University of Virginia Library

Fforweried wth cares, and sorrowes source supprest,
and worldlie woos of sharpe repulse that bredes vnquyet rest,
confusd wth courtlie cares, a seate of slipper stay,
that yeldes the draught of bitter swete to such as drawes yt way,
In Silent sort I sought, vnwyst of any wight,
to attempt some meane howe well I cold my heavy burden light;
where eche delight did strive, attendinge for there torne,
what fyttest were for feble myndes, and thus the plee begonne:
Abrode, qth my desire, repose the wth suche rest
as may revyve thie pensive thought wth sorowe so distrest.
But tyme bad me retyre, this is no season mete,
for feldishe sportes be nowe exempt that might thie sprites delighte.
Qth fansye: then enforce thie selffe from suche dispaire,
assay yf that thie mevses trades may ought dissolve thie care;
pervse some pleasunte stile that may delight the brayne,
and prove by practyse of the pen to file the wyttes agayne.
But reason did conclude, who bade be ruled by me,
Devyne Camenes never cold wth Mavors rage agree,
Ne yet Minerva mevse wth skill was depelie scande,
when as Bellona did decree wth bloody sworde in hande;
ffor who dothe wrest his will to wrastle in eche wronge
It is as he shold stope the streame, or sporne against the sone.
what yeldes no sure hope the wysest men will grutge,
for what procedes of suche effectes the gravest wyttes may Judge.
mesure by myrthe some meane that may thie greves disgest;
Solace the rage of hevmayne cares wthin a gladsome brest.
wth Silence them soyorne, except that yu canst finde
a frend on whom thou maist repose thie secretes of thie mynde.
but rarenes of suche one may warne the to bewayre,
for Kinde have taught It seldome seen that sewgred speech to spaire.
suche is the fraude of faith in silent eares that ringe,
where greater poyson is not founde wthin thie scorphion stinge.
ffor stedfastnes dothe flie wth winges of often change,
a flyinge birde but seldome seen, her nature is so strange.
Tho Silence do allay no rage to stormy thoughte,
yet is distrust a bankroote gest, and wronge avalethe nowght.
Th'unadventured meane do seldome hope reteane:
for what attempt but once atchived to countervale the meane?
ffor, as the watrye showers delayes the raginge wynde,
so dothe good hope clene put away dispaire owt of ye mynde.
a toche stone is eche vse that may thie care recure,
and weare away in tract of tyme, for nothing may endure.
It was when awtum had fild full the barnes wth corne,
and he that eates and emtyes all away had awtum worne,
and wynter windes approcht that doth I-bayre the tren,
and Saturnes frostes, that steanes the earth, had perst the tendr grene;
and dampishe mystes discendes when tempestes work much harme,
and force of stormes do make all cold that somer had made warme;
whose lustie hewe dispoiled cold not possesse thie place,
ne yet abide Boreas blastes that althinges dothe deface.
what reason had decreed I whollie was enclynde,
I sought by solitarye meanes to recreat my mynde.
But solitarynes is, as the sowthfast sayen,
hewe of dispaire, ffoo to thie weale and friendlie to eche payne.
for Slender are the greves that Silence do vnlade,
for who had seen my stepes might Judge what cares was in my heade.
my dowbtfull pace bewrayed the weary trace I tryed,
for everie stepe did argewe stryffe, to hewmayne myndes affyed.
my mevse was not in plight to alter this discourse,
but bett my branes wth bitter bale and woos of worldlie force.
The casualls accident to eche state and degree
I did debate, and what It was from daunger to be free
of Slipper welthe, and howe the worldlie gwiles are sought,
that waistes as winde and faster wears then flame wth fier is wrought;
wherewth my bewsye heade presented unto me
Such sowre change, suche sodaine fall, as in this realme had bee;
where I attendant lay in porte of princes pay,
did linger forthe my painefull yers prorogd from day to day,
whereas I might wyttnes this state wth rufull Eye,
from weale to woo, from welth to wast, and worce if ought might be;
ffor through that forraigne change my credytt crakt ye string
wth those wth whom in faythfull league I longe before had bene.
I oft bethought howe that Dame Fortune did assay
to flatter me, and sett me upp in court to beare a swaye
wth prince of noble fame, whom if I shold discrye,
where nature skilfull poinctes do flowe, or bewtie doth supplie,
I shold but heare mayneteyne a volume of her price,
and so at lengthe Invade by right the boundes of eche devyse;
ffor at her onelye name my mevses all do stay:
my pen is not in perfytt plight her graces to displaie.
and howe Fortune forethought to heape on me that hape,
as trustles to her fickle trades to rowle owt of her lappe,
That wth her friendlie chere bewytcht me wth her wiles,
and wone my wyttes as other mo that trustes her when she smiles.
I sawe the Quene, whose will, occurant wth her yeres,
was wone to worke oft that she wold by counsaile of her peres.
It was the winged boy had perst her tender thought,
and Venus Joyes so tickled her that force avaled nought.
On Darlie did she dote, who, equall in this mase,
sought to assalt the forte of fame, defenst with yeas and nayes;
wch for a while repulst, and had no passage in,
but still porsewt did rase the seige that might the fortresse wyne;
who, stronglie thus beseiged wth battry round aboute,
at last was forst to yeld the keis: she cold not hold hym owte;
But rendered Sacke and spoile vnto the victors grace:
so rytch a pray did not the Grekes by Helens meanes possesse.
To regall charge of rule she did advaunce his state,
and gave the sworde into his hand that bred Civill Debate.
This was affection force, that blewe this gale of wynde;
This registreth the found pretence wthin a womans mynde;
This calls vs to reporte, and proves the proverbe trewe,
that wemens wills are sonest wone in that they after rewe.
This brede a brutyshe broile and caused cankred spight,
to move the myndes of suche as did envy a strangers might.
vnder wch shade was shrowde an other fyrme intente,
and so, by color of that change, to doe what he was bente;
wch made muche myserye, and wrought this realme to wrake,
and sturde a stiveling sture amongest the muffled contre packe,
that mustred eche where in forme and force of warre,
and clapt on armor for the feld as they comannded warre.
The rechles rule I sawe reduced to my mynde
the slipper state of worldlie wealth that heare on earth we find.
ffor those whose grave advice In Judgement semed vpright,
Sawest wth the skill of expert yeres, was clene devorst of might.
There faythfull service sounke, and they, exiled clene,
and other mo did stire the sterne that had least skill therein;
wch grated but for gayne, and gropt for private pray,
wrestinge suche sence of lawes as did there glosing trades bewray.
I sawe howe right was rackt, and shadowed wth wronge,
and treason shone in feaned mindes as doth the somer sone.
I sawe the auncyent race, from noble bloode extracte,
wth Rigor chast from native shores, there landes and livinges sackt,
and some I sawe that sought to beare the sway allone,
who fayred as tho that they cold gwide a shipe against ye storm;
whose practise if were proved in weldinge such a charge,
I do beleve have not the skill in calme to stire a barge.
And some I sawe sytt still whose wisdome well I knewe
as far excedes as Phebus doth Surpasse Awroras hewe;
whose goodlie gwyftes are suche, the more they vnderstande,
the more they seeke to learne and knowe and take lesse charge in hande.
I sawe the ffrendliee ffoo howe he did sytt and smile,
and faund vpon the comon gest wth craft of crocodile;
I sawe the ffrendlie man wounde in a volwyshe weede,
and howe the faythfull was enforst with procry to procede;
I sawe howe trewe report was bankrowt wth the rest,
that hardlie might susteane the force that open wronge profest;
I saw Adthole abridge wth craft to conquere cost,
and forge that fact by forraigne foos that his discent might bost;
I sawe what Morton ment by shufflinge for his share,
Imbrasinge those that shrowdes the shame of his possessed care;
I sawe howe Cassells crowcht, affirmynge yea and na,
as redyest when chaunce brings chang to drive and drawe yt way;
I sawe Crawforde encroche on Slipperie renowne,
that curre favell in the court might retche to higher rowme;
I saw how Lyddington did powder It wth pen,
and fyled so his sewgred speche as wone the wills of men;
I sawe howe Lyndsey Lurkt, vnconstant of his trade,
alluding by his duble meanes that might his lust vnlade;
I sawe howe Hewme in hope did hoist the sale aloft,
and howe he anker weighed wth those that most for credyt sought;
I sawe howe Ruthven reigned as one of gnators kinde,
and howe he first prefferd his ple, respondent to his mynde;
I sawe what Maxwell mente in kindlinge the flame,
and after how he sought newe meanes to choke the smoke agayne;
whose dowble Dealinge did argewe vnconstant fayth,
and shamefull wayes blowes forthe the brute yt may record his death.
wth feble force I sawe howe Leonox did entende
as thristie of a princlie rewle to regestre his Ende;
I saw the weake advise that Darlie did aforde,
as yonge in wytt as fewe of yeres to weld the Regall sworde;
I saw the Quene was bent, wth Rigorus entente,
to subyect to the thristie sworde the blood of Innocente.
And sodainelie I sawe howe Balforde credytt sought,
and howe from nought he start aloft to beare the freey in court;
and sundrye mo I sawe to wrastle for the tyme,
to daunte eche Dome, whom they suspect to drawe wthin there lyne.
ffor Adthole bare the swindge, wth feble skill to rule,
but who, bolder then blinde byarde, the proverbe doth reveale.
ffor, where th'untaught do teach, there hope groves owt of kinde,
that is the wracke to worldlie welthe where blinde doth lead ye blynde.
Thus slender was there sage of wisdome clene bereft,
for eche man prowld for private pray: the publicke weale was left;
ffor theis that did awayte to further eche degree,
and floryshe in the comon weale, from counsaile they were free.
ffor Murray constant fayth and ardent ȝeale to truthe
had not the grace to fordge and feane yt worldlie wyttes pursewthe.
Nor Hamilton cold have no hope to hold his seate,
Nor yett Argile to abide the court: the pirrye was to greate.
Rothose might not resyst that stedfastnes profest,
nor Glencarne cold averde wth wrong yt Rigor had inc[r]est;
Nor Boide wold not attempt the trades of no mystrust,
nor Ogletree concure wth suche as rewled but for lust;
Grange wold not grate for grace, no burden he wold beare,
whose horye head, expert in warrs, did bred the courtyers feare.
By those was right erect, and wilfull wronge supprest,
there Judgementes ever vncontrolde did floryshe wth the best.
Theis sought by civill meanes for to advaunce the realme,
and ryfflie did reprove such lawes as damaged the same.
Theis were the gravest wyttes that ever did awayte
by puplishing suche civill lawes as bettred eche estate.
Theis were th'afflicted flocke that Rigor did pursewe,
wch bred the bale in suche as did there hevye myshapes rewe.
There fame dothe wyttnes this that gives them there dewe prayse,
and comon mouthes dothe mysreporte that wold suche men Imbrace.
and bewsye brute complaynes vnto eche Silente eare,
that want of those shall once enforce a strange estate to appere.
I sawe them chast away, the Quene wold not abide
there grave advise that counsaled her to watch a better tide.
her will had wounde her so to wrastle in this wronge
that no restraint might rest her rage her extremes to suborne.
I sawe howe fyckle fame do sore from frend to frende,
and made there mouths a pray to suche as cold them apprehende;
and howe the willinge eare was sowne redust to wronge,
yf ought apperde might proffyt hym or serve to his torne.
I sawe the willinge man howe glade he was to live
fre from Suspect, and that his means might no occasion give
to the sedecious sort, where dyscorde dyd attende,
how to Impeche the giltles wight vnwillinge to offende.
and some I sawe appeald did haȝered to bee free,
and howe that some wth willinge myndes complande them selves to me,
wch breed me more vnrest, endost from day to daie,
that with my will a thousand tymes I wisht my selffe awaye,
that my attendaunce heare might not have wytnest this;
or termes of yeres might not Import howe sowre dyscorde is
that Boiles in noble bloodes, when fyerye hart begwynes
to rage and Reve wth civill wars, that all Impacience bringes
In those devyded myndes that thristes for noble bloode,
and seekes no Rigor to redresse but by the civill sworde;
In spight of all respect runs muffled wth there will,
as mothes vnto there parentes prayse there trades do frete and spill,
and clowdes there former fame that shone in there forbears,
and caterpillers to there glore that doth perteyne to those
that whilome did floryshe and shone wthin this realme,
and left no steane vnto there stocke yt myght Impeche there fame.
This sawe I clene reyect, regawrde of no myshape
Cold once advyse them to prevent the evell successe yey had;
The porpose they profest in comon movthes did ringe
that there intent was for no wrong yt might endanger bringe.
yett sawe I howe they slackt there Interprise profeste,
I sawe th'occasions they lett slipe that might have helped best.
But what avaleth this? lett theis debatementes goo,
for Gode will shewe his mightie worke and what perteyns theretoo.
Remembrance of theis did newe cause of cares encrease,
as thoo that force of nature strive howe to confounde my ease;
and what my wearie Lyef have wone wth such vnrest
the powdred heires vpon my head can testify It best.
No practise I cold vse that might vnlade my paine:
the forge of this mysorder so did beate wthin my brayne;
and, restles in this rage, to ease my wearye pace,
my mevse bade me retyre my selffe vnto my booke a space;
whereas I might decerne (wth rufull Eye) what Bale
was incident in everie estate where Tirantes do prevale,
where wicked princes rules, and eke what slaughters made,
where restles rage of civill wares do cruell hartes Invade.
ffor there bloody pretence do spayre ne kythe ne kyn,
ne frende ne foo that Rigour may vnto his danger bringe;
where I decerned what ruth oft rigor kept in awe,
and cruell force had once opprest wth might of tirantes lawe.
Examples there I sawe, a testymonye plaine,
that bloodye feictes dothe aske vengiance and thirstes for blood againe.
A president hereof was Cirus, whose delight
was ever prest in bloody fectes for to declare his might.
Tho makeless yet he was in Riches and in might,
This gwerdon was alloted him—a scharpe revenge of spight,—
his head dismemb[e]red into a vessell fraught
wth blood of those that felte her force the angry Quene she raught,
And wth theis wordes she said: nowe, Cirus, drink ye fill,
nowe slake the thrist wth gore of suche in rage yu sought to spill.
Chambises there I sawe, a mirror of myscheffe,
whose handes enbrewed wth brothers blood did short his wretched lief.
his hatefull bloody brest, so salvaged owte of kinde,
recordes at Lenghe his fatall ende, a iust rewarde assinde;
and while he this conspired, bereft of wyttes he founde
a sworde that thrust his body throughe, wch he of Lief benowmbd;
and blodye Brutus that his fatall ende might rewe,
and Cassius rightlie gorde hym selffe wherewth he Cesar slewe.
and Bessus tratrous hart, armed wth the murd[r]ers kniffe,
wth bloodye [fect] against his Kinge bereft his mr Lyef.
The drerye dewle I rede of mightie Macedoo,
when Clitus death (the frendlie man) wth teares he sorowed soo;
who after bent to fane refusinge kinglie foode
had queld hym selffe, a giltie end, had not his frendes wthstoode.
The prowd Kinge Dionyse, whose Rigor sore opprest
his realme, reveales how he him selfe at last wth dread was strest;
wherein Tirantes may see the fyne of forced feare,
a mirror eke for magistrates, in this prowd prince appeare.
No garde his cruell hart of Saftie cold assure,
for, dreadinge those whom he ought deme of his complice most sure,
hym selffe his bearde, his brest wth bornynge brands wold ceere,
of deathe deserved his gwiltie hart so vexed hym wth feare.
me thought this might Suffyce to represent the fyne
of Tirantes force, where Royall harts might at there rage repyne,
And magistrates might see what feares and what vnrest
in Raginge hartes that thristes for blood is equallie Imprest;
and howe the gwiltles blood that is vniustlie shede
dothe crave revenge (o dredfull thinge!) vpon the tirantes seade;
And what sowre Successe suche bloody myndes Imbrace,
and howe the rage of tyrantes hartes wth blood rewarded was,
that oft I wysht some wold of newe there woos discryve
to warne the rest whom frendlie fayte as yet have left alive;
And that the fall of those that in this realme have bee
might presse abrode amongest the rest, yt forraigne states might see
That there vnfrendlie fayte are equal wth the rest,
whom frowarde fortune vncontrold wth bitter hapes distrest;
whereas It might appeare, and all estates might knowe
howe frutfull warnynge is to suche as wold be free from woo.
Thus mewsinge as I satt, I leand my wearye Arme
vnto a stay that for a while might ease my Rovinge brayne.
But nothinge cold avale, so muche was my mysease,
till, tending downe vnto my booke, the watch forsooke my Eyes,
And swete slepe did attempt to alter this discourse,
that wasted so my wearie corpes wth rage of worldlie force.
whether this restles rage that I cold not vnlade
It was, or ells that still perforce the hevmors of the heade
did troble me anewe, as fansyes drives by Dreames,
or Morpheus mynded I shold have a traunce of suche remaynes
as erst I longe foriudged, and so I might constreane
to forme a plote as witt cold worke the braunches in my brayne;
There sodainelie I sawe one thrust in at the Doore,
who said the Quene is here at hand, and bad avoide befoore.
wth that the lightes appeared, the waters were at hande,
and orderlie prepared a place whereas the Quene shold stand.
The great resort that ought to suche estates pteyane
made me to deame that was not she yt had so small a trayne.
I knewe her at the sight, then reverence made me ryse,
and humble me as best became or dewtie cold devyse.
she gave a signe as thoo she wold I should attende
vnto her tale, where I might iudge to what she might pretende.
my Reverence made and done, then Silence did forwarne
the standers by, and all was whusht, & thus the Quene beganne:

The Quenes Matie complante of a mysordered comon weale.

Wth that I start from slepe, the Slomber left my Eyes,
fforiudging what I erst forthought, wth hevy moude I ryse,
And what prefixt I see apparant in my dreame,
and howe, to answer all my hope, I hard the Quene complaine;
I dowbted then my pace, thryse did my trowbled thought
Revolt wth woo the Loukles lott that in this world is sought.
I did forecast eche cares that Kyngdomes do resygne,
And eke the Sliperie estate of those for fame that clyme;
I reckened the rule that peres and princes hold
to be a seat that sonest sinckes when fortune waxeth cold;
I demed it daungerous in court to beare a sway,
for that my yeres forespent might Judge howe some was worne away,
whose change and sodaine fall wth ruthe recordethe this,
that shewe by prouffe a paterne prest howe bryttle honor is;
And eke what stepes of stryffe belonge to highe estate,
for that oftyme the seate it selffe do purchaise prevye hate;
The leaves whereof do fall as fast as sprowtes do springe
that cannot last but worne wth such, It is so vayne a thinge.
And howe the clymmynge vpe is dowbtfull to endure,
and that the hope of honors hold is fyckle and vnsure.
I did foriudge the dread that dothe vnlad eche blame,
for eke from hye discendes the bolt, the fulgent flashe of flame.
I weighed warelie to shune the shiftes that schrowdes no shame
of suche as robes the meanest sort engrossinge but for gayne,
And howe in Judgement syttes Rigor wth feaned face,
Suppressinge some, advansinge those where right nor reason was.
And where Envye doth regne and beares the chefest price,
where greater poyson is not founde wthin the cokatryce;
And howe deceyte doth forge and feanethe eke his woo,
and gives the cupe of bitter swete to pledge his mortall ffoo.
And this I thought most strange, howe nature doth forsake
the bloode that in her wombe was wrought as doth the lothed snake,
And howe a feaned frende do powder so his termes,
wth false effect, that truth can try no trades to trust his meanes,
And howe that slipper trust dothe lett no losse to lend,
and eke the rarenes to Imbrace th'affyance of a frende;
And howe fansye abides no longer then she lust,
But as the wynde dothe often chang and is not for to trust.
And when all this I thus had weighed wth many moo,
and of suche accidentes as theis through eche degree that goo,
And howe everye estate is Subyect to Rewyn,
and sowner sinckes the highest sort than they that live in meane.
And howe or tyme dothe Rone, as sand owt of the glasse,
even as ech howre apoincted is from tyme and tide to passe,
And that my yeres forespent wth sporte of youthfull plaies
do nowe abridge my losse of gayne wthin my horye herres;
And howe the ffeble threede of Lief vertewe dothe spyne,
and shewes the end of everie worke before It dothe begwyne.
I then said to my selffe: me thinkes this may assure
all those that clyme to honors seate, there state may not endure.
The hills of highest hight are sonest perskt with sone;
The Silver streames wth somers drowght are letten oft to Rone;
The loftiest trees and groves are Ryfest rent wth winde;
the brushe and breres that thikest growe the flame will sonest find;
The loftie Rewynge towres there falls the ffeller bee;
most ferse dothe fulgent Lightnyng light where furthest we may see;
The Gorgyous pallace deckt and reard vp to the skye
are souner shokt wth wynter Stormes than meaner bwildinges bee;
Such hape have loftie myndes that syttes in highest seate,
when hatefull hartes disdeane thereat, and envy therat threat.
Vpon the highest mountes The stormy wyndes do blowe;
The sewer seate and Quyet lief is in the vale belowe;
By reason I regawrde the meane estate most sure,
that wayteth on the golden meane and harmles may endure.
The man that wyselie workes in welthe doth feare no tides,
when fortune failes dispeareth not, but stedfastlie abides.
ffor he that sendeth stormes wth windes and wynter blastes
and steanes wth hale the wynter face & fils each soile wth frostes,
he slakes the force of cold, he sendes the somer hott,
he causethe bayle to stormy hartes, of Joy the spring & Roote.
Reader, regawrde this well, as I of force nowe must
appoinct thie mewse to merke my verse, thus ruffled vp in rust;
And Lerne this last of me: Imbrace thie porpose prest,
and lett no storme to blowe thie blastes, to lose thie port of rest.
And tho thie gale be great & frowarde fortune fayle,
againe when wynde do serve at will hoist not to hye the saile.
ffor prowffe may toche the stone to prove this firme and plaine,
that no estate may countervale the gyld or golden meane.