do well:
Aboue the bodyes presence; for
it farre doth it excell.
¶The IIII.
Yet absēce, sbtimes bringeth harme,
when freends but fickle are:
For new acquaintāce purchase place
and old doo lose their share.
¶The V.
¶What profie things that we posses
doo by their presence bring
We can not know: til by their lacke,
We feele what harmes do spring.
The VI.
¶For to abound in euery thing,
and not their vse to know:
It is a pinching penury:
wherefore, thy goods, bestow.
The VII.
¶A saying olde, once out of sight,
and also out of minde:
These contraries, that absent frends
much toy at meeting finde.
¶The VIII.
¶Well yet, for the Antiquitie,
it grew amongst the rest:
And true it proues, by those whose winds
Obliuion hath possess.
¶The IX.
Care not how mant things thou hast
but haue a great regarde:
That they be good, for quantytie,
both merite no rewarde.
*The X.
¶Yet so thou must increase thy stock
as cleare thine owne it be:
And neither fleece thy friend, nor seke
thy neighbours beggerye.
¶The XI
¶We easely may abuse the great
and chiefest thing of all:
But hard it is to vse & right,
such as are trifles small.
*The 12.
¶Our rares we must not euer oye,
to each mans accusation:
Nor without tryail, trust too much,
to any ones perswation.
*The 13.
¶I fault right greater seemeth far,
on the accusers part:
Then it on the Defendants doth
much more should be his smart.
¶The 14.
¶Thy friends admonysh secretly,
of crimes to which they swarue:
But prayse them openly, if so be,
their deeds do prayse desarue.
¶The 15.
In euery check, vse some faire speach
for words do sooner pearce
That playnly passe, then those which thou
wrughnesse might reverse.
¶The 16.
¶Admonisht be with willingnesse,
and paciently abyde
A reprehension, for such faults,
as friends in thee haue spide.
¶The 17.
¶Those precepts which in youthfull yeares
are printed in thy brest:
Wyll deepest diue, and do more good
then euer shall the rest.
¶The 18.
¶You must not suffer youth to raing
nor stray abrode at wyll:
For libertye both lewdnesse breed,
wherefore preuent that yll.
¶The 19.
¶The bigor of our youth, no whit
doth differ from the flower:
Which for a time doth florish sayre,
and qutekly lose his power.
*The 20.
Whist thou art yong, remember that
thyne Age approcheth fast:
And folow thou the steps of such,
whose lyfe doth euer last.
¶The 21.
¶In youth to thee such learning get
as it may make thee wise:
So people shall in elder yeares,
come seeke thy sage aduise.
*The 22.
¶The inclinations of our youth,
desyres that thence doth spring:
Fore shew what fruict in future tyme
our ripened age wyll bring.
¶The 23.
¶No hope of goodnesse can be had
of hym, who spends his prime,
In liuing so lycentious,
that he respects no crime.
¶The 24.
That mind which sensual appetites
in youth doth blyndly guyd:
To Age do bodyes yeld deformde,
because they wandred wyde.
*The 25
¶Now vaine it is for crooked Age
his youth for to requyre:
So ist for youth that childish yeares
would willingly desire.
¶The 26.
Olde people deeme them nearer death
then those that youthfull seeme
But youth seproaner to his end,
and lesse doth lyfe esteeme,
¶The 27.
¶Great cruelty it is for us
to vse a churlysh check
To any, when aduersitie,
hath brought them to a wreck,
¶The 28.
¶None in aduersitie hath help,
except they prospered haue
And by y
t menes haue purchast frends
of whom they ayde may craue.
¶The 29.
If miserie thou wouldest not know,
liue dangerlesse thou must
Or els to taste of troubles great
thou shalt, though thou wert iust.
¶The 30.
¶Prosperitie wyll get thee friends,
but pouertie wyll trie
for then, except they faythfull are
apace from thee they flye.
¶The 31.
¶Tis better with the truth offend,
then please with flatteryng words
for truth at lēgth shal hepe thee safe
when rother cuttes lyke swords.
¶The 32.
¶To all men be thou liberall,
but vse to flatter none,
Nor be familyer but with few
which nomber make but one.
¶The 33.
A fawning frende wyll at the length
a frowning foe approue
The hate of such is better sure,
then their deceatefull loue.
¶The 34.
¶She that is an Adulteresse
of euylles is a sea:
Her wickednesse consumes her selfe
and husband doth decay.
¶The 35.
Men doo by emulation,
of others, proue the same
In euery yll as custome is,
so commonly we frame.
¶The 36.
Those strokes which mates in mirth do geue
do seeme to be but light:
Although somtyme, they leue a signe
seemes greuous to the sight.
*The 37.
All men thou shalt thine equal make
if thou such playnesse vse
As thou not fearest, nor yet art feard,
nor art, nor doest abuse.
¶The 38.
¶Whylst haires are hidden wastely
Age doth himselfe be wray:
For wyll we, nyl we, h'eele appeare,
when youth is chaste away.
¶The 39.
¶Children are lykened to the spring
and Stripplings to the Sommer.
And yongmē, thei ar Autumpne like
and olde men wery winter.
¶The 40.
¶Haue thou accesse alwayes to such
let such resort to thee:
Is temper all their talk with truth,
and are from enuie free.
¶The 41.
¶When Bretheren be at varience,
how should the enemyes gree;
When frends fall out among themselues
who shal their dais member.
*The 42.
¶A friendly mind, accoumpt it for
the neerest of thy kyn:
When al shal fayle, it sticks to thee,
what euer chaunce hath byn.
*The 43.
¶Affection is of force so stronge,
that other qualities:
He deemeth to be lyke himselfe,
and doth no worse surmise.
¶The. 44.
¶Let thine affections ruled be,
least that they do thee rule:
For then no strength wil thee availe
nor back canst thou recule.
*The. 45.
¶The sorowfull do think it death,
to linger in this lyfe:
And wish to be desolu'd thereof,
therby to stint their stryfe.
¶The. 46.
¶What sere it bee that doubtful is,
grauntes health th'aflicted tyll:
He vtterly denyes that he,
to health restore him wyll.
*The. 47.
¶The plowman is accompted smal
his reputation none:
Yet of the membbers in a Realme
of chiefest he is one:
*The. 48.
☞At diceplaying, he that excelles
and counningstly can play:
In my conceat, for wickednes,
may beare the price a way;
*The. 49.
Brease not too hie, but haue regarde
yf thou would chaunce to fall:
From hie might kyl, frō mean might hurt
alow stand sure thou shall.
*The.50.
The man that is ambicious,
doth lose such honour oft:
Is he hath got, whē fortune pleasd.
to set him vp aloft:
¶The. 51.
¶When Potentats ambicious are,
the poore men, they are wrackt,
When Realmes denide within themselues
no cities are vnsackt.
*The. 52.
¶Be that is boyd of any friend,
him company to keepe:
Walkes in a world of wyldernesse,
full fraught with dangers deepe.
*The. 53.
¶Judge of a friend ere friendship be
but when thou hast him tryde:
Then maist thou trust, & eke beleeue
as thou his doyngs spyde.
¶The 54.
The falt which in thy frend, y
u seemst
to suffer, or permit:
Thou gilty art, therof thy selfe,
not punishing of it.
*The 55.
¶So oft as faithfull friends depart
so oft to dye they seeme:
To seperate, the griefe is great,
but absence is extreeme.
*The 56.
☞Accompt so euer of thy friend,
as he thy foe may frame
So beare thee, that in enmytie,
he thee procure no shame.
*The 57.
To all men vse thou equytye,
show faith vnto thy friende
In euery thyng that thou pretendst,
do styll respect the ende.
*The 58.
By benefits vnto thy friende,
show thyne abilytie:
And that thy foes may know y
e same
thine Iniuryes let flye.
¶The 59.
Al things with frends in cōmon are
at least it should be so
That pleasures might imparted bee
so like wise grief, or woe.
*The 60.
The poore, they haue no frends at al
for to participate,
The sorow and the griefe they finde
in their most wretched state.
*The 61.
In louing, ech one hath free choyce,
or euer they begin,
But in their power it lyeth not,
to end when they are in.
¶The 62.
¶The angry louer flattereth
himselfe with many lyes:
And fondly feedeth on such toyes
as fancy doth deuise.
¶The 63.
¶Ech louer knoweth what he lykes
and what he doth desire,
But seld, or neuer doth he know,
what thing he should require.
*The. 64.
¶In time, may loue, by percemeale weare
and wither cleane a way:
But presently to pluck his rootes,
in vayne you do assay.
*The. 65.
The louers teres, wil soone appease
his Ladyes angry moode:
But men will not be pacified,
if Memen weepe a flood.
*The. 66.
¶As Poets fayne, y
e Gods thēselues
in loue could vse no myt:
Then mortall men may be allowde,
such follyes to commit.
¶The 67.
The yongmen when they are in loue
may profit gaine therby:
But in the oulde, it is a fault
for they should loue defye.
¶The 68.
¶If loue haue geuen thee a blow,
and that thou art vnsound,
Make meanes that y
u a plaster haue,
of them which gaue the wound,
¶The 69.
When secret loue once kindled is,
twill burne with fiercest flame:
The surest way to be beloued,
is fyest to doo the same.
¶The. 70.
The louer whith doth looke aloft,
and doth submission hate:
Shal haue a slip, or answered be,
that he is come to late.
The. 71.
Whos'ere they be, the lawes of loue
hath guided for a season:
It is a doubt, that neuer more.
they will be ruld by reason.
*The 72.
☞The cough it is so cumbersome,
that none the same can hide:
So loue ful fraught w
t foolish toies
may easely be efpyde.
*The 73.
The formost step to wisdome is,
from loue to keepe thee free:
The second for to loue so close,
that none the same may see.
¶The 74.
¶An olde man when he is in loue;
of him this may we deeme:
Of all hard haps and chaunces fel,
he hath the most extreeme.
¶The. 75.
The loue of wicked persons must,
be got by wicked meanes:
Make thine accompt, when y
u hast done
and geue the deuil y
t gaines.
¶The. 76.
¶Affection and deceaues the wise
and loue make men such noddyes
That to their selues they seeme as dead
yet liue in other boddies,
¶The. 77.
¶A vertuous man, y
t hath the feare
of God: before his eyes:
Is sure in safetie for to walke,
for all his enemyes.
*The. 78.
¶No credit geue, or not to much,
to that which thou doest heare,
If that out of a troubled minde
thou spyest it to appeare.
¶The. 79.
¶The bow that euer standeth bent
too far wyll neuer cast
The mind which euermore is flack,
doth badly proue at last.
¶The. 80.
¶Such minds, as are disposed wel
brings wanderers to the way:
And redy are with helping hand,
to such as go astray.
¶The. 81.
¶Of worldly things, the chiefest is
a well contented mind:
That doth dispise for to aspyre,
nor gapeth gifts to fynde.
*The. 82.
¶If thou doest yll, it forceth not
what mind thoh we west therto,
Because thy mind cannot be seene,
But that which thou doest do.
¶The. 83.
A lothsome sight, God knowes it is
a fickle mind to see:
It wuld be pure for to reiect,
that bile impuritie.
*The. 84.
Our yeares & dayes wax worse and worse and worse
more greuous is our sorow:
He thats vnfyt tomend to day,
wyll worser be tomorow.
*The. 85.
¶The present day we cannot spend
as we the same should do
Except to count it as our last,
we frame our selues vnto.
*The. 86.
As ours do please some other men,
so theirs doo vs delight:
Which shews our yt cōtented mind
that often works vs spight.
¶The. 87.
He that with his owne weapon is
dispatched of his lyfe:
Twice slayne he is because himself
was kyld with his owne knyfe.
¶The. 88.
*Those promises which are forgot,
be not for aye neglect
They may perfourmed be at last,
and haue their full effort:
¶The. 89.
¶A miserable griefe it is,
by him to haue a harme
On whō we dare not once cōplaine
nor can our selues him charme.
¶The. 90.
Their sight is weake y
t waxeth dim
to see another blinde
And very little comfort shall,
th'afflicted by them finde.
¶The. 91.
¶A pleasure yll, and profyt none
it is, delight to make,
In th'use of any neighbours goods
for which they paynes did take.
¶The. 92.
He is not much deceiu'd, whose sute
full quickly hath denyall
Nor can he say, that he had cause,
to linger for the tryall.
¶The. 93.
¶Full hard it is, and hazard great
to keepe for any white:
A thing that ech one lusreth for
for some wyll thee beguile.
*The. 94.
Do not accompt y
t for thine owne,
which may from thee be take:
But much exteeme such tresure, as
wyll neuer thee forsake.
*The. 95.
¶The day doth dally so with vs,
that we can neuer know:
For what to wish, from what to flie
what workes vs weale or woe.
*The. 96.
¶He doth not soone to royne come
that feares it ere it fall:
But may prouide it to preuent,
if Fortune graunt he shall.
¶The. 97.
Ask nothing of thy neighbour, that
thou woldst not let him haue:
Nor say him nay, of y
t which thou
woldst get, if thou didst craue.
¶The. 98.
¶If that thou minded are to geue
aske not if they wyll haue it
For so, they eyther must denye
or seeme that they do craue it.
*The. 99.
¶It gloryous is, to geue all thinges
to him that naught doth craue:
Do lykewise let him nothing get
that euerything would haue.
*The. 100.
¶Whilst that thou hast fre libertie
to do what lykes thee best:
Thou soone mayest se into thy selfe
what disposytion rest.
*The. 1001.
¶That Lawyer, which is chose to plead
for rich & mighty men:
Must either let the trueth go by,
or lose their friendship then.
¶The. 1002.
A little gould in law wyll make,
thy matter better speede:
Then yf thou broughtest of loue as much
as might in kindreds breed.
¶The. 1003.
Gold sauours wel though it be got
with occupations vile:
Of thou hast gold, thou welcōe art,
though vertue thou exyle.
¶The. 1004.
Such poore folke as to law do got,
are dryuen oft to curse:
But in meane while, the Lawyer thrusts
the mony in his purse.
*The 1005.
A hasty tonge, which runs at large
not knowing any measure,
It is a wicked thing that makes
the minde repent at leasure.
¶The. 1006.
Two eyes, two ears, & but one tong
Dame nature hath vs framed
That we might se, and heare much more
thē shuld w
e tōg be named.
¶The. 1007.
Repewel thy tong, & kepe thi frind
yll vsde, it causeth foes
In vetryng things, commit to thee
thou faithfull friends nor doest lose.
¶The. 1008.
Seke not ech man to plese, for that
is more then God
[...]s do:
Please thou the best & neuer care,
what wicked say therto.
¶The. 1009.
¶Of wicked men to be dispraysd,
for prayse do it accompt:
If they commend, then art y
u mad
so doth their credit mount.
*The. 10010.
¶When as the wicked are in midst
of all their iolitye:
Misfortune standeth at the dore,
and skornes the same to see.
¶FINIS.
¶A soueraigne receypt.
*The Iuce of all these Flowers take,
and make thee a conserue:
And vse it firste and laste: and is
Wyll safely thee preserue.
*By
Is. VV. Gent.
¶A farewell to the Reader.
GOOd Reader now you tasted haue,
and smelt of all my flowers:
The which to get some payne I tooke,
and trauayled many houres.
[Page]I must request you spoyle them not,
nor doo in péeres teareth them:
But if thy selfe doo lothe the sent.
gene others leaue to weare them.
I shall no whit be discontent,
for nothyng is so pure:
But one, or other will mislyke
therof we may be sure.
Yf he for whom I gathered them,
take pleasure in the same:
And that for my presumption,
my Friends doo not mée blame.
And that the sauour take effecte,
in such as I doo know:
And bring no harme to any els,
in place where it shal goe.
And that when I am distant farre,
it worns befor my sake:
That some may say, God spéede her well
that dyd this Nosegay make
And eke that he who ought the Plot,
wherein they same dyd grow:
Fume not to sée them borhe aboute,
and wysh he did mée know.
And say in rage were she a man,
that with my flowers doth brag,
She well should pay the price, I wolde
not leaue her worth a rag,
If as I say, no harmes doo hap,
but that this well may spéede:
[Page]My mind is fully satisfyed,
I craue uone other meede.
So wishing thée no worse then those,
of whom I think none yll:
I make an end and thée commend,
the liueiug Lorde vntyll.
¶FINIS.
IS. VV.
Certain familier Epistles and friendly Letters by the Auctor: with Replies.
¶To her Brother. G. VV.
GOod Brother whē a vacāt time
doth cause you hence to ryde:
And that the fertyl feelds do make,
you from the Cittie vyde.
Then cānot I once from you heare
nor know I how to send:
Or where to harken of your health
and al this would be hend.
And most of me, for why I least,
of Fortunes fauour fynd:
Do yeldyng yeare we me allowes,
nor goodes hath me assind.
[Page]But styll to friends I must appeale
(and next our Parentes deare,)
You are, and must be chiefest slaffe
that I shal stay on heare.
Wherfore mine owne good brother graunt
me when y
t you ar here:
To se you oft and also hence,
I may haue knowledge wheare
A messenger to harke vnto,
that I to you may wryte:
And eke of him your answers haue
which would my hart delight.
Receaue of me, and eke accept,
a simple token heare:
A smell of such a Nosegay as
I do for present beare.
Unto a vertuous Ladye, which
tyll death I honour wyll:
The losse I had of seruice hers,
I languish for it styll.
¶Your louyng (though lucklesse) Sister,
IS. VV.
¶To her Brother. B. VV.
GOod Brother
Brooke, I often looke,
to heare of your returne:
But none can tell, if you be well,
nor where you doo soiurne:
Which makes me feare, that I shall heare
your health appaired is:
And oft I dread, that you are dead,
or somthyng goeth amys.
Yet when I thinke, you can not shrinke,
but must with Maister hée:
I haue good hope, when you haue scope,
you wyll repairé to mée.
And so the feare, and deepe dispaire,
that I of you then had
I dryue away: and wysh that day
wherin we may be glad.
Glad for to sée, but els for mée:
wyll be no ioy at all:
For on my side, no lucke wyll byde,
nor happye chaunce befall.
As you shall know, for I wyll show,
you more when we doo speake,
Then wyll I wryt, or yet resyte,
within this Paper weake.
And so I end, and you commend,
to him that guides the skyes:
Who graunt you health, & send you welth,
no lesse then shall suffice.
*Your louing Sister.
Is. VV.
¶An order prescribed, by IS. VV. to two of her yonger Sisters seruinge in London.
GOOd Sisters mine, when I
shal further from you dwell:
Beruse theselines, obserue the rules
which in the same I tell.
So shal you wealth posses,
and quietnesse of mynde:
And al your friends to se the same,
a treble ioy shall fynde.
1.
¶In mornings when you ryse,
forget not to commende:
Your selves to God, beseching him
from dangers to defende.
Your soules and boddies both,
your Parents and your friends:
Your teachers and your gouerners
so pray you that your ends,
May be in such a sort,
as God may pleased hee:
To liue to dye, to dye to liue,
with him eternally.
2.
¶Then tustly do such deedes,
as are to you assynde:
Ill wanton toyes, good sisters now
exile out of your minde,
I hope you geue no cause,
wherby I should suspect:
But this I know too many liue,
that would you soone infect.
Yf God do not preuent,
or with his grace expell:
I cannot speake, or wryte to much,
because I loue you well.
3.
¶Your busfnes soone dispatch,
and listen to no lyes:
Nor credit euery fayned tale,
that many wyll deuise.
For words they are but winde.
yet words may hurt you so:
As you shall neuer brook the same,
yf that you haue a foe.
God shyld you from all such,
as would by word or Byll.
Procure your shame, or neuer cease
tyll they haue wrought you yll.
4.
¶See that your seere is seale,
tread trifles vnder ground:
Yf to rehersall oft you come,
it wyl your quiet wound.
Of laughter be not much,
nor ouer solemne see me:
For then be sure th'eyle coumpt you light
or proud wil you exteeme.
Be modest in a meane,
be gentyll vnto all:
Though cause thet geue of contrari
yet be to wrath no thrall.
Refer you all to hym.
that sits aboue toe skyes:
Uengeance is his, he wil reveng,
you need it not deuise.
5.
¶And sith that vertue guides,
where both of you do dwell:
Geue thanks to God, & painful hee
to please your rulers well,
For fleetyng is a foe,
expertence hath me taught:
The rolling stone doth get no mosse
your selues haue hard full oft.
[Page]Your businesse being done,
and this my scroule pervsd,
The day wyll end, and that y
t night
by you be not abusde.
I some thing nedes must write,
take paynes to read the same:
Hencefoorth my lyfe as wel as Pen
shall your examples frame.
6.
¶Your Masters gon to Bed,
your Mistresse at rest.
Their Daughters all whast about
to get themselues vndrest.
See that their Plate be safe,
and that no Spoone do lacke,
See Dores & windowes bolted fall
for feare of any wrack.
Then help yf neede ther hee,
to doo some housholde thing:
Yf not to bed, referring you,
vnto the heauenly King
Forgettyng not to pray
as I before you taught,
And geueing thanks for al that he,
hath euer for you wrought.
[Page]Good Sisters when you pray,
let me remembred be:
So wyll I you, and thus I cease,
tyll I your selues do see.
(
q)
IS. VV.
¶To her Sister Misteris A. B.
BEcause I to my Brethern wrote,
and to my Sisters two:
Good Sister Anne, you this might wote,
yf so I should not doo
To you, or ere I parted hence,
You vainely had bestowed expence.
¶Yet is it not for that I write,
for nature dyd you bynde:
To doo mée good: and to requight,
hath nature mée inclynde:
Wherfore good Sister take in grée,
These simple lynes that come from mée.
Wherin I wish you Nestors dayes,
in happye health to rest:
With such successe in all assayes,
as those which God hath blest:
[Page]Your Husband with your prety Boyes,
God keepe them frée from all annoyes.
¶And graunt if that my luck it hée,
to linger héere so long:
Til they be men: that I may sée,
for learning them so strong:
That they may march amongst the best,
Of them which learning haue possest.
¶By that tyme wyl my aged yeares
perhaps a staffe require:
And quakyngly as styll in feares,
my lims draw to the fire:
Yetioy I shall them so to sée,
Yf any toy in age there hee,
¶Good sister so I you commend,
to him that made vs all:
I know you huswyfery intend,
though I to writting fall:
Wherfore no lenger shal you stay,
From businesse, that profit may.
*Had I a Husband, or a house,
and all that longes therto
My selfe could frame about to rouse,
as other women doo:
But til some houshold cares mée tye,
My bookes and Pen I wyll apply.
*Your louing Sister.
IS. VV.
To her Cosen. F. VV.
GOOd Cosin myne, I hope in helth
and safety you abyde.
And sore I long, to here if yet
you are to wedlock tyde.
Yf so you be, God graunt that well
both you and she it spend:
If not when s'ere it haps, I wish
that God much ioy you send.
And when you to the Cuntry come
or thither chaunce to send:
Let me you see, or haue some scroll,
that shall of you be pend.
And this accompt as nature binds
and meryts yours deserue:
I Cosin am, and faithfull Friend,
not minding once to swerue.
So wishing you as happy health,
as euer man possest:
I end, and you commyt to him
that euermore is blest.
Your poore Kinsewoman.
IS. VV.
¶A careful complaynt by the vnfortunate Auctor.
GOOd DIDO stint thy teares,
and sorrowes all resigne
To mée: that borne was to augment,
misfortunes lucklesse line.
Or vsing styll the same,
good
DIDO doo thy best:
In helpyng to bewayle the hap,
that furthereth mine vnrest.
For though thy Troyan mate,
that Lorde
AENEAS hight,
Requityng yll thy stetfast loue,
from
Carthage tooke his flight.
And fowly brake his oth,
and promise made before:
Whose falshode finisht thy delight,
before thy haires were hore.
Yet greater cause of griefe
compells mée to complayne:
For Fortune fell conuerted hath,
My health to heapes of payne.
And that she sweares my death,
to playne it is (alas)
Whose end let malyce styll attempt,
to bring the same to passe.
O
DIDO thou hadst liu'de,
a happye Woman styll,
If fickle fancie had not thrald
thy wits: to retchlesse wyll.
[Page]For as the man by whom,
thy deadly dolors bred:
Without regard of plighted troth,
from
CARTHAGE Citie fled.
So might thy cares in tyme,
be banisht out of thought:
His absence might well salue the sore,
that earst his presence wrought.
For fyre no lenger burnes,
then Faggots feede the flame:
The want of things that bréede annoy,
may soone redresse the same.
But I vnhappy mosse,
and gript with endles griefes:
Dispayre (alas) amid my hope,
and hope without reliefe.
And as the sweltyng heate,
consumes the War away:
So doo the heapes of deadly harmes,
styll threaten my decay.
O Death delay not long,
thy dewtye to declare:
Ye Sisters thrée dispatch my dayes
and finysh all my care.
(
q)
IS. VV.
In answer to comfort her, by shewyng his haps to be harder.
FRiend IS. be now content, & let my sorowes quel:
the extreame rage, & care thou restest in:
For wayling sprights, ne furies fearce in hell:
nor gristey soules, that styll in woe haue bin:
Haue euer felt lyke stormes that I sustayne,
frowust so I am, and duld in deepe dispaire,
That sure (mée thinks), my extreme raging payne:
might gaine thee belth: & set thee free from fere.
For DIDO, thou, and many thousands more,
which liuing feele the panges of extreme care,
Though tortered much; and torne in peeces smal:
whom euer griping death doth neuer spare,
Nor he, that falsey, Carthage Citie fled,
so fraught with wiles, n or ye such sorowes tast:
By thousand partes, as I who rightly sed:
do pine as VVAX, before the fire wastes.
I freece to YCE, I be ate with perching SON,
and torne with teene, thus languishing in paine,
Doo feele my sorowes euer fresher run:
to flowing cares, that endles sorowes gaine.
For what, for whom, and why this euyll woorks
frind IS. VV, time, nor silence; may it show
But shee ere many dayes, my care that lurks,
shall blowne be, and thou the same shall know.
[Page]Till then, with silly DIDO be content,
and rip no more, thy wronges in such excesse:
Thy FORTVNE rather, wills thee so lament,
with speedy wit, til hope may haue redressè.
*FINIS. (
q)
T. B.
¶A Replye to the same.
THe bitter force of
Fortunes frowardnesse,
is painted out by Bible changed hew:
Report bewrayes, that tirants doublenesse,
which I by triall, proue (alas) so true.
constraynde I am, on thy mishaps to rue:
As oft as I consider thine estate.
Which differs far, from that y
u wast of late.
Where be thy wonted liuely lookes become;
or what mischāce, hath dimd the beauty so
There is no God y
t deales such doutful dom
No
Iubiter hath brought the down so low:
thy haples fate, hath stroght thy ouerthro
For as
Saturnus reaues the
Berryes soy,
So Fortune striues, to further thine annoy.
¶O Fortune falce, O thrice vnttedy ioyes
Why doth not man mistrust thy sutle shoes
Whose profers proue in time to be but toies
as this the fruit y
t from your blossom groes
then may you rightly be cōyard with those
[Page]whose painted speech, professeth frindship stil
but time be wrayes the meaning to be yli.
For time y
t shewes, what erst I could not sée
Hath brought about, that I suspected least:
Complayning still on our simplicitlye
Who hedlong runs, as doth y
e carles beast
til hūters snares, haue laid his lims to rest
For whē we lest mistrust & drede deceit
Then ar we snard, with vnsuspected baif.
¶As lately vnto thée it did be fall,
whose hap enforeeth me to rue thy chance
For thou that florisht earst at beautyes stal:
Hath felt y
e force of froward
Fortunes lance
Compeld to furnish out misfortunes dance
Sée heere the suertie that belongeth aye,
To mortal ioys wheron the world doth stay
But liue in hope that better hap may light,
For after stormes Sir
Phebus force is seene
So when
Saturnus hath declarde his might:
And
VVinter stints to turne y
e world to teene
then plesāt
Ver shal cloth y
e groud in greene
And lusty
MAY shall labour to restore,
the things y
e
VVinters spit had spoyld before
Thē shal the
Berrey cleaue ber wonted hew.
And eke my B. that long hath rasted payne
When Fortun doth her former grace renew
shal boysed be to happye state agayne
[Page]Delightyng oft among his friends & kin,
To tell what danger earst his lyfe was in.
Which happye light of mortal creturs, who
shal more reioyce, then I thy friend to sée
And while came fortune, yéelded not therto
but doth proléed: to proue her suite on thée
yet shalt thou not so yll beloued hée,
But that thy Fame, for euer florish shall,
If
IS. her Pen, may promise ought at all.
Farewell.
¶ IS. VV. to C.B. in bewaylynge her mishappes.
YF beauie hartes might serue to be
a sacrifice for sinne:
Orels, if sorowes might suffice,
for what so ere hath byn:
Then mine Oblacion, is weare made,
Whiche longe haue liued in Mourners trade,
*The dryrie daye in dole (alas)
continuallye I spende:
The noysome nightes, in restlesse Bedde,
I bring vnto his ende:
And when the daye appeares agayne,
Then fresh begyn my plaints amayne.
¶But this I feare, wyll sooner cease:
the nomber of my sinne:
Then make amendes, for former misse,
that I haue liued in:
Because I take not pacientlye
Correction in aduersytie.
*VVherfore (my God) geue me that gyfte,
As bedyd I OB vntyll:
That I may take with quietnesse,
What soeuer is his wyll:
Then shall my lucklesse lyfe soone ende,
Or frowarde Fortune shall amende.
*And for because your sound aduice,
may ease me in distresse:
For that two wittes may compasse more
then one, you must confesse:
And that, that burthen dothe not deare,
Whiche frende wyll somtyme helpe to beare.
*Therfore, in this perplexitie,
To you deare frende I write:
You know mine endlesse miserie,
you know, how some me spite:
With counsell cure, for feare of wracke,
And helpe to beare, that breakes my backe:
*So wishing you in health to hide,
and troubleshot to taste
And geuing tendance for your ayde,
which I requier in haste
I cease: and humbly me commend,
To the conducting of my Friende,
*YOur unfortunate Friend.
IS. VV.
¶In answer by C. B. to IS. VV.
YOur lamentable letterred,
and finding by the same:
That you my skillesse counsel craue,
to bring you to some frame:
Suche as it is, I redy preste,
Both am, and wyll, to doo my best.
¶And where as thou in sorow soust
doest pyne thy selfe away:
I wyth thée for to conquer care,
least the bring thy decay:
Those fretting fyts, that thou art in,
Offends the Lord, augmenteth sin.
¶The heauy hart: and mind opprest,
be neuer both reiea:
And at what hower we lament,
be doth be styll respect.
[Page]Yet that for sin thou shuldst thée kyll,
Wold hath thy soule and body spyll.
*But tis not altogether sinne,
that makes you sorow this:
It is because that Fortune she,
doth frowne on you iwis:
Wherfor if you my counsell lyke,
Turne of your teares, and cease to lyke.
¶Impart thy woes, and geue to niée,
the greatest of the same:
Pluck strength thée to: and cherish thée,
to modest mirth now frame:
Then friends and you may worke so well,
That
Fortune shal your foes expell.
¶Yf euell words and other wants,
haue brought thée to this woe:
Remember how that Christ him selfe,
on earth was euen so:
Thy Friends y
e haue thée knowne of long,
Wil not regard thy enemies tong.
¶The vertue that hath euer béene,
within thy tender brest:
Which I from yeare to yeare, haue séene,
in all thy deedes exprest:
Doth me perswade thy enemies lye,
And in that quarell would I dye.
¶That wisedome which y
u doest posses,
is rare for to be founde:
Thy courtesse to euery one,
so greatly doth abound.
That those which throwly thée do know,
Wil thée defend from any foe.
*Wherfore as earth I write to thée,
pluck vp that hart of thine:
And make accompt for friendship, or
for seruice: els of mine.
I wyl not fayle for friend or foe,
Thy vertues they doo bind me so.
*Thus wishing God to be your guide,
and graunt you Nestors lyfe:
With health and haps, so good as earst,
had any maybe or wyfe.
I end and rest in what he may,
Your friend vnto my dyeing day.
By mée
C. B.
*To my Friend Master T. L. whose good nature: I sée abusde.
Dyd not Dame
Seres tell to you?
nor fame vnto you shew?
What sturdi
[...]orms haue bin abrod
and who hath playd the shrew.
[Page]I thought y
t Goddesse in your feelds
had helped with your crop:
Or els y
e fame iil you had knowne,
her trump would neuer stop.
But sith I se their silentnesse,
I cease the same to write:
Least I therfore might be condemd
to do it for a spite.
But this I wish that you my frind
go chuse some vertues wife:
With whō in feare of God do spend,
the residue of your lyfe
For whylst you are in single state
none hath that right regard:
They think all wel y
e they can win,
and compt it their reward.
With sorow I to oft haue seene,
when some wold fleece you much
And oft in writting wolde I lay
good friend beware of such.
But all my mordes they weare as wind
my labour yll was spent:
And in the end for my good wil,
most cruelly was thent.
[Page]Yf I were hort and buffeted,
good wyll shall neuer cease:
Nor hād, nor tōg, shal so be charmd
to make me holde my peace.
Wherfore I warne you once againe
be warie of your selfe:
For some haue sworne to lyke you well
so long as you haue pelfe,
Yf warnings styll you do reiect,
to late your selfe shal rew:
Do as you lyst, I wish you well,
and so I say ade we.
Your Welwiller.
IS. VV.
¶Another Letter sent to IS. VV by one: to whom shée had written her infortunate state.
YOur Letter (Cosin) scarley scene,
I catcht into my hand:
In hope therby some happy newes,
from you to vnderstand,
But whē I had surnaid the same, & waid the teuor well
A beuy heap of sorowes did, miformer ioyes expel.
[Page]I do reioyes, as doth the Swanne, who redy for to dye,
With buryall songe salutes, her hard and dolefull destiny.
In deed, I se & kno to wel, how fortune spites your welth:
And as a tirane Goddesse, doth disdain your happie health.
Whose poyson serpentine I trust, in tyme shal wasted bee,
Let time entends the greatest misse, & lets the captiue free.
VVherfore (good Cosyn) as before, so now my barren quill
Disdayneth not in simple sorte, so vtter his good wyll.
And to discharge the dutie that, belōgeth to a frend,
Whose welth, I wold to God wer such, as might your case amēd
But luck preuēting euery meane, that might your harms redresse
Denieth power to me that do, a frēdly mind possesse
Yet Cosyn, rest in perfect hope, to see the happy day,
That shal vnlade your heped, grief, & driue your cares a way
And sith the con̄sel of the Gods surpasse the humayne wit.
Remēber what the ꝓuerb saith:
hereafter coms not yet.
And pōder wel y
e Shipmās case, whose deth, y
e tossing tyde
Doth threaten of reassaulting sore his shakē Ship with pride
Yet whē NEPTVNVS staieth, & calmes the Seas again,
His ioyes more ample are by farre, then theirs y
e did cōplain
He tels at home with iocund mind amōg his friend & kyn
The danger great, & deep dispair, that erst his life was in
Triūphyng ouer Neptunes spite, whose force he felt before:
And ioyes to vew the Seas, when he obtained hath y
e shore
So whē the floods, of Fortunes spite y
e swel w
t foming rage
Shal stīt their struglīg strif, & whē their malice shal as wage
Then may you gain, & long enioy the Hauen of good hap:
For Nurses chideful oft, before they lull their child in lap.
[Page]And take delight perhaps to tel, what trobles erst I knew,
whose bare rehersal might enforce, a stonie hart to rew.
why shuld we thē, w
t such disdain: endure the chastismēt
wherbi, perhaps, the Gods in vs, som further harms p̄uent
Aud sith no creature may deserue, Dame Iunos graces well
Whi shuld we grudg, & blame the gods, whose goodnes doth excel
Whereas our dutie bindeth vs, their doyngs to allow:
Whose actions all
[...]e for the best, whē we perceiue not how
We rather should with
[...] minde, abide the dated time
Wherin the Goddes shal vs accompt, as worthy for to clime.
Whiche after trial shal betide, to those that suffre smarte:
For:
he doth yll deserue y
e sweet, y
t tasteth not y
e tarte
Which argueth those y
e for a while, doth hide y
e brūt of pain
To be the owners of good hap, when Fortune turnes again
Whose nūber, I beseech the Gods your self may furnish out,
And that his eies may see you plaste, amid that happi rowt
Whose great good wit shal neuer dy: althogh the wāt of time
Hath don me wrong, & euer doth: in shortning of my rime.
Your most louyng Cosyn.
G. VV.
¶ IS. VV. beyng wery of writyng, sendeth this for Answere.
NO lesse then thankes, I render vnto you,
What, though it be a Beggers bare rewarde
Accept the same: (for Cosyn this is true,
Tis all I haue: my haps they are so hard:
None beareth lyfe, is so from Fortune bard,
[Page]But this I know, and hope it once to finde
God can, and wyl, exalt the humble minde.
*This simple verce: content you for to take
for answer of your louing letter lardge,
For now I wyll my writting cleane forsake
till of my griefes, my stomack I discharg:
and tyll I row, in Ladie Fortunes barge.
Good Cosin write not nor any more replye,
But geue mée leaue, more quietnes to trye,
Your Cosin
IS. VV.
The Aucthour (though loth to leaue the Citie) vpon her Friendes procurement, is constrained to departe: wherfore (she fayneth as she would die) and maketh her VVYLL and Testament, as solo weth: VVith large Legacies of such Goods and riches which she moste aboundantly hath left behind her: and therof maketh LONdon sole executor to se her Legacies performed.
¶A comunication which the Auctor had to London, before she made her VVyll.
THe time is come I must departe,
from thee ah famous Citie:
[Page]I neuer yet to rue my smart,
did finde that thou hadst pitie,
Wherefore small cause ther is, y
t I
should greeue from thee go:
But many Women foolyshly,
lyke me, and other moe,
Doe such a fyxed fancy set,
on those which least desarue,
That long it is ere wit we get,
away from them to swarue,
But tyme with pittie oft wyl tel
to those that wil her try:
Whether it best be more to mell,
or vtterly defye.
And now hath time me put & mind,
of thy great cruelnes:
That neuer once a help wold finde,
to ease me in distres.
Thou neuer yet, woldst credit geue
to boord me for a yeare:
Nor with Apparell me releue
except thou payed weare.
No, no, thou neuer didst me good,
nor euer wilt I know:
[Page]Yet am I in no angry moode,
but wyll, or ere I goe
In perfect loue and charytie,
my Testament here write:
And leaue to thee such Treasurye,
as I in it recyte.
Now stand a side and geue me leaue
to write my latest Wyll:
And see that none you do deceaue,
of that I leaue them tyl.
The maner of her Wyll, & what she left to London: and to all those in it: at her departing.
I Whole in body, and in minde,
but very weake in Purse:
Doo make, and write my Testament
for feare it wyll be wurse.
And fyrst I wholy doo commend,
my Soule and Body eke:
To God the Father and the Son,
so long as I can speake.
And after speach: my Soule to hym,
and Body to the Graue:
Tyll time that all shall rise agayne,
their Judgement for to haue.
[Page]And then I hope they both shal méete,
to dwell for
[...] Ioye:
Whereas I trust to
[...]e my Friends
releast, from all annoy.
Thus haue you heard touching my soule,
and body what I meane:
I trust you all wyll witnes heare,
I haue a stedfast wayne.
¶And now let mée dispose such things,
as I shal leaue behinde:
That those which shall receaue the same,
may knowing wylling minde.
I firste of all to London leaue
because I there was bred:
Braue buildyngs rare, of Churches store,
and Pauls to the head.
Betweene the same: fayre streats there bée,
and people goodly store:
Because their keeping craueth cost,
I yet wil leaue him more.
First for their foode, I Butchers leaue,
that euery day shall kyll:
By Thames you shal haue Brewers store,
and Bakers at your wyll.
And such as orders doo obserue,
and eat fish thrice a weeke:
I leaue two Streete; full fraught therwith,
they neede not farre to seeke.
Watlyng Streete, and Canwyck stréete,
I full of Wollen leave:
[Page]And Linnen store in Friday stréete,
if they mée not deceaue.
And those which are of callyng such,
that costlier they require:
I Mercers leaue, with silke so rich,
as any would desyre.
In Cheape of them, they store shal finde
and likewise in that streete:
I Goldsmithes leaue, with Iuels such,
as are for Ladies meere.
And Plate to furnysh Cubhards with,
full braue there shall you finde:
With Purle of Siluer and of Golde,
to satisfye your minde.
With Hoods, Bungraces, Hats or Caps,
such store are in that streete:
As if on ton side you should misse
the fother serues you feete,
For Nets of euery kynd of sort,
I leaue within the pawne;
French Ruffes, high Purles, Gorgets and Sléeues
of any kind of Lawne.
For Purse or Kniues, for Combe or Glasse,
or any néedeful knacke
I by the Stoks haue left a Boy,
wil aske you what you lack.
I Hose doo leaue in Birchin Lane,
of any kynd of syse:
For Women stitchte, for men both Trunks
and those of Gascoyne gise.
[Page]Bootes, Shoes or Mantables good store,
Saint Martins hath for you:
In Cornwall, there I leaue you Beds,
and all that longe thereto.
For Women shall you Taylore haue,
by Bow, the chiefest dwel:
In euery Lane you some shall finde,
can doo indifferent well.
And for the men, few Stréetes or Lanes,
but Bodymakers bee:
And such as make the swéeping Cloakes,
with Gardes beneth the Knée.
Artyllery at Temple Bar,
and Dagges at Tower hyll:
Swords and Bucklers of the best,
are nye the Fleete vntyll.
Now when thy Folke are fed and clad
with such as I haue namde:
For daynty mouthes, and stomacks weaks
some Iunckets must be framde.
Wherfore I Poticaries leaue,
with Banquets in their Shop:
Phisicians also for the sicke,
Diseases for to stop,
Some Roysters styll, must hide in thée,
and such as cut it out:
That with the guiltlesse quarel wyl,
to let their blood about.
For them I cunning Surgions leaue,
some Playsters to apply.
[Page]That Ruffians may not styll be hangde,
nor quiet persons dye.
For Salt, Otemeale, Candles, Sope,
or what you els doo want:
In many places, Shops are full,
I left you nothing scant.
Yf they that kéepe what I you leaue,
aske Mony: when they sell it:
At Mint, there is such store, it is
vnpossible to tell it.
At Stiliarde store of Wines there bée,
your dulled mindes to glad:
And handsome men, that must not well
except they leaue their trade.
They oft shal séeke for proper Gyrles,
and some perhaps shall fynde:
(That neede compels, or lucre lurse
to satisfye their mind.
And neare the same, I houses leaue,
for people to repayre:
To bathe themselues, so to preuent
infection of the ayre.
On Saturdayes I wish that those,
which all the wéeke doo drug:
Shall thyther trudge, to trim them vp
on Sondayes to looke smug.
If any other thing be lackt
in thée, I wysh them looke:
For there it is: I little brought
but nothyng from thée tooke.
[Page]Now for the people in the left,
I haue done as I may:
And that the poore, when I am gone,
haue cause for me
[...]ray.
I wyll to prisons persons leaue,
what though but very small:
Yet that they may remember me,
occasion be it shall:
And fyrst the Counter they shal haue,
least they should go to wrack:
Some Coggers and some honest men,
that Sergantes draw a back.
And such as Friends wyl not them bayle,
whose coyne the is very thin:
For them I leaue a certayne hole,
and little ease within.
The Newgate, once a Monthe shal haue
a sessions for his share:
Least being heapt, Infection might
procure a further care.
And at those sessions some shal skape,
with burning nere the Thumb.
And afterward to beg their fées
tyll they haue got the some.
And such whose deedes deserueth death,
and twelue haue found the same:
They shall be drawne vp Holborne hill,
to come to further shame:
Well, yet to such I leaue a Nag
shal soone their sorowes cease:
[Page]For he shal either breake their necks
or gallop from the preace.
The Fléete, not in their circuit is,
yet If I geue him nought:
It might procure vss curse, ere I
vnto the ground be brought.
Wherfore I leaue some Papist olde
to vnder prop his roofe:
And to the poore within the same,
a Bore for their behoofe.
What makes you standers by to smile.
and laugh so in your sléeue:
I thinke it is, because that I
to Ludgate nothing geue.
I am not now in case to lye,
here is no place of iest:
I dyd reserue, that for my selfe,
yf I my health possest.
And euer came in credit so
a debtor for to bée.
When dayes of paiment did approch,
I thither ment to flee.
To shroude my selfe amongst the rest,
that chuse to dye in debt:
Rather then any Creditor,
should money from them get.
Yet cause I féele my selfe so weake
that none mée credit dare:
I hére reuoke: and doo it leaue,
some
Banckrupts to his share.
[Page]To all the Booke
[...]s by Paulles
because I lyke their Arte:
They ery weeke shal mony haue,
when they from Bookes departe.
Amongst them all, my Printer must,
haue som what to his share:
I wyll my Friends them Bookes is bye
of him, with other ware
For, Mayden poore, I Widdoers ritch,
do leaue, that oft shal date:
And by that meanes shal mary them,
to set the Girles aflote.
And wealthy Widdowes wil I leaue,
to help yong Gentylmen:
Which when you haue, in any case
be courteous to them then:
And sée their Plate and Iewells eake
may not be mard with rust.
Nor let their Bags too long be full,
for feare that they doo burst.
To ery Gate vnder the walles,
that compas thée about:
I Fruit wines leaue to entertayne
such as come in and out.
To Smithfeelde I must something leaue
my Parents there did dwell:
So carelesse for to be of it,
none wolde accompt it well.
Wherfore it thrice a wéeke shall haue,
of Worse and neat good store.
[Page]And in his Spitle, blynd aud lame,
to dwell for euermore.
And Bedlem must not be forgot,
for that was oft my walke:
I people there too many leaue,
that out of tune doo talke.
At Bridewel there shal Bedelles be,
and Matrones that shal styll
See Chalke wel chopt, and spinning plyde;
aud turning of the Mill.
For such as cannot quiet bee,
but striue for House or Land:
At Th'innes of Court, I Lawyers leaue
to take their cause in hand.
And also leaue I at ech Inne
of Court, or Chauncerye:
Of Gentylmen, a youthfull roote,
full of Actiuytie:
For whom I store of Bookes haue left,
at each Bookebinders stall:
And parte of all that London hath
to furnish them withall.
And when they are with study cloyd:
to recreate theyr minde:
Of Tennis Courts, of dauncing Scooles,
and fence they store shal finde.
And euery Sonday at the least,
I leaue to make them sport.
[Page]In diuers places Players, that
of wonders shall reporte.
Now London haue I (for thy sake)
within thée, and without:
As coms into my memory,
disspearsed round about
Such needfull thinges, as they should haue
héere left now vnto thée:
When I am gon, with consience.
let them dispearced hee.
And though I nothing named haue,
to bury mae withall:
Consider that aboue the ground,
annoyance bee I shall.
And let me haue a shrowding Sheete
to couer mée from shame:
And in obliuyon bury mée
and neuer more mée name.
Ringings nor other Ceremonies,
vse you not for cost:
Nor at my buriall, make no feast,
your mony were but lost.
Reioyce in God that I am gon,
out of this vale to vile.
And that of ech thing, left such store,
as may your wants exile.
I make thée sole executor, because
I lou'de thée best.
And thée I put in trust, to geue
the goodes vnto the rest.
[Page]Because thou shalt a helper neede,
In this so great a chardge,
I wysh good Fortune, be thy guide, least
thou shouldst run at lardge.
The happy dayes and quiet times,
they both her Seruants bee.
Which well wyll serue to fetch and bring,
such things as néede to thée.
¶Wherfore (good London) not refuse,
for helper her to take:
Thus being weake and wery both
an end heere wyll I make.
To all that aske what end I made,
and how I went away:
Thou answer maist like those which héere,
no longer tary may.
And vnto all that wysh mée well,
or rue that I am gon:
Doo me comend, and bid them cease
my absence for to mone.
And tell them further, if they wolde,
my presence styll haue had:
They should haue sought to mend my luck;
which euer was too bad.
So fare thou well a thousand times,
God shéelde thée from thy foe:
And styll make thée victorious,
of those that séeke thy woe.
And (though I am perswade) that I
shall neuer more thée sée:
[Page]Yet to the
[...]not cease
to wish m
[...]o thée
This, xx. of O
[...]ober I,
in ANNO DOMIN
[...]
A Thousand: v. hundred
[...]
as Alminacks de
[...]
Did write this
[...]ne hand
and it to London gaue:
In witnes of the standers by,
whose names if you wyll haue
Paper, Pen and Standish were
at that same present by:
With Time, who promised to reueale,
so fast as she could by
[...]
The same: least of my
[...],
for anything should vary:
So finally I make an end
no longer can I tary.
¶FINIS. by
IS. VV.