107.

[1]Caluerine. 1577.

[2]soule. 1577.

[3]proceeding. 1577.

[4]speede. 1577.

1O God thou glorious God, what god is like to thée?What life, what strength is like to thine, as al the world may see?The heauens, the earth, the seas, and all thy workes therein,Do shew (to who thou wouldst to know)[E481]what thou hast euerbin.2But all the thoughts of man, are bent to wretched euill,Man doth commit idolatrie bewitched of the Deuill.What euill is left vndone, where man may haue his will,Man euer was an hypocrite, and so continues still.What these 4 principal diuels do signifie.3What daily watch is made, the soule of man toslea,By Lucifer, by Belzabub, Mammon, and Asmodea?In diuelish pride, in wrath, in coueting too much,In fleshly lust the time is spent, the life of man is such.4The ioy that man hath here, is as a sparke of fier,His acts be like the smoldring smoke, himselfe like dirt andmier.His strength euen as a réede, his age much like a flower,Hisbrethor life is but a puffe, vncertaine eueriehower.[E482]5But for the holy Ghost, and for his giftes of grace,The death of Christ, thy mercie great, man were in wofull case.O graunt us therefore Lord, to amend that is amisse,And when from hence we do depart, to rest with thee in blisse.

2But all the thoughts of man, are bent to wretched euill,Man doth commit idolatrie bewitched of the Deuill.What euill is left vndone, where man may haue his will,Man euer was an hypocrite, and so continues still.

What these 4 principal diuels do signifie.

3What daily watch is made, the soule of man toslea,By Lucifer, by Belzabub, Mammon, and Asmodea?In diuelish pride, in wrath, in coueting too much,In fleshly lust the time is spent, the life of man is such.

4The ioy that man hath here, is as a sparke of fier,His acts be like the smoldring smoke, himselfe like dirt andmier.His strength euen as a réede, his age much like a flower,Hisbrethor life is but a puffe, vncertaine eueriehower.[E482]

5But for the holy Ghost, and for his giftes of grace,The death of Christ, thy mercie great, man were in wofull case.O graunt us therefore Lord, to amend that is amisse,And when from hence we do depart, to rest with thee in blisse.

[1]For onely loue to God, more Christian like to liue,And for a zeale to helpe the poore, thine almes daily giue.Let gift no glorie looke,[E483]nor euill possesse thy minde:And for a truth these profites thrée, through almes shalt thou finde.[2]1 First here the holy Ghost shall daily through his grace,Prouoke[E484]thée to repentant life, Gods mercie to embrace.2 Of goods and friends (by death) when thou thy leaue must take,Thine almes déedes shall claspe thy soule, and neuer it forsake.[3]3 When God shall after death, call soone for thine account,thine alms then through faith in Christ, shal al things els surmount.But yet for any déede, put thou no trust therein,but put thy trust in God (through Christ) to pardon thée thy sin.[4]For else as cackling hen with noisebewraieshir nest,Euen so go thou andblazethy déeds, and lose thou all the rest.

[2]1 First here the holy Ghost shall daily through his grace,Prouoke[E484]thée to repentant life, Gods mercie to embrace.

2 Of goods and friends (by death) when thou thy leaue must take,Thine almes déedes shall claspe thy soule, and neuer it forsake.

[3]3 When God shall after death, call soone for thine account,thine alms then through faith in Christ, shal al things els surmount.But yet for any déede, put thou no trust therein,but put thy trust in God (through Christ) to pardon thée thy sin.

[4]For else as cackling hen with noisebewraieshir nest,Euen so go thou andblazethy déeds, and lose thou all the rest.

Of naughtie man, I read, two sundrie things are ment,The ton is man, the other naught, which ought him to repent.The man we ought to loue, bicause of much therein,The euill in him we ought to hate, euen as a filthie sin.So doth thy daily sinnes the heauenly Lord offend,But when thou dost repent the same, his wrath is at an end.

Since first the world began, there was and shall be still,Of humane kind two sundrie sorts,thongood andthotherill:Which till the iudgement day, shall here togither dwell,But then the good shall vp to heauen, the bad shall downe to hell.

Diabolo cùm resistitur, est vt formica: Cùmverò eius suggestio recipitur, fortis est vt leo.

When Sathan we resist, aPismiershall he be,But when we séeme to giue him place, a Lion then is he.

1Cur mundus militat, sub vana gloria,Cuius prosperitas, est transitoria?Tam citò labitur, eius potentia,Quàm vasa figuli, quæ sunt fragilia?1Why[2]so triumphes the world, in pompe and glorie vaine,Whose state so happie thought, so fickle[3]doth remaine?Whose brauerie slipprie stands, and doth so soone decaie,As doth the potters pan,compactof brittle claie?2Plus crede literis, scriptis in glacie,Quàm mundi fragilis, vanæ fallaciæ,Fallax in præmijs, virtutis specie,Quæ nunquam habuit tempus fiduciæ.2More credite sée thou giue, to letters wrote inise,Than vnto vaine deceits, of brittle worlds deuise.In gifts to vertue due, beguiling many one,Yet those same neuer haue long time to hope vpon.3Magis credendum est, viris fallacibus,Quàm mundi miseris prosperitatibus,Falsis insanijs et voluptatibus,Falsis quoque studijs et vanitatibus.3To false dissembling men more trust is to be had,Than to the prosperous state of wretched world so bad:What with voluptuousnes, and other maddish toies,False studies won with paine, false vanities and ioies.4Dic vbi Salomon, olim tam nobilis?Vel vbi Samson est, dux invincibilis?Vel dulcis Ionathas, multùm amabilis?Vel pulcher Absolon, vultu mirabilis?4Tell where isSalomon, that once so noble was?Or where nowSamsonis, in strength whome none could pas?Or woorthieIonathas, that prince so louely bold?Or faierAbsolon, so goodlie to behold?5Quò Cæsar abijt, celsus imperio?Vel Diues splendidus, totus in prandio?Dic vbi Tullius, clarus eloquio?Vel Aristoteles, summus ingenio?5Shew whither isCesargone, which conquered far and néere?Or that rich famousCarle,[E486]so giuen to bellie chéere:Shew where isTullienow, for eloquence so fit?OrAristoteles, of such a pregnant wit?6O esca vermium! ô massa pulueris!O ros! ô vanitas! cùr sic extolleris,Ignoras penitùs vtrùm cras vixeris,Fac bonum omnibus, quàm diu poteris.6O thou fit bait for wormes![E487]O thou great heape of dust!O dewe! O vanitie! why soextolstthy lust?Thou therefore ignorant, what time thou hast to liue,Doe good to erie man, while here thou hast to giue.7Quàm breue festum est, hæc mundi gloria?Vt umbra hominis, sic eius gaudia,Quæ semper subtrahit, æterna præmia,Et ducunt hominem, ad dura deuia.7How short a feast (to count) is this same worlds renowne?Such as mens shadowes be, such ioies it brings to towne.Which alway plucketh vs from Gods eternall blis:And leadeth man to hell, a iust reward of his.8Hæc mundi gloria, quæ magni penditur,Sacris in literis, flos fæni dicitur,Vt leue folium, quod vento rapitur,Sic vita hominum, hac vita tollitur.8The brauerie of this world, estéemed here so much,In Scripture likened is, to flowre of grasse and such:Like as the leafe so light, through winde abrode is blowne,So life in this our life, full soone is ouerthrowne.[4]

1Cur mundus militat, sub vana gloria,Cuius prosperitas, est transitoria?Tam citò labitur, eius potentia,Quàm vasa figuli, quæ sunt fragilia?

1Why[2]so triumphes the world, in pompe and glorie vaine,Whose state so happie thought, so fickle[3]doth remaine?Whose brauerie slipprie stands, and doth so soone decaie,As doth the potters pan,compactof brittle claie?

2Plus crede literis, scriptis in glacie,Quàm mundi fragilis, vanæ fallaciæ,Fallax in præmijs, virtutis specie,Quæ nunquam habuit tempus fiduciæ.

2More credite sée thou giue, to letters wrote inise,Than vnto vaine deceits, of brittle worlds deuise.In gifts to vertue due, beguiling many one,Yet those same neuer haue long time to hope vpon.

3Magis credendum est, viris fallacibus,Quàm mundi miseris prosperitatibus,Falsis insanijs et voluptatibus,Falsis quoque studijs et vanitatibus.

3To false dissembling men more trust is to be had,Than to the prosperous state of wretched world so bad:What with voluptuousnes, and other maddish toies,False studies won with paine, false vanities and ioies.

4Dic vbi Salomon, olim tam nobilis?Vel vbi Samson est, dux invincibilis?Vel dulcis Ionathas, multùm amabilis?Vel pulcher Absolon, vultu mirabilis?

4Tell where isSalomon, that once so noble was?Or where nowSamsonis, in strength whome none could pas?Or woorthieIonathas, that prince so louely bold?Or faierAbsolon, so goodlie to behold?

5Quò Cæsar abijt, celsus imperio?Vel Diues splendidus, totus in prandio?Dic vbi Tullius, clarus eloquio?Vel Aristoteles, summus ingenio?

5Shew whither isCesargone, which conquered far and néere?Or that rich famousCarle,[E486]so giuen to bellie chéere:Shew where isTullienow, for eloquence so fit?OrAristoteles, of such a pregnant wit?

6O esca vermium! ô massa pulueris!O ros! ô vanitas! cùr sic extolleris,Ignoras penitùs vtrùm cras vixeris,Fac bonum omnibus, quàm diu poteris.

6O thou fit bait for wormes![E487]O thou great heape of dust!O dewe! O vanitie! why soextolstthy lust?Thou therefore ignorant, what time thou hast to liue,Doe good to erie man, while here thou hast to giue.

7Quàm breue festum est, hæc mundi gloria?Vt umbra hominis, sic eius gaudia,Quæ semper subtrahit, æterna præmia,Et ducunt hominem, ad dura deuia.

7How short a feast (to count) is this same worlds renowne?Such as mens shadowes be, such ioies it brings to towne.Which alway plucketh vs from Gods eternall blis:And leadeth man to hell, a iust reward of his.

8Hæc mundi gloria, quæ magni penditur,Sacris in literis, flos fæni dicitur,Vt leue folium, quod vento rapitur,Sic vita hominum, hac vita tollitur.

8The brauerie of this world, estéemed here so much,In Scripture likened is, to flowre of grasse and such:Like as the leafe so light, through winde abrode is blowne,So life in this our life, full soone is ouerthrowne.[4]

[1]"These eight verses of St. Bernard seem to have been extremely popular at one period.... In the 'Paradise of Dainty Devices,' first printed in 1576, we find translations of the same words" (Mason).

[2]Who. 1577.

[3]unsteady. 1577.

[4].... which wind abrod doth blowe,So doth this worldly life, the life of man bestow. 1577.

[4]

.... which wind abrod doth blowe,So doth this worldly life, the life of man bestow. 1577.

1Muse not my friend to finde me here,For fortunes looke,[E488]Contented with this meane estate:Hath changedhew:And séeme to doo with willing chéere,And I my booke,That courtier doth so deadly hate.Must learne anew.2And yet of force, to learne anew,But where a spight,Would much abash the dulled braine:Of force must bée:I craue to iudge if this betrew,What is that wight,The truant child that knowth the paine.May disagrée?3No, no, God wot, to disagrée,Forlordliebent,Is ventring all to make or mar:Must learne tospare:If fortune frowne we dailie sée,And be contentIt is not best to striue too far.With countrie fare.4From daintie Court to countrie fare,Where néede yet can,Too daintie fed[E489]is diet strange:None other skill:From cities ioy, to countrie care,Somtime poore manToskillessefolke is homelie change.Must breake his will.5If courtlie change so breaketh willIf court with cartThat countrie life must serue the turne:Must be content,[E490]What profit then in striuing still,What ease to hart,Against the prick to séeme to spurne?Though mind repent?6What gaine I though I doo repent,As néede doth makeMy crotches[2]all are broke and gon:Old age to trot:My woonted friends are careles bent,So must I take,They feare no chance I chance vpon.In woorth my lot.7Now if I take inwoorthmy lot,Behold the horseThat fatall chance doth force me to,Must trudge for pelfe,If ye be friendsembraid[3]me not,And yet of forse,But vse a friend as friends should do.Content it selfe.

[1]"In the edition of 1573 this piece is entitled 'Of the Author's departing from the Court to the Country,' and the verses are printed consecutively—four long lines and then four short lines."—M. So, in 1577.

[2]chrotches. 1577.

[3]upbraid. 1614.

Epodium.1Now gentle friend, if thou be kinde,Disdaine thou not, although the lotWill now with me no better be,than doth appere:Nor let it grieue, that thus I liue,But rathergesse, for quietnesse,As others do, so do I to,content me here.2By leaue and loue, of God aboue,I minde to shew, in verses few,How through thebreers, my youthfull yeeres,haue runne their race:And further say, why thus I stay,And minde to liue, as Bee in hiue,Full bent to spend my life to an end,in this same place.[2]Borne at Riuenhall in Essex.3It came to pas, that borne I wasOflinagegood, of gentle blood,In Essex laier, in village faier,that Riuenhallhight:Which villagelideby Banketree side,There spend did I mine infancie,There then my name, in honest fame,remaind in sight.Set to song schoole.4I yet but yong, no speech of tong,Nor teares withall, that often fallFrom motherseies, when childe out cries,to part hir fro:Could pitie make, good father take,But out I must, to song be thrust,Say what I would, do what I could,his minde was so.Queristers miserie.Wallingford Colledge.5O painfull time, for euerie crime,Whattoesedeares,[E491]like baited beares!Whatbobbedlips, what ierks, whatnips!what hellish toies!What robes,[E492]how bare! what colledge fare!What bread, how stale! what pennie Ale![E493]Then Wallingford, howwartthou abhordof sillie boies!Singing mens commissions.6Thence for my voice, I must (no choice)Away of forse, like posting horse,For sundrie men, hadplagardsthen,[E494]such childe to take:The betterbrest,[3][E495]the lesser rest,To serue theQueere, now there now heereFor time so spent, I may repent,and sorrow make.Iohn Redford an excellent Musician [organist of St. Paul's. M.].7But marke the chance, my self tovance,By friendships lot, to Paules I got,So found I grace, a certaine space,still to remaine:With Redford there, the like no where,For cunning such, and vertue much,By whom some part of Musicke art,so did I gaine.Nicholas Vdall[E496]schoolmaster at Eton.8From Paules I went, to Eaton sent,To learnstreight waies, the latinphraies,Where fiftie three stripes giuen to mee,at once I had:For fault but small, or none at all,It came to pas, thus beat I was,See Udall see, the mercie of thee,to me poore lad.Trinitie hall in Cambridge.9From London hence, to Cambridge thence,With thanks to thee, O Trinitee,That to thy hall, so passing all,[4]I got at last:There ioy I felt, there trim I dwelt,There heauen from hell, I shifted well,With learned men, a number then,the time I past.Quartan ague.Lord Paget good to his seruants.10Long sicknes had, then was I gladTo leaue my booke, to proue and looke,In Court what gaine, by taking paine,mought well be found:Lord Paget than, that noble man,Whose soule I trust is with the iust,That same was hee enriched mee,with many a pound.The hope we haue of the dead.11When[5]this betide, good parentsdide,One after one, till both were gone,Whosepetigree, who list may see,inHarolds Booke:[E497]Whose soules in blis be long ere this,For hope we must, as God is iust,So here that craue shall mercie haue,that mercie looke.The vices of the Court.12By Court I spide, and ten yeres trideThat Cards and Dice, with Venus vice,And peeuish pride, from vertue wide,with some so wraught:That Tiburne play[E498]made them away,Or beggers state as euill to hate,By such like euils, I saw suchdreuils,to come to naught.The Court commended.13Yet is it not to be forgot,In Court that some to worship come,And some in time to honour clime,and speede full well:Some haue such gift, that trim they shift,Some profite make, by paines they take,In perill much, though oft are such,in Court that dwell.The nobilitie at variance in Edward the 6 daies.Katewade.14When court gan frowne and strife in towne,And lords and knights, saw heauie sights,Then tooke I wife, and led my lifein Suffolke soile.There was I faine my selfe to traine,To learne too long the fermers song,For hope of pelfe, like worldlyelfe,to moile and toile.At Katewade in Suffolke this booke first deuised.15As in this booke, who list to looke,Of husbandrie, and huswiferie,There may he finde more of my minde,concerning this:Tocarke[6]and care, and euer bare,With losse and paine, to little gaine,All this to haue, tocramsir knaue,what life it is.Ipswich commended.16When wife could not, through sicknesgot,More toile abide, so nigh Sea side,Then thought I best, from toile to rest,and Ipswich trie:A towne ofprice,[E499]like paradice,For quiet then, and honest men,There was I glad, much friendship had,a time to lie.The deth of his first wife.17There left good wife this present life,And there left I, house charges lie,For glad was he, mought send for me,good lucke so stood:In Suffolke there, were euerie where,Euen of the best, besides the rest,That neuer did their friendship hid,to doo me good.Newe maried in Norfolk.18O Suffolke thow, content thee now,That hadst thepraiesin those same daies,For Squiers and Knights, that well delightsgood house to keepe:ForNorfolke wiles, so full ofgiles,[E500]Haue caught my toe, by wiuing so,That out to thee, I see for mee,no waie to creepe.Mistres Amie Moone.19For lo, through gile, what haps the while,Through Venus toies, in hope of ioies,I chanced soone to find a Moone,[7]of cheerfull hew:Whichwell a fineme thought did shine,Did neuer change, a thing most strange,Yet kept in sight, hir course aright,and compas trew.The charges following a yoong wife.20Behold of truth, with wife in youth,For ioie at large, what daily charge,Through childrens hap, what openedgap,to more begun.The childe at nurse, to rob the purse,The same to wed, to trouble hed.For pleasure rare, such endlesse care,hath husband wun.West Diram Abbie.Land-lordes at variance.21Then did I dwell in Diramsell,[E501]A place for wood, that trimlie stood,With flesh and fish, as heart would wish:but when I spideThat Lord with Lord could not accord,But nowpoundhe, and now pound we,Then left I all, bicause such brall,I list not bide.Sir Richard Soothwell.22O Soothwell, what meanst thou by that,Thou worthie wight, thou famous knight,So me to craue, and to thy graue,go by and by?O death thou fo, why didst thou soUngently treat that Iewell great,Whichoptehis doore to rich and poore,so bounteously?His vij executors.23There thusbestad, when leaue I had,By death of him, to sinke or swim,And rauens I saw togither draw,in such a sort:Then waies I saught, by wisdome taught,To beare lowsaile, least stock should quaile,Till ship mought finde, with prosperous winde,some safer port.Norwich Citie.Norwich qualities.24At length byvew, to shore I drew,Discharging straight both ship andfraight,At Norwich fine, for me and mine,a citie trim:Where strangers wel may seeme to dwel,Thatpitch and pay, or keepe their day,But who that want, shall find itscantso good for him.Maister Salisburie deane of Norwich.25But Salisburie how were kept my vow,If praise from thee were kept by mee,Thou gentle deane, mine onelymeane,there then to liue?Though churles such some to craue can come,Andprayonce got, regard thee not,Yet liue or die, so will not I,example giue.In 138 houres I neuer made drop of water.26When learned men could there nor then,Deuise toswagethe stormie rage,Nor yet the furie of mydissurie,that long I had:From Norwich aire, in great despaire,Away to flie, or else to die,To seeke more helth, to seeke more welth,then was I glad.Faiersted parsonage in Essex.27From thence so sent, away I went,With sicknes worne, as one forlorne,To house my hed, at Faiersted,[E502]where whiles I dwelt:The tithing life, the tithing strife,Through tithing ill, of Jacke and Gill,The dailie paies, themieriewaies,too long I felt.Lease for parsons life.28When charges grew, still new and new,And that I spide, if parson dide,(All hope in vaine) to hope for gaine,I might go daunce:Once rid my hand of parsonage land,Thence by and by, away went I,To London streight, to hope and waight,for better chaunce.London commended.29Well London well, that bearst the bellOf praise about, England throughout,And dost in deede, to such as neede,much kindnes shew:Who that with thee can hardly agree,Nor can well prais thy friendly wais,Shall friendship find, to please his mind,in places few.Vnthrifts order.30As for suchmates, as vertue hates,Or he or thay, that go so gay,That needes he must take all of trust,for him and his:Though such for we by Lothburie go,For being spide about Cheapeside,Least Mercers bookes for monie lookes,small matter it is.The plague at London [1574, 1575].[E503]Trinitie College in Cambridge.31When gaines was gon, and yeres grew on,And death did crie, from London flie,In Cambridge then, I found agen,a resting plot:In Colledge best of all the rest,With thanks to thee, O Trinitee,[8]Through thee and thine, for me and mine,somestayI got.Youth ill spent makes age repent.32[E504]Since hap haps so, let toiling go,Let seruing paines yeeld forth hir gaines,Let courtly giftes, with wedding shiftes,helpe now to liue:Let Musicke win, let stocke come in,Let wisedomekerue, let reason serue,For here I craue such end to haue,as God shall giue.A lesson for yonger brothers.33Thus friends, by me perceiue may ye,Thatgentriestandes, not all by landes,[E505]Nor all sofeft, or plentie leftby parents gift:But now and then, of gentlemen,The yonger sonne is driuen to ronne,And glad to seeke from creeke to creeke,to come by thrift.A true lesson.34And more by this, toconsteris,In world is set, ynough to get,But where and whan, that scarsely can,the wisest tell:By learning some to riches come,By ship and plough some get ynough,And some so wiue that trim they thriue,and speede full well.Hardnes in youth not the worst.Cocking of youth not the best.35To this before, adde one thing more,Youth hardnes taught, with knowledgewraught,Most apt do prooue, to shift and shooue,among the best:Where cocking Dads[E506]makesawsielads,In youth sorage, to beg in age,Or else to fetch aTibourne stretch,among the rest.Not pride in youth, but welth in age needfull.36Not rampish toie, of girle and boie,Nor garment trim, of hir or him,[E507]In childhoode spent, to fond intent,good end doth frame:If marke we shall, the summe of all,The end it is, that noted is,Which if it bide, with vertue tride,deserueth fame.Man doth labour and God doth blesse.37When all is done, lerne this my sonne,Not friend, nor skill, nor wit at will,Nor ship norclod, but onelie God,doth all in all:Man taketh paine, God giueth gaine,Man doth his best, God doth the rest,Man well intendes, Godfoizonsendes,else want he shall.[E508]A contented minde is worth all.38Some seeke for welth, I seeke my helth,Some seeke to please, I seeke mine ease,Some seeke to saue, I seeke to haueto liue vpright:More than to ride, with pompe and pride,Or for toiet,[9][E509]in othersdet,Such is myskill, and shall be still,for any wight.39Too fond were I, here thus to lie,Unles that welth mought further helth,And profit some should thereby come,to helpe withall:This causeth mee well pleasde to bee,Suchdriftto make, such life to take,Enforsing minde remorse to finde,as neede neede shall.Happie that liues well, vnhappie dies euill.40Friend, al thingwaid, that here is said,And being got, that paies theshot,Me thinke of right haue leaue I might,(death drawing neere:)To seeke some waies, my God to praies,And mercy craue, in time to haue,And for the rest, what he thinkes best,to suffer heere.

Epodium.

1Now gentle friend, if thou be kinde,Disdaine thou not, although the lotWill now with me no better be,than doth appere:Nor let it grieue, that thus I liue,But rathergesse, for quietnesse,As others do, so do I to,content me here.

2By leaue and loue, of God aboue,I minde to shew, in verses few,How through thebreers, my youthfull yeeres,haue runne their race:And further say, why thus I stay,And minde to liue, as Bee in hiue,Full bent to spend my life to an end,in this same place.[2]

Borne at Riuenhall in Essex.

3It came to pas, that borne I wasOflinagegood, of gentle blood,In Essex laier, in village faier,that Riuenhallhight:Which villagelideby Banketree side,There spend did I mine infancie,There then my name, in honest fame,remaind in sight.

Set to song schoole.

4I yet but yong, no speech of tong,Nor teares withall, that often fallFrom motherseies, when childe out cries,to part hir fro:Could pitie make, good father take,But out I must, to song be thrust,Say what I would, do what I could,his minde was so.

Queristers miserie.Wallingford Colledge.

Queristers miserie.

Wallingford Colledge.

5O painfull time, for euerie crime,Whattoesedeares,[E491]like baited beares!Whatbobbedlips, what ierks, whatnips!what hellish toies!What robes,[E492]how bare! what colledge fare!What bread, how stale! what pennie Ale![E493]Then Wallingford, howwartthou abhordof sillie boies!

Singing mens commissions.

6Thence for my voice, I must (no choice)Away of forse, like posting horse,For sundrie men, hadplagardsthen,[E494]such childe to take:The betterbrest,[3][E495]the lesser rest,To serue theQueere, now there now heereFor time so spent, I may repent,and sorrow make.

Iohn Redford an excellent Musician [organist of St. Paul's. M.].

7But marke the chance, my self tovance,By friendships lot, to Paules I got,So found I grace, a certaine space,still to remaine:With Redford there, the like no where,For cunning such, and vertue much,By whom some part of Musicke art,so did I gaine.

Nicholas Vdall[E496]schoolmaster at Eton.

8From Paules I went, to Eaton sent,To learnstreight waies, the latinphraies,Where fiftie three stripes giuen to mee,at once I had:For fault but small, or none at all,It came to pas, thus beat I was,See Udall see, the mercie of thee,to me poore lad.

Trinitie hall in Cambridge.

9From London hence, to Cambridge thence,With thanks to thee, O Trinitee,That to thy hall, so passing all,[4]I got at last:There ioy I felt, there trim I dwelt,There heauen from hell, I shifted well,With learned men, a number then,the time I past.

Quartan ague.Lord Paget good to his seruants.

Quartan ague.

Lord Paget good to his seruants.

10Long sicknes had, then was I gladTo leaue my booke, to proue and looke,In Court what gaine, by taking paine,mought well be found:Lord Paget than, that noble man,Whose soule I trust is with the iust,That same was hee enriched mee,with many a pound.

The hope we haue of the dead.

11When[5]this betide, good parentsdide,One after one, till both were gone,Whosepetigree, who list may see,inHarolds Booke:[E497]Whose soules in blis be long ere this,For hope we must, as God is iust,So here that craue shall mercie haue,that mercie looke.

The vices of the Court.

12By Court I spide, and ten yeres trideThat Cards and Dice, with Venus vice,And peeuish pride, from vertue wide,with some so wraught:That Tiburne play[E498]made them away,Or beggers state as euill to hate,By such like euils, I saw suchdreuils,to come to naught.

The Court commended.

13Yet is it not to be forgot,In Court that some to worship come,And some in time to honour clime,and speede full well:Some haue such gift, that trim they shift,Some profite make, by paines they take,In perill much, though oft are such,in Court that dwell.

The nobilitie at variance in Edward the 6 daies.

Katewade.

14When court gan frowne and strife in towne,And lords and knights, saw heauie sights,Then tooke I wife, and led my lifein Suffolke soile.There was I faine my selfe to traine,To learne too long the fermers song,For hope of pelfe, like worldlyelfe,to moile and toile.

At Katewade in Suffolke this booke first deuised.

15As in this booke, who list to looke,Of husbandrie, and huswiferie,There may he finde more of my minde,concerning this:Tocarke[6]and care, and euer bare,With losse and paine, to little gaine,All this to haue, tocramsir knaue,what life it is.

Ipswich commended.

16When wife could not, through sicknesgot,More toile abide, so nigh Sea side,Then thought I best, from toile to rest,and Ipswich trie:A towne ofprice,[E499]like paradice,For quiet then, and honest men,There was I glad, much friendship had,a time to lie.

The deth of his first wife.

17There left good wife this present life,And there left I, house charges lie,For glad was he, mought send for me,good lucke so stood:In Suffolke there, were euerie where,Euen of the best, besides the rest,That neuer did their friendship hid,to doo me good.

Newe maried in Norfolk.

18O Suffolke thow, content thee now,That hadst thepraiesin those same daies,For Squiers and Knights, that well delightsgood house to keepe:ForNorfolke wiles, so full ofgiles,[E500]Haue caught my toe, by wiuing so,That out to thee, I see for mee,no waie to creepe.

Mistres Amie Moone.

19For lo, through gile, what haps the while,Through Venus toies, in hope of ioies,I chanced soone to find a Moone,[7]of cheerfull hew:Whichwell a fineme thought did shine,Did neuer change, a thing most strange,Yet kept in sight, hir course aright,and compas trew.

The charges following a yoong wife.

20Behold of truth, with wife in youth,For ioie at large, what daily charge,Through childrens hap, what openedgap,to more begun.The childe at nurse, to rob the purse,The same to wed, to trouble hed.For pleasure rare, such endlesse care,hath husband wun.

West Diram Abbie.Land-lordes at variance.

West Diram Abbie.

Land-lordes at variance.

21Then did I dwell in Diramsell,[E501]A place for wood, that trimlie stood,With flesh and fish, as heart would wish:but when I spideThat Lord with Lord could not accord,But nowpoundhe, and now pound we,Then left I all, bicause such brall,I list not bide.

Sir Richard Soothwell.

22O Soothwell, what meanst thou by that,Thou worthie wight, thou famous knight,So me to craue, and to thy graue,go by and by?O death thou fo, why didst thou soUngently treat that Iewell great,Whichoptehis doore to rich and poore,so bounteously?

His vij executors.

23There thusbestad, when leaue I had,By death of him, to sinke or swim,And rauens I saw togither draw,in such a sort:Then waies I saught, by wisdome taught,To beare lowsaile, least stock should quaile,Till ship mought finde, with prosperous winde,some safer port.

Norwich Citie.Norwich qualities.

Norwich Citie.

Norwich qualities.

24At length byvew, to shore I drew,Discharging straight both ship andfraight,At Norwich fine, for me and mine,a citie trim:Where strangers wel may seeme to dwel,Thatpitch and pay, or keepe their day,But who that want, shall find itscantso good for him.

Maister Salisburie deane of Norwich.

25But Salisburie how were kept my vow,If praise from thee were kept by mee,Thou gentle deane, mine onelymeane,there then to liue?Though churles such some to craue can come,Andprayonce got, regard thee not,Yet liue or die, so will not I,example giue.

In 138 houres I neuer made drop of water.

26When learned men could there nor then,Deuise toswagethe stormie rage,Nor yet the furie of mydissurie,that long I had:From Norwich aire, in great despaire,Away to flie, or else to die,To seeke more helth, to seeke more welth,then was I glad.

Faiersted parsonage in Essex.

27From thence so sent, away I went,With sicknes worne, as one forlorne,To house my hed, at Faiersted,[E502]where whiles I dwelt:The tithing life, the tithing strife,Through tithing ill, of Jacke and Gill,The dailie paies, themieriewaies,too long I felt.

Lease for parsons life.

28When charges grew, still new and new,And that I spide, if parson dide,(All hope in vaine) to hope for gaine,I might go daunce:Once rid my hand of parsonage land,Thence by and by, away went I,To London streight, to hope and waight,for better chaunce.

London commended.

29Well London well, that bearst the bellOf praise about, England throughout,And dost in deede, to such as neede,much kindnes shew:Who that with thee can hardly agree,Nor can well prais thy friendly wais,Shall friendship find, to please his mind,in places few.

Vnthrifts order.

30As for suchmates, as vertue hates,Or he or thay, that go so gay,That needes he must take all of trust,for him and his:Though such for we by Lothburie go,For being spide about Cheapeside,Least Mercers bookes for monie lookes,small matter it is.

The plague at London [1574, 1575].[E503]Trinitie College in Cambridge.

The plague at London [1574, 1575].[E503]

Trinitie College in Cambridge.

31When gaines was gon, and yeres grew on,And death did crie, from London flie,In Cambridge then, I found agen,a resting plot:In Colledge best of all the rest,With thanks to thee, O Trinitee,[8]Through thee and thine, for me and mine,somestayI got.

Youth ill spent makes age repent.

32[E504]Since hap haps so, let toiling go,Let seruing paines yeeld forth hir gaines,Let courtly giftes, with wedding shiftes,helpe now to liue:Let Musicke win, let stocke come in,Let wisedomekerue, let reason serue,For here I craue such end to haue,as God shall giue.

A lesson for yonger brothers.

33Thus friends, by me perceiue may ye,Thatgentriestandes, not all by landes,[E505]Nor all sofeft, or plentie leftby parents gift:But now and then, of gentlemen,The yonger sonne is driuen to ronne,And glad to seeke from creeke to creeke,to come by thrift.

A true lesson.

34And more by this, toconsteris,In world is set, ynough to get,But where and whan, that scarsely can,the wisest tell:By learning some to riches come,By ship and plough some get ynough,And some so wiue that trim they thriue,and speede full well.

Hardnes in youth not the worst.Cocking of youth not the best.

Hardnes in youth not the worst.

Cocking of youth not the best.

35To this before, adde one thing more,Youth hardnes taught, with knowledgewraught,Most apt do prooue, to shift and shooue,among the best:Where cocking Dads[E506]makesawsielads,In youth sorage, to beg in age,Or else to fetch aTibourne stretch,among the rest.

Not pride in youth, but welth in age needfull.

36Not rampish toie, of girle and boie,Nor garment trim, of hir or him,[E507]In childhoode spent, to fond intent,good end doth frame:If marke we shall, the summe of all,The end it is, that noted is,Which if it bide, with vertue tride,deserueth fame.

Man doth labour and God doth blesse.

37When all is done, lerne this my sonne,Not friend, nor skill, nor wit at will,Nor ship norclod, but onelie God,doth all in all:Man taketh paine, God giueth gaine,Man doth his best, God doth the rest,Man well intendes, Godfoizonsendes,else want he shall.[E508]

A contented minde is worth all.

38Some seeke for welth, I seeke my helth,Some seeke to please, I seeke mine ease,Some seeke to saue, I seeke to haueto liue vpright:More than to ride, with pompe and pride,Or for toiet,[9][E509]in othersdet,Such is myskill, and shall be still,for any wight.

39Too fond were I, here thus to lie,Unles that welth mought further helth,And profit some should thereby come,to helpe withall:This causeth mee well pleasde to bee,Suchdriftto make, such life to take,Enforsing minde remorse to finde,as neede neede shall.

Happie that liues well, vnhappie dies euill.

40Friend, al thingwaid, that here is said,And being got, that paies theshot,Me thinke of right haue leaue I might,(death drawing neere:)To seeke some waies, my God to praies,And mercy craue, in time to haue,And for the rest, what he thinkes best,to suffer heere.

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