 | Parts added to The mirror for magistrates |  |
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[IRENGLAS]
Irenglas Nephewe to Cassibellan king of Britayne, recountes how he was slayne by Elenine cosen to Androgeus Earle of London, about the yeare before Christ. 51.
Amongst the rest, that whilome sate aloft:
Amongst the rest, that once had happy chaunce:
Amongst the rest, that had good fortune oft:
Amongst the rest, that could them selues aduaunce:
Amongst the rest, that led in warres the staunce,
And wan the palme, the prayse, renowne and fame,
(Yet after fell in proufe to trie the same)
Leaue in thy booke, a place to put my name.
Amongst the rest, that once had happy chaunce:
Amongst the rest, that had good fortune oft:
Amongst the rest, that could them selues aduaunce:
Amongst the rest, that led in warres the staunce,
And wan the palme, the prayse, renowne and fame,
(Yet after fell in proufe to trie the same)
Leaue in thy booke, a place to put my name.
Which (Higgins) if thou shalt, and wryte therin
This tale I tell: no doubte thou shalt me please,
Thy selfe likewyse therby, mayste profit wyn:
For why who wrytes such histories as these,
Doth often bring the Readers hartes such ease:
As when they sit, and see what he doth note,
And lessons learne, to saue their armour coate:
Well fare his harte (say they) this worke that wrote.
This tale I tell: no doubte thou shalt me please,
Thy selfe likewyse therby, mayste profit wyn:
For why who wrytes such histories as these,
Doth often bring the Readers hartes such ease:
As when they sit, and see what he doth note,
And lessons learne, to saue their armour coate:
Well fare his harte (say they) this worke that wrote.
Perhaps thou aunswere wilt, and eke confesse,
They may in deede giue thankes and that is all:
They can (sayst thou) I thinke giue scarcely lesse:
For such a gift, a guerdon far to small:
Well yet do write, content thy selfe withall.
Thou must the ende that God appointes abyde:
Though they ingratefull be, of reason wyde:
Thou must not therfore, this thy talent hyde.
They may in deede giue thankes and that is all:
They can (sayst thou) I thinke giue scarcely lesse:
For such a gift, a guerdon far to small:
Well yet do write, content thy selfe withall.
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Though they ingratefull be, of reason wyde:
Thou must not therfore, this thy talent hyde.
This I obiecte not that I thinke it so,
But if it erst, haue chaunced so to hit:
Thou shouldst not therefore let these stories goe,
Which may perhaps so exercise thy wit,
And may so frame thy phrases fine and fit:
Though now no other gift, then thankes thou haue:
Yet shall thy verses liue, thy name to saue,
And spread thy prayse, when thou art layde in graue.
But if it erst, haue chaunced so to hit:
Thou shouldst not therefore let these stories goe,
Which may perhaps so exercise thy wit,
And may so frame thy phrases fine and fit:
Though now no other gift, then thankes thou haue:
Yet shall thy verses liue, thy name to saue,
And spread thy prayse, when thou art layde in graue.
But sure I thinke, among so great a sorte,
As shall thy workes and writinges chaunce to see:
Of courtzy all, thou canst not finde them short:
But som must needes consider well of thee.
Though some do pinche, and saue: to thriue, and thie,
And some do poll and pill to get the pelfe:
And some haue layde vp all on lesing shelfe:
Yet some will, well consider of thy selfe.
As shall thy workes and writinges chaunce to see:
Of courtzy all, thou canst not finde them short:
But som must needes consider well of thee.
Though some do pinche, and saue: to thriue, and thie,
And some do poll and pill to get the pelfe:
And some haue layde vp all on lesing shelfe:
Yet some will, well consider of thy selfe.
I had almost stept in, with thee so far:
To byd the wryte, and register my name:
(Because I feard, of late the Romaine warre
Thou wrotst: had ended all thy former frame,
And I had bene, excluded from the same)
That nowe I feare, I weary thee with talke,
While from my purpose, far aloofe I stalke:
In steede of cheese, to fill thy chaps with chalke.
To byd the wryte, and register my name:
(Because I feard, of late the Romaine warre
Thou wrotst: had ended all thy former frame,
And I had bene, excluded from the same)
That nowe I feare, I weary thee with talke,
While from my purpose, far aloofe I stalke:
In steede of cheese, to fill thy chaps with chalke.
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Wherfore I will be briefe, and tell thee all
My minde: the cause why I do now appeare.
I will recite to thee my sodaine fall,
And what in life mine exercises were.
To which since I do see thee set thine eare,
Marke now my tale, and beare it well away:
Marke what me brought, so sodayne in decay:
And marke of lusty life, th'vnstable staye.
My minde: the cause why I do now appeare.
I will recite to thee my sodaine fall,
And what in life mine exercises were.
To which since I do see thee set thine eare,
Marke now my tale, and beare it well away:
Marke what me brought, so sodayne in decay:
And marke of lusty life, th'vnstable staye.
Let who so standes trust to a stedfast holde,
(If he suppose, he may a steedy finde)
And then he neede not stagger when he nolde:
As I and others calde againe to minde
But trust not Fortune, she is counted blinde
To prayse hir prankes, occasion giues no cause,
Do wysely or you prayse hir, take the pause:
Else may you proue, your selues at length but dawes.
(If he suppose, he may a steedy finde)
And then he neede not stagger when he nolde:
As I and others calde againe to minde
But trust not Fortune, she is counted blinde
To prayse hir prankes, occasion giues no cause,
Do wysely or you prayse hir, take the pause:
Else may you proue, your selues at length but dawes.
Som loue to boaste what Fortune they haue had:
Som other blame, misfortune thers as fast:
Som tell of Fortunes, there be good and bad:
Som fooles of Fortune make them selues agast:
Some shewe of Fortunes comming, present, past:
And say there is a fate that ruleth all.
But sure it seemes their wisdome is but small:
To talke so much, of lady Fortunes ball.
Som other blame, misfortune thers as fast:
Som tell of Fortunes, there be good and bad:
Som fooles of Fortune make them selues agast:
Some shewe of Fortunes comming, present, past:
And say there is a fate that ruleth all.
But sure it seemes their wisdome is but small:
To talke so much, of lady Fortunes ball.
No Fortune is so bad, our selues ne frame:
There is no chaunce at all hath vs preseru'de:
There is no fate, whom we haue nede to blame:
There is no destinie, but is deseru'de:
No lucke that leaues vs safe, or vnpreseru'de:
Let vs not then complayne of Fortunes skill:
For all our good, descendes from goddes good will,
And of our lewdnes, springeth all our ill.
There is no chaunce at all hath vs preseru'de:
There is no fate, whom we haue nede to blame:
There is no destinie, but is deseru'de:
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Let vs not then complayne of Fortunes skill:
For all our good, descendes from goddes good will,
And of our lewdnes, springeth all our ill.
If so a man might stay on Fortunes holde,
Or else on Prince, as piller of defence:
Then might my self to done the same be bolde
In euery perill, purpose or pretence.
Cassibelan as much as any Prince
Lou'de me his nephewe Irenglas by name,
Both for my feates in armes, and fauour, fame:
And for because I of his linage came.
Or else on Prince, as piller of defence:
Then might my self to done the same be bolde
In euery perill, purpose or pretence.
Cassibelan as much as any Prince
Lou'de me his nephewe Irenglas by name,
Both for my feates in armes, and fauour, fame:
And for because I of his linage came.
I came (by parentes) of his regall race
Liu'de happy dayes (if happy mortall bee)
Had (as I sayd) his fauoure, bare the grace:
I was his loyall nephew franke and free:
But what of this at all preuayled mee?
Yet furdermore the feates of armes I knewe:
I faught in fielde, when mighty Caesar flewe,
And of the Romaynes came, my part I slewe.
Liu'de happy dayes (if happy mortall bee)
Had (as I sayd) his fauoure, bare the grace:
I was his loyall nephew franke and free:
But what of this at all preuayled mee?
Yet furdermore the feates of armes I knewe:
I faught in fielde, when mighty Caesar flewe,
And of the Romaynes came, my part I slewe.
Shall I for this, prayse Fortune, ought at all?
Did Fortune ought in this? no no be sure:
Or shall I blame hir after for my fall?
That neuer could, me any hurt procure:
T'was glory vayne, did sweetely me alure,
Wherfore giue eare, and then with penne disclose,
A tale which (though but rudely I dispose)
Who reades and heares it, both may pleasure those.
Did Fortune ought in this? no no be sure:
Or shall I blame hir after for my fall?
That neuer could, me any hurt procure:
T'was glory vayne, did sweetely me alure,
Wherfore giue eare, and then with penne disclose,
A tale which (though but rudely I dispose)
Who reades and heares it, both may pleasure those.
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Full happy were, our countrey men that dyde,
And noble Nennius in the field we faught:
When first both Britaynes and the Romaynes tride,
With dint of sworde if title theyrs were ought,
They died, in their defence: no pompe they sought,
They liu'de to see, their countrey conquere still:
They died before, they felt of priuate ill:
And bare each other, all their liues goodwill.
And noble Nennius in the field we faught:
When first both Britaynes and the Romaynes tride,
With dint of sworde if title theyrs were ought,
They died, in their defence: no pompe they sought,
They liu'de to see, their countrey conquere still:
They died before, they felt of priuate ill:
And bare each other, all their liues goodwill.
When Caesar so, with shamefull flight recoylde,
And left our Britayne land vnconquerde first
(Which only thought, our realme & vs, t'aue spoild)
We came to see (of all our fielde the worste)
Our souldiers slayne. O cruell Caesar curste
(Quoth we) should all these giltles Britaynes dye,
For thine ambicion, fye O Caesar fye.
Yet darst not byde, but like a dastard flye.
And left our Britayne land vnconquerde first
(Which only thought, our realme & vs, t'aue spoild)
We came to see (of all our fielde the worste)
Our souldiers slayne. O cruell Caesar curste
(Quoth we) should all these giltles Britaynes dye,
For thine ambicion, fye O Caesar fye.
Yet darst not byde, but like a dastard flye.
But then too see them in aray to lye,
And for to see them wounded all before:
Not one but in his place his life did trie.
To see the Romaynes bloudy backes that bore:
In field, flight, dead and scatered on the shore:
What thousand tonges (thinke you) could tel our ioy?
This made our hartes reuiue, this pleasde our Roy:
And we lesse fearde, our enmies all anoye.
And for to see them wounded all before:
Not one but in his place his life did trie.
To see the Romaynes bloudy backes that bore:
In field, flight, dead and scatered on the shore:
What thousand tonges (thinke you) could tel our ioy?
This made our hartes reuiue, this pleasde our Roy:
And we lesse fearde, our enmies all anoye.
With trompets mourning tune, and wayling cryes,
And drummes, & fluites, & shawmes: we sound Adieu,
And for our frendes we watred al our weeping eyes,
As loth to leese the liues of such a noble crue.
To th'earth we bare them all in order due:
According vnto each mans noble fame,
And as their birth requirde and worthy name:
Euen so to honour them, with herce we came.
And drummes, & fluites, & shawmes: we sound Adieu,
And for our frendes we watred al our weeping eyes,
As loth to leese the liues of such a noble crue.
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According vnto each mans noble fame,
And as their birth requirde and worthy name:
Euen so to honour them, with herce we came.
Of noble triumphes after was no spare,
We Britaynes erst, were neuer halfe so glad:
That so we made, the Romaynes hence to fare:
No tonge can tell the harty ioyes we had.
We were therewith so merry moodid mad:
Our fingers tickled still, that came from fight:
We had before our eyes, our enmies flighte,
And nought was seemely there, but swordes in sight.
We Britaynes erst, were neuer halfe so glad:
That so we made, the Romaynes hence to fare:
No tonge can tell the harty ioyes we had.
We were therewith so merry moodid mad:
Our fingers tickled still, that came from fight:
We had before our eyes, our enmies flighte,
And nought was seemely there, but swordes in sight.
So fares it when the meaner giue the spoyle,
And make the mighty all their force reuoke:
So fares it when great victours fele the foyle,
And meaner sortes of counte, do giue the stroke
That pearceth euen the hardest harte of oke:
For where the weaker wyn the wadge of fame,
And stronger leese, their wonted noble name:
The victours hartes, a thousand ioyes enflame.
And make the mighty all their force reuoke:
So fares it when great victours fele the foyle,
And meaner sortes of counte, do giue the stroke
That pearceth euen the hardest harte of oke:
For where the weaker wyn the wadge of fame,
And stronger leese, their wonted noble name:
The victours hartes, a thousand ioyes enflame.
A Iusting then proclaimed was for those,
(And turneys) would approach them selues to trie:
Amongst vs Britayns (not against our foes)
Twene th'Earle of Londons cosen stoute and I,
And both the partes, we both could make perdy:
To win the price, the prayse the pompe consent,
And eke the fame of former warres we ment:
But foolishe was the end of our intent.
(And turneys) would approach them selues to trie:
Amongst vs Britayns (not against our foes)
Twene th'Earle of Londons cosen stoute and I,
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To win the price, the prayse the pompe consent,
And eke the fame of former warres we ment:
But foolishe was the end of our intent.
For why, when glory vayne, stirres men to strife:
When hope of prayse, prouokes them once to Ire:
Then they at all regarde no goodes nor life,
From faithfull frendship, rudely they retyre:
They are so set, with glories gloze on fyre:
That quite, they rule and reason wrest awrye,
They turne away, their frendly fawting eye:
And others each, as fixed foes defie.
When hope of prayse, prouokes them once to Ire:
Then they at all regarde no goodes nor life,
From faithfull frendship, rudely they retyre:
They are so set, with glories gloze on fyre:
That quite, they rule and reason wrest awrye,
They turne away, their frendly fawting eye:
And others each, as fixed foes defie.
O God that workest all the wonders wrought,
(And hast the powre to turne the hartes aliue)
Graunt grace to those, that labour so for nought,
But flitting fame, and titles hauty stryue.
Let not ambition, so the earth depriue
Of worthy wightes: giue them som better grace,
That they may run, for contryes weale their race,
And not their bloud, with brainsicke brawles debace.
(And hast the powre to turne the hartes aliue)
Graunt grace to those, that labour so for nought,
But flitting fame, and titles hauty stryue.
Let not ambition, so the earth depriue
Of worthy wightes: giue them som better grace,
That they may run, for contryes weale their race,
And not their bloud, with brainsicke brawles debace.
Let them not breake the bond of frendly loue
In broyles of bate: but frendly, faultes redresse:
Let not them so their manhod seeke to proue,
By priuate hate, to worke their owne distresse:
So shall they nede their enemies feare the lesse.
Perdy foule forayne foes, them selues they make:
That in their country, for vayne quarels sake:
Do dare in hande, reuenging weapons take.
In broyles of bate: but frendly, faultes redresse:
Let not them so their manhod seeke to proue,
By priuate hate, to worke their owne distresse:
So shall they nede their enemies feare the lesse.
Perdy foule forayne foes, them selues they make:
That in their country, for vayne quarels sake:
Do dare in hande, reuenging weapons take.
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But what nede I on those aliue to staye,
They haue examples good, before their eyes:
By which (if they haue grace) beware they may.
The happiest men, by others harmes are wyse:
Let them not then, our warning wordes despise,
Do will them wysely, of these thinges debate:
For why the foolishe, ay that warning hate
Are neuer wyse, before it be to late.
They haue examples good, before their eyes:
By which (if they haue grace) beware they may.
The happiest men, by others harmes are wyse:
Let them not then, our warning wordes despise,
Do will them wysely, of these thinges debate:
For why the foolishe, ay that warning hate
Are neuer wyse, before it be to late.
Perhaps thou thinkst, to long a time I staye:
(And from that I proposed erst digresse)
Because that here (as it were by the way)
For warnings sake, my conscience I professe.
Yet for my breatch of compasse, blame me lesse
In talke: sith that thou come to heare mee art,
Which seeme (as wemen vse) to reame my harte:
Before I come, to open all my smarte.
(And from that I proposed erst digresse)
Because that here (as it were by the way)
For warnings sake, my conscience I professe.
Yet for my breatch of compasse, blame me lesse
In talke: sith that thou come to heare mee art,
Which seeme (as wemen vse) to reame my harte:
Before I come, to open all my smarte.
Wee spent the daye in iusting (as I sayde)
Appoynted erst, among our selues before,
And all the feates of armes (in fielde) we playde,
AEnaeas taught our auncestours of yore.
What nede I fill thine eares with talking more?
My men, and I had put those feates in vre:
And he likewyse: but nothing yet so sure,
Which did (at length) my haplesse ende procure.
Appoynted erst, among our selues before,
And all the feates of armes (in fielde) we playde,
AEnaeas taught our auncestours of yore.
What nede I fill thine eares with talking more?
My men, and I had put those feates in vre:
And he likewyse: but nothing yet so sure,
Which did (at length) my haplesse ende procure.
For as with fortune still I gaue the foyle
To him (that thought the glory all to haue)
When he perceau'de he could not keepe the coyle,
Nor yet with equall match him selfe to saue.
Occasion of discension great he gaue,
In steede of iest, he offred earnest playe:
In lieu of sport, he spite did foule displaye:
In steed of mirth, both malice and decaye.
To him (that thought the glory all to haue)
When he perceau'de he could not keepe the coyle,
Nor yet with equall match him selfe to saue.
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In steede of iest, he offred earnest playe:
In lieu of sport, he spite did foule displaye:
In steed of mirth, both malice and decaye.
The traytour vile, the tyraunt (so he prou'de)
With cowardes, cankarde, hatefull, hasty, Ire:
And caytifes dealing, shewde how he me lou'de,
When as he could not to his hope aspyre:
To wyn the prayse of triumphe his desire,
He callengde me, and here began the broyle:
He thought with banding braue, to keepe the coyle:
Or else with flattes, and facinges me to foyle.
With cowardes, cankarde, hatefull, hasty, Ire:
And caytifes dealing, shewde how he me lou'de,
When as he could not to his hope aspyre:
To wyn the prayse of triumphe his desire,
He callengde me, and here began the broyle:
He thought with banding braue, to keepe the coyle:
Or else with flattes, and facinges me to foyle.
And that because the iudgment fauourd me,
Perdy report almost of all the route,
Ran still that I, was worthy praysde to be,
And often times they gaue me all a shoute:
This made myne enmies stare and looke aboute,
And often wyshe them euill aloude that cryde:
Such is the nature still of naughty pryde,
Can nothing lesse, than others prayse abyde.
Perdy report almost of all the route,
Ran still that I, was worthy praysde to be,
And often times they gaue me all a shoute:
This made myne enmies stare and looke aboute,
And often wyshe them euill aloude that cryde:
Such is the nature still of naughty pryde,
Can nothing lesse, than others prayse abyde.
Wee twayne (quoth he) betweene our selues will trye
Alone our manhodes both if thou consent.
We ought not breake the prince his peace (quoth I)
His grace would not be well therwith content.
And sith no hurt, was here nor malice mente:
You ought not so, on choler take it ill,
Though I to wyn the price put forth my skill:
But rather therfore, beare me more good will.
Alone our manhodes both if thou consent.
We ought not breake the prince his peace (quoth I)
His grace would not be well therwith content.
And sith no hurt, was here nor malice mente:
You ought not so, on choler take it ill,
Though I to wyn the price put forth my skill:
But rather therfore, beare me more good will.
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To which he aunswerd as despite had spoke,
With hasty wordes and tauntes of hygher peres.
I list not any iote (quoth he) reuoke,
Of that is sayd, ne darste thou for thine eares
(What euer lookes in place thy fauters beares)
Alone to mete me in the field to fraye.
But I may hap (by chaunce) to finde the day,
Wherein thou shalt, not beare the price away.
With hasty wordes and tauntes of hygher peres.
I list not any iote (quoth he) reuoke,
Of that is sayd, ne darste thou for thine eares
(What euer lookes in place thy fauters beares)
Alone to mete me in the field to fraye.
But I may hap (by chaunce) to finde the day,
Wherein thou shalt, not beare the price away.
As for the king we doubte if he be heyre,
The kingdome is the Earle of Londons right.
And though that he the prince his person beare
(In his nonage) he ought not reue it quyte,
Ne shall he stay mee if I mynde to fighte.
Then where thou speakst (quoth he) of princes peace,
And wouldst me warne, from furder dealing seace:
Thou better were (perhaps) to holde thy peace.
The kingdome is the Earle of Londons right.
And though that he the prince his person beare
(In his nonage) he ought not reue it quyte,
Ne shall he stay mee if I mynde to fighte.
Then where thou speakst (quoth he) of princes peace,
And wouldst me warne, from furder dealing seace:
Thou better were (perhaps) to holde thy peace.
On which I playnly sayde, highe treason t'was:
So much to speake, against our soueraigne Lorde,
Quoth I, the boundes of modestie you passe:
That dare your case with prince his right accorde:
Your betters would far better wordes auorde,
And you perhaps your selfe so stoute that showe
Which make as though you sought his ouerthrowe,
Shall shortly more his grace his pleasure knowe.
So much to speake, against our soueraigne Lorde,
Quoth I, the boundes of modestie you passe:
That dare your case with prince his right accorde:
Your betters would far better wordes auorde,
And you perhaps your selfe so stoute that showe
Which make as though you sought his ouerthrowe,
Shall shortly more his grace his pleasure knowe.
With that (quoth Elenine) for so hee hight,
That was the Erle his cosine and my foe:
Thy selfe a traytour rather semest right,
That darste presume amongst thy betters so,
And euen with that I raught to him a bloe:
My frendes likewyse, could not this wrong abyde,
They drew, and so did those on th'other syde:
We freshly fought, and other each defyde.
That was the Erle his cosine and my foe:
Thy selfe a traytour rather semest right,
That darste presume amongst thy betters so,
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My frendes likewyse, could not this wrong abyde,
They drew, and so did those on th'other syde:
We freshly fought, and other each defyde.
But I was all the marke, wherat they shotte,
The malice still, was ment to none but mee:
At mee they cast, and drewe mee for the lotte,
Which should of all reuenge the ransom bee:
Wherfore they layde about them francke and free,
Till mee they tooke, so compast round about:
As I could not scape from amongst them out:
Was neuer knight, betrayde with such a route.
The malice still, was ment to none but mee:
At mee they cast, and drewe mee for the lotte,
Which should of all reuenge the ransom bee:
Wherfore they layde about them francke and free,
Till mee they tooke, so compast round about:
As I could not scape from amongst them out:
Was neuer knight, betrayde with such a route.
To make it short I singled was therfore,
Euen as the deare to finde his fatall stroke:
I could not scape, away from them no more:
My pageaunt was in presence there bespoke:
A pillowe they prepared mee of oke:
My handes they bounde, along my corps they led,
From of my shoulders, quite they strooke my head,
And with my death, their cruell eyes they fed.
Euen as the deare to finde his fatall stroke:
I could not scape, away from them no more:
My pageaunt was in presence there bespoke:
A pillowe they prepared mee of oke:
My handes they bounde, along my corps they led,
From of my shoulders, quite they strooke my head,
And with my death, their cruell eyes they fed.
If euer man that seru'de his Prince with payne,
And well deserued of his publique weale:
If euer knight esteemde it greatest gayne:
For Prince, and countrey in the warres to deale,
My selfe was such, which ventred life and heale
At all assayes, to saue my natiue soyle:
(With all my labour, trauayle, payne and toyle)
Both from the force of foes, and forayne spoyle.
And well deserued of his publique weale:
If euer knight esteemde it greatest gayne:
For Prince, and countrey in the warres to deale,
221
At all assayes, to saue my natiue soyle:
(With all my labour, trauayle, payne and toyle)
Both from the force of foes, and forayne spoyle.
Yet here you see, at home I had my fall,
Not by my fearcest foes, that came in warre:
But by my frende, I gate this griping thrall,
When foly framde, vs both at home to iarre.
Oh that my countrey man, should raunge so farre,
From wisdomes way, to wed hym self to will:
From reasons rule, to wreste his wittes to ill:
From frendship fast, his dearest frend to kill.
Not by my fearcest foes, that came in warre:
But by my frende, I gate this griping thrall,
When foly framde, vs both at home to iarre.
Oh that my countrey man, should raunge so farre,
From wisdomes way, to wed hym self to will:
From reasons rule, to wreste his wittes to ill:
From frendship fast, his dearest frend to kill.
Well bid the rest, beware of triumphes such:
Bid them beware for titles vayne to striue:
Bid them not trust such sullayne frendes to much:
Bid them not so, their honours high atchieue:
For if they will, preserue their names aliue:
There is no better way, to worke the same:
Then to eschue, of tyrannie the blame:
Meke clemency, deserues a noble name.
Bid them beware for titles vayne to striue:
Bid them not trust such sullayne frendes to much:
Bid them not so, their honours high atchieue:
For if they will, preserue their names aliue:
There is no better way, to worke the same:
Then to eschue, of tyrannie the blame:
Meke clemency, deserues a noble name.
FINIS.
222
The Authour.
With that (me thought) he vanisht quite away:
And I was come to end my worke at last:
Not minding longer on the which to staye,
My penne did trudge to wryte these verses fast.
I trust sith once, they haue the Printer past
That went before: these fragmentes come behinde,
Shall of the Readers, likewyse fauour finde.
And I was come to end my worke at last:
Not minding longer on the which to staye,
My penne did trudge to wryte these verses fast.
I trust sith once, they haue the Printer past
That went before: these fragmentes come behinde,
Shall of the Readers, likewyse fauour finde.
So of my first part here I make an ende,
The Seconde parte which I haue now to fyle
Doth call me hence, from these to those to wende:
In which if God send grace to guyde my style,
I shall (I trust) and that in shorter whyle,
Againe retourne, to Printers presse with those:
Which shal likewise, their fight and falles disclose.
The Seconde parte which I haue now to fyle
Doth call me hence, from these to those to wende:
In which if God send grace to guyde my style,
I shall (I trust) and that in shorter whyle,
Againe retourne, to Printers presse with those:
Which shal likewise, their fight and falles disclose.
Till then farewell a thousand times to thee,
Which takst in hand this booke to shun the ill,
That was the fall of these describde by mee,
And haste to mende their faultes a firme good will,
I wishe thy health, increase of vertu still,
Adieu farewell, I haue but this to say,
God send vs both his heauenly grace for aye.
Which takst in hand this booke to shun the ill,
That was the fall of these describde by mee,
And haste to mende their faultes a firme good will,
I wishe thy health, increase of vertu still,
Adieu farewell, I haue but this to say,
God send vs both his heauenly grace for aye.
I. Higgins.
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