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

My happ was good, to finde a freende, of sutche ripe sence and skill,
As could deserne by deepe foresight, the weight of my good will:
The welcome greate, for small desarts, and freendly fauour found,
Hath shriend my harte in Lambeth house, and there my bodie bound.

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Enroule my name, emong those freendes, of whom a count ye make
Waie well my woords, and as you doe, of woorks some triall take:
Paies eury promes paste my mouthe, and you muste looke for then,
Adeeper draught and higher stile, to come from Churchyards pen.
Receiue in gree, the offred gift, that Newe yeres daie brings forthe,
(Keepe these bare verses as a pledge, of matter muche more worthe)
And you shall heare the hammers beate, & thompe out other newes,
Releef is come to heauie hedde, and comforts now my mewes.
Gon is the greesly gloumyng daie, that kept the Sonne in shade,
Out stepps my hope with sailes a flant, that earst no triumph made:
Dispaire hath drounde hymself in seas, and as cold courage sailde,
Good Pilotts came and sturde the sterne, and so my Ship preuailde.
If Silla and Charibdes cliues, could threaten my decaie,
Vaine were the braggs of rustie rocks, and mountains all I saie:
Except the Gods doe froune on me, the straits I minde to pas,
Though shipp be forste, to trie the tides, where neuer ship man was:
Hit glads me muche, that I shall saile, with winde & weather bothe,
Enbarkt with those that order kepes, and holds by right and trothe.
Giue sea roume Lorde in stormes distresse, if any tempest ries,
Retourne I will not till it seems, my barke shall touche the Skies:
Aloufe ye mates, ron from the shore, my voiage holde I on,
Come from your cabbeus soldiours all, ere that the tide be gon:
Encreace your wealth, and worke a pushe, whiles others looke vpō.

Finis.

University of Virginia Library

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