University of Virginia Library

TRIFLES BY TIMOTHE KENDAL deuised and written (for the moste part) at sundrie tymes in his yong and tender age.

THE AVTHOR TO HIS Pamphlets and Trifles.

Borbon in France beares bell awaie,
for writyng trifles there:
In Englande Parkhurst praysed is,
for writyng trifles here.
Now sith that these were learned bothe,
and trifles did indite:
Shall I now shame, of youthfull daies,
my triflyng toyes to write?
No sure I blushe not: hence my booke,
let all men read thy verse:
Graue men graue matters, sportfull youth
must sportfull toyes rehearse.
Now reader lense thy listnyng eare,
and after syngyng Larke:
Content thy self of chattyng Crowe,
some homely notes to marke.

The Author to hymself.

T To serue thy God, thy Prince, thy soile,
endeuour all thy life:
I In peace delight: seke still to staie,
the stormes of sturdie strife.
M Make muche of Modestie: be meke:
take heede to clime to hye:
O Offende not one: be true in harte:
all filthy flattery flie.
T Take tyme in tyme: tēper thy tongue:
from filthy talke refraine:
H Helpe haplesse men: & hope for heauen:
by pacience conquer paine:
E Eate so to liue, liue so to die,
die so to liue againe.
K Kepe Counsell close: be fast to frende:
and alwaies knowe thy self:
E Esteme thou lastyng heauenly ioyes:
passe not for worldly pelfe.
N Naught tell, that close thou wouldst haue kept.
greate guile in men doeth lurke:
D Delight not to deceiue by craft,
go plainly still to woorke.
A Abandon vice, let vertue guide:
vile sloth eschue and shun.
L Learne stil to knowe, & knowe to liue,
and liue to praise the Sonne.
L Liue in the Lorde: so shalt thou liue
at last when all is doon.

A Comparison betwene Christ and the Pope.

To rule & raigne in pompous Pride,
nought cared Christ at all:
The Pope by wiles and wicked war
subdues both great and small.
A Crowne of thorne with scratching pricks
our Christ did willing weare:
A triple gorgeous crowne of gold
the Pope on hed doth bear.
Christ washt his poore Disciples feet
as sacred Scripture showes:
The Pope must haue the regall kinges
come kisse his spangled toes.
Christ like a painfull Pastor pure,
his flocke did feede and fill:
The Pope in pleasure spends his tyme
and liues in riot still.
Our Sauiour Christ endured paine
and sufferd pinchyng want:
The greate and glorious golden world
the Pope sufficeth scant.
With pacience Christ the Crosse did beare
and was content with it:
The Pope on shoulders borne by men
in solemne sort must sit.
All worldly wealth our Sauiour Christ
contemd and set at nought:
The Pope doth burne with loue of golde
as muche as may be thought.
Our Sauiour Christ did tribute pay
(as Scripture mention makes)
The polyng Pope the Clergy plagues
and of them tribute takes:
The Marchaunts from the temple, Christ
expulst and put away:
The Pope receiues them willingly,
and keepes them still for ay.
Our Christ in quiet pleasing peace
did ioy and take delight:
The Pope in blood and battle bragges
and weapons glisteryng bright.
An humble hart, and mildenes meeke
in Christ did still abide:
The furly Pope doth swim in silkes
and swell in powtyng pride.
Our Sauiour Christ had still his hands
all naked, plaine, and bare:
The Pope hath fingers fraught with ringes
and stones, both riche and rare.
Our Sauiour Christ regarded nought
this roystyng rich aray:
The Pope hath maskyng mad attire
of gold and purple gay.
Christ for a Colt an asses fole
his two disciples sent:
And on their homly mantels rude
to ride he was content.
The Pope on Courser hoysted hye
through Rome must pricke and iet:
Whose bridle braue and saddle shines
with Pearle and gold befret.
All Ordenances, statutes, lawes,
that Christ did keepe and will:
All euery one both more and lesse
the spightfull Pope doth spill.
Christ to the golden sky ascends
that glitteryng, glorious showes:
The Pope to Pluto plunging packs
where fier with brimstone glowes.

Written in heuines.

Like as the wounded wight
desires the Surgions hand:
And as the Creeple lame
desireth legges to stand.
And as one farre on seas
for land both longes and lookes:
And as the thristy hart
desires the water brokes.
Euen so my soule O God,
doth long and looke for thee:
Ay mee (alas) when shall I come
my Sauiour sweet to see?

An old verse.

To an Epicure.

What profits pleasure thee to day:
if all to morrow faile?
Ah wretched caitife, ah alas,
what doth one day auaile.

A letter written to T. w. gent. when he was scoller in Oxford.

Penelope that pearlesse peece
of whom you often reed:
Did neuer loue Vlysses so
as I do you indeed.
For why a thousand thinges there are
whiche you haue doon for mee:
That if I should liue Nestors yeres
could scant requited be.
But yet I trust my chaunce may chaunge
the prouerbe old doth say:
The weake may stand the strong in sted:
a dog may haue a day.
Till tyme that fortune turne her wheell
till thinges do go aright:
Accept my Wilmer will in worth
till welth may debt requite.
On Saterday I will you send
some Lessons for your Lute:
And for your Citterne eke a few:
take leaues till time of fruite.
And thus I end desiring you
to let my letter ly
Lockt vp in coffer close that none
the same but you may spie.
For like as scriblers loth to haue
good Scriueners vew their lynes
So practisers mislike to haue
good Poets read their rimes.
Farewell my frend, and see you send
a letter backe againe:
So shall I thinke I well did spend
my paper, pen, and payne.

Verses written to his father when he was scholler in Æton.

Scrip sit admodum puer.

What merrit parents, suche
as doe their children set
To schoole, wherby they may
both welth and wisdome get.
If suche deserue (as sure they doe)
Perpetuall praise and fame:
Then doutles you, O Father deer,
do merrit euen the same.

Of Loue.

Loue worketh woonders great,
straunge thinges it bringes to passe:
It maketh of a prudent man
a very doltish asse.

Of Boner, and his brothers.

Foule Boner with his cursed crue,
that loued so the Pope:
Did diuers plague and punishe, with
the rodde, the racke, and rope.
But (God be thanked) now their force,
doeth faulter, fade, and faile:
Their rods are spent, their rackes are rent,
their ropes no more preuaile.

Of Pope Alexander. 6.

His Christe, his keyes, and altars all,
doeth Alexander sell:
Which he maie doe of right, and why?
before thei coste hym well.

To one of a diuers and straunge nature.

Sometyme a lowryng looke thou hast,
sometyme a laughyng face:
Now waspishe, waiward: to doe ought
willyng an other space.
Mournfull now, merrie anon:
now surly, sullen, sad,
Powtyng: pleasaunt anone againe,
perte, iollie, iocunde, glad.
Thou bothe art like Democrit, and
Heraclitus beside:
No man without thee can remaine,
nor with thee well abide.

Of the workes of Poets.

As in a pleasaunt groue,
or goodly garden grounde:
Among sweete smellyng flowers,
some stinkyng weedes are founde.
Like so in Poets plottes,
bothe good and bad is sowen:
Be warie therefore, choose the best,
and let the worste alone.

How to get the loue, bothe of God and men.

Who leaues, who loues, who liues, who lends:
who spares, who spies, who speakes, who spends,
Shall purchase to hymself the loue,
of men beneath, and God aboue.

Exposition.

Who leaues to lead a lothsome life:
Who loues the Lazor poore to feede,
Who liues in loue, and hateth strife:
Who lends who lackes, and stands in neede.
Who spares to spende, and waxeth wise,
Who spies the baite, and shūnes the hookes
Who speakes the truthe, and hateth lies:
Who spends his tyme in sacred bookes.
Hym God hymself in heauen aboue:
And men beneath shall like and loue.

A similitude, of Idlenes.

As water cleare and cleane corrupts,
and stinkes by standyng still:
So sluggishe slothe doeth slaie the soule,
and eke the bodie spill.

What thyng he feareth moste.

No stabbyng glaue, nor stickyng knife,
Nor darte dread I, that reueth life.
No Fencers skill, no thrustyng pricks,
No thunderyng threates of despirat Dicks.
No chillyng cold, no scaldyng heate,
No grashyng chaps of monsters greate.
No plague, no deadly vile desease,
No broilyng blaze, no swallowyng seas.
No gauiyng greefes, no cares that crushe,
Of these I recke not of a Rushe.
An ill there is whiche doeth remaine,
That troubles more and putts to paine:
A fawnyng frende moste mischief is,
Whiche seekes to kill yet semes to kisse.

How the xij. signes doe gouerne and rule in mannes bodie.

The Ram is Rex, and rules,
aboue in hedde and face:
The necke and throate the Bull,
possesseth for his place.
In armes and shoulders bothe,
the Twinnes doe raigne and rest:
The Crab is kyng, and keepes
the stomacke, lungs, and breast.
The Lion kyng of beasts,
doeth bide in backe and harte:
The Virgin hath the gutts
and bellie for her parte.
In reines, and lustie loynes,
the Ballaunce beareth swaie:
Among the secret partes,
the Scorpion still doeth staie.
The Archer hath the thighes,
and Capricorne the knees:
The leggs the Watermannes,
the feete the Fishes fees.

Commendation and praise of Vertue.

By riches none are happie made,
for riches slide awaie:
Though got with sweate and labour greate,
at length yet thei decaie.
Faint faultryng fumblyng feble age
decreaseth sturdie strength:
Healthe sicknesse quailes: and beautie braue
doeth flittyng fade at length.
Sweete ticklyng pleasure tarries not,
nor maketh any staie:
But in an hower, a little tyme,
doeth vanishe quight awaie.
But Vertue faire adornes the mynde,
and perfect doeth remaine:
She stedfast bides, and neuer slides,
and naught maie Vertue staine.
No tyme can Vertue faire deface,
she after death endures:
And vs aboue the clustryng cloudes,
a place with God procures.
Vertue doeth make vs blessed, and
a happie ende doeth giue:
And when we rotten bones remaine,
yet Vertue makes vs liue.

The couetous carle, compated to a Mule.

The churlishe chuffe, that hath enough
in Coffer lockt and laied:
And liueth harde, with Baken swarde,
a Mule maie well be saied.
Mules carrie coine, and iewelles ofte,
plate, golde, and riche arraie,
Greate treasure: yet they droylyng drudge,
and feede on homely haie.

To a frende.

Liue as a man, persist in doyng well:
Endeuouryng aye, all others to excell.

Christe speaketh.

The ayre, the yearth, the seas, the woods,
and all shall once awaie:
Alone my worde shall still remaine,
and (standyng stedfast) staie.

To hymself.

What likes thy mynde or fansie beste?
what doest thou moste desire?
Doest couet costly buildyngs braue?
or riches doest require?
I force not these: what then wilt haue?
greate store of lande to eare?
Kyngs pleasures? or delightst thou in
fine princely daintie cheare?
If these should like me, I should like,
with toyle and care to be:
For rest and riches make no matche,
thei hardly doe agree.
As Irus I should liue, though I
whole kyngdomes had in holde:
And Cresus though I did enioye,
thy heapes of hourded golde.
Bare, naked, came I hether, and
nakt shall I hence againe:
Why therefore should I care for aught,
or put my self to paine?
In ioye and mirthe Ile spende my tyme,
and naught shall me anoye:
Ile laugh to scorne, the mucke, the moulde,
whiche worldlyngs riche enioye.
What? carest thou for nothyng then?
yes, this of God I craue:
That still I maie a quiet mynde,
and healthfull bodie haue.

To one so giuen to goe braue. That at last he left hymself like a slaue.

With braue outlandishe straunge araie,
you (lusty) long were clad:
And sundrie sutes of sundrie sortes,
for sundrie tymes you had.
Sometime Frēche fashions pleasd you best:
sometyme the Spanishe guise:
In costly colours cuttyng still,
you went with staryng eyes.
But now at last you royste in rags,
rude, rogishe, rent and torne:
What fashion this? or whose? declare
is this beyonde sea worne?

To one that made his bragges that he was nosed like vnto kyng Cirus.

Thou saiest thou art hauknosed right,
so as kyng Cirus was:
Saie to thou hast kyng Midas eares,
who earde was like an Asse.

Of money and lande.

This siluer, coine, and money, what?
ruste, though it glad:
Possessions, lande, and liuyng, what?
duste, euen as bad.

Learnyng

Learnyng doeth all thyngs farre surpasse,
naught Learnyng maie excell:
What profite comes to man thereby,
ne pen, ne tongue maie tell:
A spurre to youth, that pricketh forthe
faire Vertue to obtaine:
To crooked age a greate delight,
and sollace sweete againe:
A rocke and refuge for the wretche,
and for the needie poore:
And to the riche and wealthie wight,
of substaunce greater store.

Of Tyme.

Tyme bringeth lurking thinges to light,
tyme secrets doth bewray:
The priuy pilferyng prigging theefe,
tyme doth in time betraie.

Of Dice.

The cursed play of deuelish Dice,
The daughter vile of auarice:
The plague of loue and amitie:
The very nurse of theuerie:
The excersise of fury fell:
And last the pathway plaine to hell.

Of women, water, and wine.

Wine, wemen, water, each
doth hurte, and put to paine:
Wine, wemen, water, eache
doth helpe, and ease againe.

Of wemens lightnes.

What more then Fethers light,
drie leaues, and withered grasse?
Yet these in lightnes wemen do
surmount and far surpasse.

Again of the same.

What thing is lighter then the flame?
bright lightnyng, what is thought
Then lightning lighter? wind, then wind?
wemen, then wemen? nought.

Of the misery of man.

We weping come into the world:
and weping hence we goe:
And all our life is nothyng else,
but grief, payne, toyle, and wo.

To his vnkle: Henry kendall.

My triflyng toyes you ioye to reade
and what my Muse doth write:
My Muse (deer vnkle) ioyes againe
of you for to indite.
If you mine onely prop do slip,
my Muse remaineth slow:
The siluer Swan doth seldom sing
but Zephir milde doth blow.

Of the Poet Lucan.

Foule moody Mars his blustryng broyles,
to see with cunnyng pend
Who longs, let hym his listning eare
to learned Lucan lend.
So well his workes, do martiall feates
and warlike deedes expresse:
As noble Tullies bookes bewray
the fruites of pleasant peace.
As quiet peace is to be wisht,
and Tully to be red:
So Lucan he that writes of warre
ought not for to be fled.

Christ.

Who dyes in Christ, doth liue: who liues
in Christ, from death is free:
Where Christ doth present still appere
there death can neuer be.

Gold, not God, regarded now adayes.

This age hunts all for hatefull coyne,
for pompe and glory vaine:
Addicted none to God, and Good,
but all to Gold, and Gaine.

Of hymself.

The Bowe that bended standeth still,
his strength will loose and lack:
The lusty horse is lamd, with to
muche burden on his back.
But I, let fortune spit her spight,
and spurnyng still disdaine.
Will (God to frend) contented bide
and stedfast still remayne.

Remedies against loue.

Loues rigorous rage, or abstinence
or tamyng time restraines:
If these do misse, for remedie
alone a rope remaines.

To all men.

Shun man, shun (oh) soule slaiyng sinne,
serue God vnto thy graue:
Foule filthy foolish faulty folke
the finds of hell shall haue.

Of Dearh.

The regall kyng and crooked clowne
all one, alike, Death driueth downe.

Death spareth no kinde.

No state in earth we see,
but draweth to decay:
The Lyon made at last,
to smallest birds a pray.

Who riche, who poore.

Rich who? who cares for naught,
and is with small content.
Poore who? coyn caring carles
to pelf and paultry bent.

Labour killes loue.

If that in toyle and takyng paine,
thy pleasure thou do put:
The fire doth die, fond fancies flie:
Cupidos combe is cut.

The more a man hath, the more he desireth.

As riches rise, mans nature is,
to grope and gape for more:
Men couet most, when as their bags,
be cramd and stuft with store.

To Iesus Christe.

If euer me thou loue,
I ioyfull am for aie:
If euer me thou leaue,
my soule doeth sorrowe slaie.
If euer me thou loue,
thrise happie then am I:
If euer me thou leaue,
then (out alas) I dye.
If euer me thou loue,
abounde I doe in blisse:
If euer me thou leaue,
then all thyng doe I misse.
If euer thou me loue,
who then as I so glad?
If euer me thou leaue,
then who as I so sad?
If euer me thou loue,
thou euer makst me liue:
If euer me thou leaue,
deathes dart thou dost me giue.
If euer me thou loue,
who liues so glad as I?
If euer me thou leaue,
who dies so bad as I?
If euer me thou loue,
in heauē thou makst me dwell:
If euer me thou leaue,
thou driust me doune to hell.
Wherefore O louyng Lorde,
loue still to make me liue:
So shall I neuer leaue,
thee laude and praise to giue.

Of Pope Iulius. 3.

Well tipled at the table once
with drinke, when Iulius sate:
(A man whom wicked Rome her self,
did spight, abhorre, and hate.)
As it is saied three boles at once,
for hym were ready made:
That he three burdens might at once,
in vessells three vnlade.
The first of all the vessells three,
he filde with vomit vile:
The next with pisse, the other he,
with ordure did defile.
No man can doe twoo thyngs at once,
the prouerbe old doeth tell:
This was a passyng Pope I trowe,
that could doe three so well.

To Zoilus.

Barke Zoilus till thy beallie breake:
Of railyng thyne I will not reake.

Of an Astrnomer, and a Plowman.

A Kyng sometyme determined,
an huntyng for to ride:
Of diuers persones did demaunde,
what weather would betide.
A student in Astronomie,
(there standyng by) did tell
It would be faire, so that his grace,
might ride on huntyng well.
A Plowman poore vnto the Prince,
gan thus replie againe:
Beleue hym not sur, bide at home,
for sure I cham twull raine.
The kyng did laugh apace, at last
all businesse set aside:
The kyng with troup, and all his traine,
doeth forthe on huntyng ride.
Not entred scant the wood, but straite
vppon the trees did dashe
A powryng shower that paied them all,
and well the kyng did washe.
The prince the Plowman praisde: and said
looke thou where Starres do stand
Poore Plowman: and prowd Strologer,
take thou a whip in hand.
The like Astronomers to this
we haue in Englande here:
More fitter for to till, then tell,
except thei wiser were.

To Zoilus.

Who hath bestowd vppon thy browe,
a garlande braue of Baie?
Suche as can clime Parnassus mount,
those leaues should decke alwaie.
To scoffers Zoilus suche as thou,
and suche as styng with tong:
To stingers suche a stingyng crowne,
of Nettelles doeth belong.

Of Zenabon.

While Zenabon vnhappie man,
did Venus pleasures proue:
His members vile were whipt awaie,
by her whom he did loue.

Anacharsis the Philosophers saying.

Like as ye webs which spiders spin ye see,
By subtile slight doe tangle, take, & tye,
The feble small and seely shiftes bee,
And let the bigger breake away, and flie.
Like so the lawes the lower, mean, & poore,
Do plague, and punish sore, & make to pay:
The noble man, or riche enioying store
With small ado quight scot free scape away.

Otherwise, and shorter.

As Cobwebs catch the lesser flies,
and let the greater go:
So those of power, and not the poore
the Lawes doe fauour showe.

Precepts written to HENRY KNEVET gent.

Preceptes written in his frend RICHARD WOODWARDS praier booke, somtime his companion in Oxford.

Of fower Beastes and the Spider.

The Boare in hearing vs doth passe,
the Ape in tast, the Linx in sight:
In smell the Gripe, in fealing quick
the Spider goes beyond vs quight.

Ite, Venite.

Go, ah a griping woord will be,
but Come, a golden glad:
Come shall be sayd toth blessed good,
Go to the curssed bad.

Of the vanity of this world

What profits pompe and glory of
the world so wicked vaine?
Sith after death we crumbling dust
and rotten bones remayne.

To Zoilus.

The Fem, the Floud, the Flame
three mischefes Zoilus be:
But Zoile thy tongue a mischefe worse
then these repeated three.

Of hym that marryes twise.

His first wife dead, and laid in graue,
who doth a second seeke:
Unto a momishe mariner,
and shipman he is leeke.
Who hauyng broke his bark and scapt,
with perrill great and paine:
The surgyng swallowyng swellyng seas
assayes and tries againe.

Of a wife.

To combersome a clog
a wife is vnto man:
She neuer doth hym good,
nor profites him, but whan
She dyes, and leaues to tread
this toylsome worldly path:
And leueth in her sted
the golde she hoorded hath.

The same and shorter.

A Husband of his wife
hath neuer proffit, saue
When she doth leaue her goods behind
and goes her selfe toth graue.

Bewtie and Vertue seldom coupled.

Whhere amerous bewtie braue doth bide
doth vertue seld abound:
The canker couchyng commonly
in fairest rose is found.

How the Papist praies.

The Papist praies with mouth, his minde
on gatheryng woolle doeth goe:
Like to a iabberyng Ape, whiche doeth
naught els but mumpe and mowe.

Who takes the paines, the profite gaines.

Who crackes the Nut, the kernell findes,
the taste the sweete that sweate:
The lasie Lurden liues in lacke,
and nothyng hath to eate.

Who poore.

The wight that liues in want, is not
to be accounted poore:
But he that swimmes in plentie riche,
and yet desireth more.

To one that married a foule wife for riches.

Thy wife is foule, deformed, blacke:
but storde with coine is she:
Thou marriedst for thy hands to feele,
not for thyne eyes to see.

Of Wine.

Wine makes men sad, and febles force,
wine maketh strong and glad:
If to muche taken be thereof,
if that a meane be had.

Of Phisitions.

Three faces the Phisition hath:
first as an Angell he,
When he is saught: next when he helpes,
a God he semes to be.
And last of all when he hath made,
the sicke deseased well
And askes his guerdon, then he semes
an ougly Fiend of hell.

To an vnskilfull Phisition.

A Chilles wt a sword did slaie his foes.
Thou killest wt a hearbe on ground yt growes
Thee worthier then Achilles I suppose.

Of a Fishe, a Swallowe, and an Hare, shot through at one shoote.

an vncertayne Author.

An Hare to shunne the gredie Grewnde,
that did hym ferce pursue:
Lepte in a riuer, thinkyng so,
to bid the Dog adue.
An Archer by beholdyng this,
with Bow there ready bent:
(In hope to hit hym as he swam)
an Arrowe at hym sent.
By hap a Swallowe skirde betwene,
withall vp lept a Roche:
And so the Hare, the birde, the fishe,
his shafte at once did broche.

To the Rechlesse route.

No longer linger, leaue delaie:
tyme swifte awaie doeth runne:
Repent betyme, no man knowes when,
the latter daie shall come.

Of Wiuyng.

A marryng for to marrie, still
thus all men all doe saie:
Thus saie thei still, yet wittyngly,
men marrie euery daie.

Tyme doeth all.

The huge greate Oke was once a plant,
a whelpe the Lion fell:
And famous learned Cicero,
once learnde his words to spell.

Be aduised ere thou speake.

The woorde that once hath past thy lips,
can not be calld agen:
Aduisde be therefore how thou speakst,
to whom, what, where, and when.

To one furious and full of Pride.

If Seneca of auncient tyme,
or Terence had thee seen:
Thou wouldst haue Senecs Aiax feirce,
and Terence Thraso been.

To Henry Kneuet gent.

I knowe not where the Poets faine,
the Muses for to bee:
But this I knowe my Kneuet sure,
they tarrie still with thee.

Idem est pauperibus, diuitibusque Deus.

The beggars, and the biggers birth,
and ende all one for aye:
As deare to God the selie swaine,
as he that beareth swaie.

To Markes a marker of faultes.

Markes, marke what I shall saie to thee,
the truthe I tell thee plaine:
If Markes thou marke me any more,
I shall thee marke againe.

To the Pope.

Thy harte is on thy halfpenie,
horse, harlotts, haukes and hounds:
No recknyng of Religion made,
where vice so muche abounds.

To a sweete mouthed minion.

Eche curious cate, eche costly dishe,
your daintie tooth must taste:
Ne lickes, ne likes, your lippes the meate,
where pleasure none is plaste.
Fine venzon fatte must be your foode,
Larke, Partridge, Plouer, Quaile:
A likerishe lip, a likerishe lap,
as tongue is, so is taile.

A verse wherein the numerall letters shewe the yere of the Lorde, when the Queene began her raigne ouer this Realme.

The pope, eke aL hIs paVLtrIe trashe
VVas banIsht qVIght anD CLeen:
VVhen nobLe faIre ELIzabeth
VVas CroVnD fIrst engLIshe qVeen.

A Rime against ROME.

Rome couetous for coine doeth call:
She empties coffer, pouche and all.
If thou doe let thy purse alone,
From Pope and patriarkes thence be gone.
But if with pence thou plie them still,
And if their chests with coine thou fill,
Absolue thei will and pardon thee,
How faultie foule so ere thou bee.
Ho, God be here: whose there?
a maide.
What comst thou for? to craue
your aide.
Hast coine? naie crossesse cleane:
then kepe thee there:
I haue: how muche? enough:
then come thou nere.

To one named Loue.

I loue the Loue, my loue:
loue me my loue therefore:
And when I leaue to loue my loue,
then let me liue no more.

To a common Bragger.

Thou sturdie calst thy self: but thou
canst better farte, then fight:
Put S awaie, and what thou art,
thou then declarest right.

A prettie similitude.

Like as the beggar hides his skinne,
where it is faire and white:
And will not open any place,
that whole maie seem to sight.
But contrary his lothsome soares,
he shewes for men to vewe:
His bloudie cloutes, and rotten raggs,
that all might on hym rewe.
So ne should we of our good deedes,
or bragge or boaste at all
Before the Lorde, but shewe our synnes,
and so for mercie call.

Of a certayne Ruffian.

A Smithfield Ruffian in a fray
as feircely he did fight:
Was of the hand that held his sword,
by sworde dispatched quight.
Whiche whipt away (in suche a sorte)
as sone as he did see:
Flingyng his dagger at his fo,
nay then take all sayd he.

Of a certayne Ciuilian.

Thou calst thy selfe Ciuilian,
thou art not full so muche:
If Ci. be out, as then remaines
in deede thy name is suche.

Of a Lawyer.

Thou saist thou art a Lawyer:
the letters two next L
Put out: and then the rest declares
thy name and nature well.

To one that sayd he was a Lawyer almost.

Thou saist thou art a Lawier
almost: thou dost not iest:
Put letters two next L. away
and then thou art the rest.

Agayne, of a Lawyer.

Thou saist that for Lawier,
then thee none may be better:
Nor none so good (say I) put out
the third and second letter.

Ridyng by the way with a gentleman, and beyng Demaunded by hym, the difference betwene their horses, he thus answered extempore.

The difference dost thou aske
betwene thy horse and myne?
What difference twixt a ioltyng Iade
and Palfray amblyng fine.

Wrytten to a frend, in hys extreme sicknesse.

My Titus if thou hast thy health,
then shall I greatly Ioy:
As for my selfe, I am in health,
if health be sicke anoye.
I pine (God helpe) in feuer falne:
a wretche of wretches I:
Farewell, vnlesse the highest helpe
my dayes are done, I dye.

An Epitaph vppon the death of M. Ihon Bradford.

A prancke of Pope Iulius 3. about a Peacocke.

To a certayne frend.

Somtimes in London thou dost liue:
somtimes in Cuntrey soyle:
In Cambridge now and then: sometymes
in Courte thou keepst a coile.
Leaue rangyng thus: ceasse thus thy self
still to and fro to tosse:
The restlesse stone, that rowleth still,
doeth seldome gather mosse.

Written vnder the picture of M. Thomas Becon.

Loe reader here, his portrature,
as liuely as maie bee:
What Painters pen and paine might doe,
(good reader) thou doest see.
The dowments of his mynde deuine,
whiche pen might not displaie
Nor Painter paint, hym self doeth by
his learned woorkes bewraie.

Of the picture of Thomas Cranmer, sometyme worthie Archbishop of Canterburie.

Learned thou wast, and godlie bothe,
while Cranmer thou didst liue:
A happie and a happlesse life,
vnto thee God did giue.

Of his owne picture.

My front well framd the Painter hath,
whiche he behelde with eye:
My harte is knowne, to God alone,
whiche holdes the heauens on hye.

Againe.

My browe the Painter hath exprest:
God knowes the secrets of my brest.

Of fower liuyng creatures, that liue by the fower Elementes.

The beast Camilion liues by ayre,
the Herryng doeth desier
In waues to liue, the Mole in mould,
the Spotted beast in fire.

Of Papistes.

If murdryng monsters mount the skie:
Then Papists thither packe perdie.

A saiyng of S. Ciprian.

Thei whiche doe loue them selues to paint,
with coulers straunge and gaie:
Thei haue to feare that God nill knowe,
them at the latter daie.

An other saiyng of S. Cyprian.

The leude whiche loue to paint their locks
with red and yellowe fine:
Thei doe prognosticate, but how
their heads in hell shall shine.

Xij. abuses in the life of man, collected out of S. Cyprian.

1

Without good woorkes a prudēt wight,
2 A sire without Religion quight.
3 A youth without obedience:
4 A wealthie wight that giues no pence.
5 A woman that is shamelesse stout:
6 I guide that vertue is without.
7 A Christian man contentious:
8 A poore man proude and sumptuous.
9 A kyng that ruleth not by right:
10 A bishop negligent and light.
11 Folke without discipline and awe:
12 Subiects that liue, and haue no lawe.

A saiyng of S. Austin.

Tis naught on women but to looke,
tis worse with them to chat:
But wemen for to touche, perdie
naught maie be worse then that.

An olde saiyng.

An Hunters breakfast cheefest is,
a Lawiers dinner best:
Mōkes drinkyngs, Marchants suppers fine
surmount and passe the rest.

Of Lacon.

Why Lacon didst thou choose thy wife,
(quoth one) so feate and small?
To choose the lest, I holde it best,
(quoth he) of euells all.

Thinkyng on the latter daie.

If euery man and woman would,
thinke on the latter daie:
Then men would mende, and women would,
the wantons ceasse to plaie.

Please, Praise, and Praie.

Be sure not long the worlde will laste,
Please, Praise, and Praie therefore:
Praie to the Lorde, hym praise and please,
and care thou for no more.

Fiue thynges white.

Fower thyngs are wondrous white, ye fifte
shines more then all the rest:
Snowe, siluer, Ceruse, hoarie heares,
a chaste vnspotted brest.

Three thynges detestable.

Three thyngs are detestable, vile:
a beggar proude and hye:
An old man leude and lecherous:
a riche man that doeth lye.

Three things not to be lente.

Three thinges a man not lendeth rife:
his horse, his fighting sword, his wife.

Three things should not be forgotten.

Three thinges should be remembered,
and printed still in breast.
Good turnes recevd, good precepts pure,
and those that are deceast.

Of Mark miserable, that hanged hymselfe.

Mark miser yesterday I hard,
the hanging craft would trie:
And vnder three pence (caitif wretche)
no Halter could he buy.
I buy no Ropes so dear (quoth he)
the price amazd the elfe,
For twoo pence halfpeny he agrees
at last, and hangs hymself.

Of saiyng grace.

Who sittyng downe doth take his meales,
And thankes not God in gratefull wise:
Goes as a brutishe Oxe to boord,
And rudely like an Asse doth rise.

The Best are hated of the Bad.

The ougsum owle Ioues bird doth hate,
the lothsum Ape doth spite
The Lion king, the carren Crow
the Swan fair, siluer white.

To the carpyng Corrector.

With kitish eyes thou canst decerne,
the scapes of other men:
But when thou shouldst correct thine owne,
as blind as Bubo then.

A staffe.

A seemely thing in hand I am,
old age vphold I right.
I rule the steppes, I fear the dog,
I ease the wery wight.

The saiyng of Bias.

Behold thy selfe in Glasse,
and if so faire thou be:
Then doe thou fair and honest thinges
as best beseemeth thee.
But if deformed, fowle,
and lothely thou appeare:
Requite that foule deformitie,
by manners fair and cleer.

To a frende.

When fishes shun the siluer streames:
When darknes yeldes bright Titans beames.
When as the bird that Phœnix hight,
Shall haue ten thousand mates in sight.
When Ioue in Limbo low shall lye,
And Pluto shall be plast on hye:
Then I will thee forsake my deere,
And not before, as shall appeare.

The torment of Turnecotes.

In readyng once a certaine booke
cald Pasquin in a traunce:
To finde the turnecotes torment there,
by turnyng twas my chaunce.
Suche as will ne hold with the hare,
nor yet run with the hound:
Suche as like waueryng whethercocks,
with euery blast turne rounde.
Suche as with nether, hic, nor hæc,
doe loue to be declinde:
But still with hoc, like neuters nought,
that turne with euery winde.
These faines he to be fast with corde,
betwene two pillers bound:
About the mids, so that they hang,
and can not tutche the ground.
Uppon their heads a pair of Harts
huge hornes are surely fixt:
Hauyng a saile of linnen cloth
their hidious hornes betwixt.
And at their heeles there hangs a bag,
with coyne and mony stuft:
So turne these turnecotes whirlyng round
with euery little puft.
For as the winde doth rise and blowe,
and strike the stremyng sayle:
Their heeles are heavd on hie to heauen,
then eache turnes vp his taile.
And as the wind doth ceasse to blowe,
and quiet doth remaine:
Then doth the ponderous poundstone purse
bring doune their feete againe.
So are these wretches whirld about,
and now their heads on hye:
And straight their heeles are heued vp
vnto the loftie skye.

Translated out of Theocritus.

Cvpido Venus dearlyng defte,
to sweete his lipps with mell
Sore longyng, came vnto an Hiue,
where Bees did shroude and dwell.
And mindyng now with Honie sweete,
to fill his bellie full
He thrusts his hande into the Hiue,
and fast beginnes to cull.
The Bees bestirre them, by and by,
and prickt hym with their styngs:
Deft Cupid dolefull doeth depart,
and takes hym to his wings.
He stamps, he stares, he taketh on:
he knowes not what to doe:
At last with tinglyng stynged hande,
he comes his mother to.
And thus beginns to make his mone:
ah mother, mother myne:
The Bee moste vile and pestilent,
hath kilde Cupido thyne.
Ah, out alas, what shall I doe?
I neuer would haue thought
The selie simple shiftlesse Bee,
could haue suche mischief wrought.
Quoth Venus smilyng: what? alas,
and doeth it greeue you so?
Content your self, you are but small,
yet how you strike you knowe.

Preceptes written to his Cosen Paul Tooley.

To all tender Youthes and young schollers.

If learnyng you neglecte, in age
you will crie, ah alas,
Why did I not to studie sticke,
in childhoode while I was.

A young schollers Poesie.

Leaue plaie, and loue learnyng:
For feare of stripes earnyng.

Verses written at the request of his Cosen Mary Palmer, in her praier booke called the Pomander of praier.

To one that called hym Spendall.

Thou spendall doest me call: I graunt
muche coine I spende perdie:
But thou doest spende thy self on whores,
thou spendest more then I.

To a Niggard that called hym vnthrift.

Thou saiest I spend all, spend all still,
and nothyng vse to purse:
Thou pursest all, and spendest naught:
I ill doe: thou doest worse.

To a certaine frende.

Thou spendall doest me call:
thou calst me rendall to:
I spende, rende: nothyng mende thou saiest,
yes sure, I mende my shoo.

The nature of the Hernshew.

The Hearnshew though she haūt ye brookes,
and riuers eke that runne:
Yet rayne and tempest she abhorres,
and seekes the same to shunne
By soryng vp and mounting hie:
she shrowdyng still doth rest
A loft in tops of tallest trees,
and there doth make her nest.
She shuns her foe the Goshawke great,
and Hawkes of other kinde:
Her hates and plagues the Hauk again,
when that he can her finde.
When as the Hawk and Hernshew fight,
and striue aloft in skie:
For this one thing, with might of wing,
both striue especially
Who may aboue the other get:
if Hawke haue highest place
With earnest flight he conquers quight,
the Hernshew in short space.
But if the Hernshew highest get,
she squirtyng downe doth cast
Her dirt and dunge, the Hawke vppon,
and spoiles hym so at last.

Fower properties of the dog.

Fower propertyes praiseworthy sure,
are in the dog to note:
He keepes the house, he feares the these
by barking with his throte.
He playes well the Phisition,
with lickyng tongue he cures:
Unto his master still he stickes,
and faithfull fast endures.

Of Boner.

Of Bishops al, the best some did thee call:
Indeed thou wast the beast of bishops all.

To a naughty Lawier.

Wouldst haue mee tell what law thou hast?
thou hast as muche as need:
An old said saw, need hath no law.
no more hast thou indeed.

Translated out of an Italian writer.

Lycoris in her bosome beares,
two Apples faire that shine:
Againe two Strawberries she beares,
in bosom hers deuine.
Her bourly breastes two apples be,
her nipples be two berries:
Her apples shine as white as snowe,
Her nipples red as cherries.
Loue came and suckt her tender brests
and said, now milke farewell:
My mothers brests with milke do strowt,
but these with Nectar swell.