A pleasaunte Laborinth called Churchyardes Chance ::

A pleasaunte Laborinth called Churchyardes Chance

framed on Fancies, uttered with verses, and writtee[n] to giue solace to eury well disposed mynde: wherein not withstanding are many heauie Epitaphes, sad and sorowfull discourses and sutche a multitude of other honest pastymes for the season (and passages of witte) that the reader therein maie thinke his tyme well bestowed. All whiche workes for the pleasure of the worlde, and recreation of the worthie, and dedicated to the right honourable sir Thomas Bromley, Knight, Lorde Chancelour of Englande [by Thomas Churchyard]

Churchyard, Thomas (1520?-1604)

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My Ladie of Lennoyes graces Epitaphe.

An Epitaphe of sir Nicholas Bacon Knight, late Lorde Keeper.

Sir Hugh Pauletts Epitaphe.

Sir VVillyam Courtneis Epitaphe.

Sir VVillyam Pickryngrs Epitaphe.

Maister Hampdens Epitaphe.

My Ladie Baggnalles Epitaphe who died at the Nuerie.

An Epitaphe of one maistres Blunt, The Ladie Pauletts sister.

Maister VValter Archer his Epitaphe, an auncient Borgis of Kilkenie

The Lorde Braies Epitaphe.

Sir Jhon Constables Epitaphe.

The phantasticall Monarkes Epitaphe.

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Of the fickle faithe of men.

Of a Flatterer and a Backbiter.

A good description of a freende.

A warnyng from Courte.

Of a Courtiers life, and how the worst sorte findes beste Fortune.

Of woordes spoken by a greate personage.

A description of Desire.

Of a vicious woman.

Of vnsounde freendes.

A matter of fonde Cupid, and vain Venus.

This showes the vanitie of some hopes.

The meetyng of twoo noble knightes of the Garter (sir Henry Sidney, and the Erle of Essex) in Irelande, twoo miles beyond Dradath the xxj, of September, and 17 yere in the raigne of our souerain ladie Quene Elizabeth.

Of my Lorde cheef Baron that was.

Of a noble personage.

A letter in Maie, sent to Maister Henry Knowles house at Gobbyns.

Of the want of will.

Of twoo vertuous sisters.

Translated out of Latine.

A discription of the goodnesse that growes in Cicilia.

A matter of repulce, goyng to the Sea.

Of one that for vertues sake honored a freend.

VVritten from the Countrey twentie yere agoe, to one that poorely remaines at the Courte yet.

Of an iniurie by faunyng freendes.

Of the quietnesse that plaine Countrey bryngeth.

Of a fearfull Dreame.

Of a harde worlde.

Made against Idell and vain Rimes.

Of the vanitie of youth.

VVritten of a gentleman, whose name is in the verses.

Non est fides super terram.

Of a disdainfull persone.

A letter to maister Cressie.

A speciall trifle on a fickle woman.

Uerses written on the Muster that was made by the Pensioners before the Queene.

VVritten of the Queene, when her highnesse was in trouble.

Verses giuen the Quenes highnesse at windsor.

A Newe yeres gift to the Erle of Ormond, giuen at Kilkennie, when the Erle of Essex was in Irelande.

A touche stone to trie an error from a trothe.

For the losse of a mightie and noble mannes fauour.

Verses that were giuen to the Quenes maiestie.

A rebuke to vaine louers.

Of fained frendshippe.

Uerses that weare giuen to a moste mightie personage.

The louers of the worlde.

Of a noble mynde.

Of doubtfull hope.

Of the flantyng worlde.

Of a fantasticall dreame taken out of Petrarke.

A fancie as an answere to that dreame.

A fantasie on fifteene woordes, endyng all in one letter.

Of the strong and the weake.

Of Youth and Age.

Of the short estate of man.

The praise of mistres Mabell Browne, wherein vertue is honoured.

Of wandryng and gaddyng abroad.

Of faire thynges and foule, where in a vertuous Ladie is sette out.

Of an enemie.

VVritten in the beginnyng of Kyng Edwardes raigne, whiche verses are called Dauie Dicars Dreame.

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Sir Jhon Constables Epitaphe.

In lookyng through these worldly happs, (so walkyng where I would:)
And waiyng well with equall paies, the weight of yearthly mould.
I heard a sadd, and priuie voice, as though some fearfull spreete:
(In hollowe Caue, or vaute of stone) had spoke from shroudyng sheete.
It badde me looke to true report, that Tymes cheef daughter is:
And sett a side all fonde affects, whiche leads the penne amis.
Thou hast quoth he for fauours sake, prais'd some thou didst not knowe:
I was thy freende, wherefore in verse, my course of life doe showe.
These woords pronouncst, he silence kept, and vanisht so awaie:
His soule to Skies, his fame to worlde, his corps to clotts of claie.
Then to my Muse, I gan repaire, with harte as cold as stone:
And so with dolefull verse bewaield, the death of good sir Ihon.
Who ledde his life in greate renowne, and neighbours loue with all:
And seru'd the state on his owne charge, when prince did please to call

By Northen broils that bred mutche bale, and subiects trothes were tried
His great good will to dueties bounds, & loiall faith was spied.
He alwaies stoode to rightfull thyngs, and would not swaie a wrie:
To any pointe, wherein reproche, or losse of name did lye.
A freende that was not lightly loste, and did good tournes bestowe:
Where cause requirde & librall hart, through bounties springs should flowe.
A house he kept of greate expence, and daiely at his doore:
(With that good store that God him blest,) he helpt to feede ye poore.
He married twise in noble race, and kept a noble traine:
And freely gaue good seruaunts Farms, to recompence their paine.
He bare to freends sutche perfite loue, that to the howre of death:
He neuer failed any one, as long as he had breath.
He had greate suites and troubles too, that many sorrows bryngs:
Yet ere he died with worship greate, he ended all those thyngs.
He gaue good lands, for Scholers weale (as was the auncient gies)
And made an Almes house for the poore, in Halsham where he lyes.
All Holdernesse that knewe hym well, doeth misse his presence now:
So iuste and worthie eurie waie, were all his doyngs throw.
But when the fruite of tree is ripe, or men be at the beste:
Doune doe thei drop, & at the length, in yearth with worms thei rest.
Yet good mens ghosts, do clime the clouds, & drawes where God in trone.
Brings chosen lambs, to endlesse ioy, frō worldly care & mone

FINIS.

University of Virginia Library

Sir Jhon Constables Epitaphe.