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1

Poems by Sir John Salusbury, Robert Chester, and others

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Square brackets denote editorial insertions or emendations.

3

[Not to extoll your beautie, or sett forth]

Not to extoll your beautie, or sett forth
your plenteous graces, and your vertues woorth
my yonge Muse dares attempt: such higher skill
belonges vnto a farr more learned qwill:
I only in humble layes endevor here
to tell the loue I beare to you (my deare)
and to perswade therin your sweet consent;
“so farr affection makes me eloquent;
you knowe your owne desert; I need not tell it:
you knowe my loue; I cannot then conceale it.
When first vnto your all-comandinge eyes
I offred vp my self a sacrifice,
and in the inchantment of your sugred smyle
did myne owne sowle of liberty begwyle:
I found my self to barren of desert,
which to supply, I vow'd a constant heart
shold ever honor you with all respects;
“perfect goodwill makes perfect all defects:
this totall summe I tendred then to you,
and still you haue it; (for it is your due)
and still shall haue it whiles I liue; vnles
smooth-slydinge Thamisis haue back regresse,
from louely London, to the learned Towne:
or that the loftiest English mountayns crowne
be lowe avayled to a vally deepe.
But what avayles me that my vowes I keepe?
yf (as of late) you study to neglect,
and doe despise my dutyfull respect.
I must confesse your liberall grace to me,
outstript my merit; and did make me see
my self a debtor in my best habilitie.
But wherof shold arise your mutabilitie?
yf of my self; ô lett me see wherin,
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that I may dy for pennance of that sinne;
But yf of you; I thinke it wondrous strange,
so choyce a beauty shold delight in change:
the purest colour is a perfect one;
if it be mixt the beauty then is gone:
the lightest, bryghtest, tincture (well you wott)
paynted on whyte, appeares but as a spott.
But not of me, nor of your self (I knowe)
this sad dislike of late beginnes to growe,
But of an envie that from my good speed,
into an others base sowle doth proceede:
your mayde I meane; she (haply) doth invade you,
and with her sluttish reasons wold perswade you,
to change your mynd; yet you I knowe are wise,
to sift such malice out of false disguyse:
and neede not feare so vile a thinge as she
a blemish in your high repute can bee;
for yf you did you might prevent the ill;
“the absent eare will cause the tongue be still;
“the absent eye keepes knowledge from the mynd;
“she'es chast, that's chary; all the world is blynde
“in sable shadow of the silent night;
“all things discerned in the blabbinge light.
Is not your mayd (I pray) at your dispose?
you neede not doubt: for hence the comfort growes,
that when you please she must haue winges to fly;
“the cause remou'd th'effect of force must dye.
my Deare, your wisdome must your self direct,
to stopp fames mouth, and blynd the worlds suspect.
which in my Iudgement you can never doe,
as longe as such vile drosse shall censure you;
But vnto you I wholy do remitte
the sight herof, and what herin is fitt.
Your once, instantly, ever, J. S.
7

[Of late I went my dearest deare to trie her]
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The attribution of this poem is questionable.

Of late I went my dearest deare to trie her,
And found her sleeping, & then began to woe her,
And safelie stouping gentlie laid me by her
And still my mistress slept, but did not sleepe,
And then I tought my wanton eye to gaze
one head, on face, one feet, on legges on thighe
where sweet delight remaines, I sawe the place
and still my mistress sawe, but wold not see
And then I tought my toung to blaze my paine
and softlie whispering tould her in her eare
both of my loue and of her proud disdaine
and still my mistress hard but would not heare
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Then I tought mine armes her neck to foulde
and of a gentle kisse did her beguile
Soe kist and kist till kissing made me bould
and still my mistress smilde but wold not smile
And then I tought my Idle fingers woe
each comelie parte from head vnto the heele
where Cupid holdes his campe I touched toe
and still my mistress felt, but wold not feele
And then I tought my man to wantonnise
And in the boate of true delight to Roe
of true delights, not Idle fantasies
And still my mistress did, but wold not doe
But since she slepte & smilde & felt and did in deed
I wish I might be oftner soe beguild
Thoughe not in shoue
The substaunce I effect let shadowes goe.
Finis.

[Bewties delite geve place to this fayer starr]

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The initial letter of each of the first ten lines of this poem is emboldened, to spell Blanch Wynn.

Bewties delite geve place to this fayer starr
loocke still one her, hur eyes will geve yow light
Ammiabel she is hur lovely fame goes farre
number her vertues and behould her sight
Compare her then to any that is livinge
hur bewety with ther bewty wilbe strivinge
wine colored cheke tournd to a cherye red
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yeldes comfort to the eye that doth behould her
natur with hvr sweet bewty now is fedd
note but hur lyvely partes when you vnfould hur
And yow will saye that Venus shoud her coninge
And in hur face trve bewty sate a-soninge
Finis.
J. Salusburye made in marche 1598.
21

A Conceite.

ffowle pried it self breeds envy long
And is A poyson fresh and strong
And by experience it is knowne
To be as marrow in the bone
And those that grow of sundry seeds
At last do proue but stinking weeds
And if pure wheat be sowde in tares
The wheat Assuredly it mars.
finis
John Salusbury.
22

A Concete to the former.

A base bread haggard that my chaunce doth light
with the Imperious eagle in her flight
and gainst all nature in her nest doth breed
and with the eagles food his yong ons feed:
shall this great grace alter the buzards mind,
I it must be for kitt will after kind;
havinge no name but given by the nurse
in basenes borne and now by basenes worse
for having stole A name from gentry,
pried is his coate by lawfull heraldrie
base hawtie pried did soe his kindred blott,
that in this fortune he himselfe forgott:
but Joues great bird doth laffe this kight to scorne
to se how priede his basenes had oerborne
and pluck his winges he shall not mount so highe
but fall into the cave of beggarye.
finis
J. S.
27

[Faith needs noe foile; foiles helpe where faith doth neede]
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The attribution of this poem is questionable.

Faith needs noe foile; foiles helpe where faith doth neede
Pure white can grace it self self grace is best
What perfect is by aide wantes of perfection
for aide bewraies a want in that which needs it
and faith in words is a bare affection
as fire which is but fire when fuell feeds it,
yet most hould words and showes true meaninges measure
then faile I of meede since words faile me
but hold my faith sweet Sainct like hidden treasure
which is more ritch vnseene then what yow see
Soe is my faith but gracd, thoughe none haue knowne it
yf yow to whom I owe my faith will owne it.
Finis qd/
28

Certaine Necessary obseruations For Health

Jo. Salusbury 1603
Eschewe lewde lust yf thou be wise, hote spice and wines forbeare:
Fly su[r]feit, riot and excesse, and eke long sweating here.
Rawe frutes thy stomacke will annoy: beware of drinking late:
Long watching with disordred hours, will soone impaire thy state.
Impatience is noe frend to health, a fretting irefull moode:
Will stirre the vaines and hurt the braine, and soone infect the bloode.
Eate seldome of the salt and sower, the windy rootes eschewe:
The lemon and the coucumber will make thy stomack rewe.
The bale and bane of eies and sight is venus winde and fyre:
Oft looking downe doth hurt them much, cold water they desire.
To rubb, to combe, to stretch the armes, yf fasting that thou bee:
To body, head, and spleene also, are holesome thinges for thee.
Noone sleepes, much slouth, and sitting still, what breed they els but wo:
Who euer saw a slouthfull man a healthfull body shewe.
To ache, to goute, to stone, to reume, to palsey, pyles and all:
A lazie body by desert is subiect and most thrall.
Vse exercise then in measure and meane, yf sound thou wilt be still:
But after sweat beware of cold, for that will breede much ill.
Ware how thou sit or lie on ground, for that thy ioynts will lame:
The body drawes soone from the earth, that will corupt the same.
The early morning mountaine walkes, and eke the runing streames:
Refresh the wearied spirits of man, when Phebus shews his beames.
But ware at night when dewe is fallen, and sunne by course is set:
The noysome ayre ere thou beware, will soone thy corps infect.
Apohecaries shop of drugges let not thy stomack be:
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Nor vse noe phisick till thou neede, thy frende aduiseth thee.
Let seldome blood but when disease, or plurisies doo call:
But after fiftie yeares be past, ware bleed thou not at all
Obserue these rules and lessons well, keep neck and feete from cold:
So mayst thou liue by natures course, till yeares haue made thee old.
33

J. S. his amasement.

Griefe is the sea that ouerflowes my hart,
Droun'de by my thoughts, that doe procure my smart,
My thoughts, and griefes be waywarde Dearest Deare,
Because I misse thee, when I wish thee neare/
And that I rest vppon thy auntient Loue,
Which chainge of time, nor absense cannot moue,
But all thy thoughts of me (I feare) are flowne,
Because thow think'st I holde thee not mine owne/
Or else thy hart, and thoughts, wolde breake with paine,
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To think vppon the griefe that I sustaine/
Being such, as bearing in my trobled brest.
Olde auntient Loue: Nue griefes will neuer rest.
For thee my trust, my Life, my hart, my restles ioy
Is knowne, is pawn'd, is trobled with annoy.
Compare the cause of my much strainge estate/
And thow wil'te thinke I am vnfortunate.
And yt wolde make thy womanish breast to bleede,
With sobbs of sorowe, from fowle griefe not freede,
Which I in honest Loue will rather hide,
Then thow for me impatience sholdst abide/
And still be hardly thought of, and endure
Such plurall death of minde, which you procure/
Rather then you shall once your finger moue,
Or cause to ake: I will conceale my Loue:
Vntill the time my thoughts, and cares be free/
I cannot rest (my Sweet) but thinke on thee/
I wolde not wish my griefe (my Loue) be knowne,
Nor in the popular opemouth'de worlde be blowne/
That is the cause that makes my cariadge strainge
To thee thow think'st: and yet mine eye doth rainge
Sparcling out Loue fires, on thy Lillie brest
Wheare Philvmela builds her softe-down'de nest.
That auntient Loue to thee I haue profest.
Makes thee to thinke I hate thee with the rest.
Thoughe still I dote: and wolde not haue thee knowe yt
Till time, and place, doe serue for me to showe yt,
My head, my hart, mine eyes, my Lippes, my tounge,
Shall medytate thy praise, and singe a songe,
Of neuer dyinge Loue: set to the Lute
By great Apollo, making Venvs mute,
As blussing, for to heare thy bewties glorrie,
And vertues to bedecke my happy storye;
Sleeping, or waking, going, or sittinge still,
Seeing, hearing, tasting, feeling, speaking, shall fulfill,
And with this Concordant Pilgrim must agree
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Vntill the time that thoughts and I be free
All dismall death, all plunging plagues, all greeuous grones,
All gulphes of griefe, all woes, and piteous mones,
All anguish, and what else procureth paine
For thee I feele, and euer shall sustaine
All pleasures, pastimes, mirth, and luckye ioyes
All happy howres, and euer blessed daies,
Are gone, are fled, are vaded and are spente,
Vnlesse thy Crimson-colored hart relent;
And that my happes, my future hopes fulfill,
My hopes by happes mischaunce my hart will kill.
Soe hopes, and happes, and all shalbe deceaued,
Vnlesse by thee my sweete they be releaued./
Τελως
J. S.
36

[Delite doth nessell in her comelie face]

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The initial letter of each of the first fifteen lines of this poem is emboldened, to spell Dorothie Halsall.

Delite doth nessell in her comelie face
On heade or heare like radiant Phebus strange
Radiant eies that light the darkest place
O heavenlie eies such heare Evaddna twynes
Two Cheris fel in beaten swgwr white
Her cheekes of them the coller do reserve
In her sweete lippes; the taste of them are sweete
Eternall praise, fayer Cheekes sweet lippes deserve
Her naked necke as white as silver swanne
As silver swanne or rarest lilie flowre
Let silver byrd or lily flower wax wan
Such white is hers as ever shall endure
Appelles payntinge venus face and breaste
Lefte the other partes impolisd without arte
Lord all the world canot expresse the rest
of this sweete wighte sole solace of my harte
finis
J. S.

[Dame Venus deare youe Maye Rejoyce]

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This Poysie was presented In A Maske att Berine In Christmas the xxvijth oF Desember 1586: vnto Mris Katherin Thelloall, Beinge written In A Sheelde And Deliuerede by William Winne OF LLanver Esquier at the Mariage of Iohn Salisburye of LLeweny Esquier Her Sonne and heaire wth Vrsula Stanley Daughter vnto the righte Honorable Henrie Earle of Derbye And devisede by Roger Salisburye of bachegerige Esquier

Dame Venus deare youe Maye Rejoyce
at your Sonne Cupides happye Choyse
To hym as By the Gods Asseignde
For to delighte hys doulfull mynde &c.
37

[The Lyon Rampinge for his Praye]

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This other Poysie was prsentede in The former Maske in A Sheelde alsoe by Rog: Sal: of bach: esquier Vnto Vr: Sal: wyfe Vnto Mr Io: Sa: Afore saide And devised by the sayde Rog: Sal:

The Lyon Rampinge for his Praye
A princlye byrde hee dyd Assaye
and hauinge winges to flye at Will,
yet Caughte her faste & houlds hir still
Wth hyr to sporte as Lyckes them beste,
Thoughe Lions stoute vse not to jest
A thinge moste strange yet is ytt trewe,
God graunt them Joy and so Adewe.
Finies
Vrsula Salisburye 1592.

[Dames diamond: dame beautyes darling deare]

[_]

The initial letter of each of the first fourteen lines of this poem is emboldened, to spell Dorothy Halsall.

Dames diamond: dame beautyes darling deare
Onix of honour: voide of staynes deface
Ruby enrichd: with favours comely cheare
Ofspring of ould: renowmed nobele race
Type in thy tyme: of virtue gifftes and grace
High helicon: thy walke beseemeth well
Yeald nymphes your seate: goe otherwhere to dwell
Hymene hath: handfasted wedlocks knott
Adon to thee: mad scape from venus Lapp
Lykyng hath ledd: thy hand to drawe thy lott
Syth hymene: hath handed thee thy happ
And adon eke: portrayed lykinges mapp
Lynke harte to hand: and love to Like knytt fast
Live Long to Love: and Love while Lyf doth last
What goodwill frames no goodwill blames.
finis
38

[Dayne not to love where love ys freelye lent]

Dayne not to love where love ys freelye lent
Or yf goodwill by love be truly ment
Refuce not love that will not soone relent
Once lovd in hart will love and be content
Therby thy love maye grace thy sex and kynd
How that a woman beares a lovinge mynd
Yeld then to love and love be sure to fynd
Helena fayre and lucrece chast of cheare
Adoreth thee and seemely service sweare
Lavinia and penelope do heare
Suich fame of thee that they thy presens feare
And adon eke thy love and coupled make
Left venus bowre for thy sweete beautyes sake
Like love and live and so my leave I take.
no want of will but want of skyll
what love deviseth no love dyspyseth
finis:
Jo Salusburye 1593.
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