The Rocke of Regard diuided into foure parts. The first, the Castle of delight: Wherein is reported, the wretched end of wanton and dissolute liuing. The second, the Garden of Vnthriftinesse: Wherein are many sweete flowers, (or rather fancies) of honest loue. The thirde, the Arbour of Vertue: Wherein slaunder is highly punished, and vertuous Ladies and Gentlewomen, worthily commended. The fourth, the Ortchard of Repentance: Wherein are discoursed, the miseries that followe dicing, the mischiefes of quareling, the fall of prodigalitie: and the souden ouerthrowe of foure notable cousners, with diuers other morall, natural, & tragical discourses: documents and admonitions being all the inuention, collection and translation of George Whetstons |
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Whetstons Dreame.
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 | The Rocke of Regard |  |
Whetstons Dreame.
I waying
once, my harmes by others health,
By iust account, I found the selfe same thing,
Which weaud my wo, did worke anothers wealth,
Which wrought my pain, to some did pleasure bring
Thus cloyd with care, to see my lucklesse lot,
My senses fayld, as though I were a sot.
By iust account, I found the selfe same thing,
Which weaud my wo, did worke anothers wealth,
Which wrought my pain, to some did pleasure bring
Thus cloyd with care, to see my lucklesse lot,
My senses fayld, as though I were a sot.
Yet Sopors beames, so could not cleare my brest,
But stormes of care, did shower in my thought,
Thus slumber sweete, did yeald but little rest,
For pinching paine, supprest that pleasure wrought,
But as my woes, did wander here and there,
My thought I sawe, an aged man appeare.
But stormes of care, did shower in my thought,
Thus slumber sweete, did yeald but little rest,
For pinching paine, supprest that pleasure wrought,
But as my woes, did wander here and there,
My thought I sawe, an aged man appeare.
Yet such a one, as care me seemd to cloy,
And Patience, he did name him selfe to me,
Who had me straight, to bannish all annoy,
And of these doubtes, I soone an end should see,
Then I with him, pursude the most resort,
Unto a place, which seemde a princes court.
And Patience, he did name him selfe to me,
Who had me straight, to bannish all annoy,
And of these doubtes, I soone an end should see,
Then I with him, pursude the most resort,
Unto a place, which seemde a princes court.
Whereas my thought, sat crownd a famous queene,
By due desart, to beare the regall sway,
Whose princely rule, hath seldome earst ben seene,
As though the Gods, dame nature did obey,
That iustice should, degrade them of each grace,
Her to inuest, with rule of vertues mace.
By due desart, to beare the regall sway,
Whose princely rule, hath seldome earst ben seene,
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That iustice should, degrade them of each grace,
Her to inuest, with rule of vertues mace.
Upon whose grace, did nobles graue attend,
By whose foresight, in peace her subiects liue,
And valiaunt peeres, were ready to defend,
If forreine force, would once aduenture giue,
By warlike frayes, to worke our great vnrest,
With fire, sworde, and piercing speare in rest.
By whose foresight, in peace her subiects liue,
And valiaunt peeres, were ready to defend,
If forreine force, would once aduenture giue,
By warlike frayes, to worke our great vnrest,
With fire, sworde, and piercing speare in rest.
Within this court, clothed in honest shewe,
Was Enuie, Hate, Ambition, and Deceit,
On whome to waite, whereas these fiends did go,
Base minded wights, were ready at the gate,
Which neuer sought, that vertue should aduance,
Their hautie mindes, to height of happie chance.
Was Enuie, Hate, Ambition, and Deceit,
On whome to waite, whereas these fiends did go,
Base minded wights, were ready at the gate,
Which neuer sought, that vertue should aduance,
Their hautie mindes, to height of happie chance.
There might I see, of men another race,
Which seemd to wayle, their woes wt weeping eye,
Whom these same sprites, had shakē once of grace,
By false suspect, and filthy flatterie,
And well I markt, how they did crouch & creepe,
And all for grace, which euermore did sleepe,
Which seemd to wayle, their woes wt weeping eye,
Whom these same sprites, had shakē once of grace,
By false suspect, and filthy flatterie,
And well I markt, how they did crouch & creepe,
And all for grace, which euermore did sleepe,
Then I espide, another valiant crewe,
Which lookt aloft, by vertue to aspire,
Unto the roome, to their desart ydewe,
If due desart, had reapt deserued hire,
But vertue gapt, and gained nought but plums,
For flatterie catcht, before they fell the crums.
Which lookt aloft, by vertue to aspire,
Unto the roome, to their desart ydewe,
If due desart, had reapt deserued hire,
But vertue gapt, and gained nought but plums,
For flatterie catcht, before they fell the crums.
Quoth grayberd then, such once was my good hap,
To be aduaunst, to height of great renoune,
But I too soone, was caught in Enuies trap,
Where false suspect, by flatterie kept me downe,
Then patience I, perforce a vertue made,
And left with losse the countries tickle trade.
To be aduaunst, to height of great renoune,
But I too soone, was caught in Enuies trap,
Where false suspect, by flatterie kept me downe,
Then patience I, perforce a vertue made,
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The foorth we go, into another place,
By outward shew, wher saints my thought did sit,
Whose gentle speach, presaged endlesse grace,
There loose their gaine, they voucht by sacred writ,
These prelates were, their words deseru'd their roome,
But sure their deedes, I leaue to others doome.
By outward shew, wher saints my thought did sit,
Whose gentle speach, presaged endlesse grace,
There loose their gaine, they voucht by sacred writ,
These prelates were, their words deseru'd their roome,
But sure their deedes, I leaue to others doome.
Hypocrisie did beare a vengeance sway,
His double tong, did bleare the clergies eye,
He still affirmde, t'was true that they did say,
Gainst their deuice, a thousand woes did cry,
Mas Ignoraunce, a minister was made,
Who babbled much, yet wist not what he sayd.
His double tong, did bleare the clergies eye,
He still affirmde, t'was true that they did say,
Gainst their deuice, a thousand woes did cry,
Mas Ignoraunce, a minister was made,
Who babbled much, yet wist not what he sayd.
Yet sure this clarke, did so in scriptures creepe,
As voucht the same, to cloake each crime he could,
Pasce oues, he tooke for grasing sheepe,
Which well he fed, and daily viewd his fould,
And yet this sot, with pence procur'd such grace,
As oft he wrought, true preachers out of place.
As voucht the same, to cloake each crime he could,
Pasce oues, he tooke for grasing sheepe,
Which well he fed, and daily viewd his fould,
And yet this sot, with pence procur'd such grace,
As oft he wrought, true preachers out of place.
Then out we goe, into a pleasant plaine,
In armour bright, where gallants we espy,
The captaine stird, the souldiers rawe to traine,
Of some vnwisht, vnwares their foes drewe nye,
The cannon crackes, like thunder claps did sing,
At trumpets sound, the horse men forward fling.
In armour bright, where gallants we espy,
The captaine stird, the souldiers rawe to traine,
Of some vnwisht, vnwares their foes drewe nye,
The cannon crackes, like thunder claps did sing,
At trumpets sound, the horse men forward fling.
In formost frunt, the fearelesse youthes did fight,
Which honour sought, and so with honour dyde,
The fencer there, prou'd not the forwardst wight,
Base minded Dick, the spoyle, not blowes applyde,
The coward yet, a loofe did catch a licke,
As soone as he, which throngd among the thicke,
Which honour sought, and so with honour dyde,
The fencer there, prou'd not the forwardst wight,
Base minded Dick, the spoyle, not blowes applyde,
The coward yet, a loofe did catch a licke,
As soone as he, which throngd among the thicke,
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When fearelesse blowes, had driuen their foes away,
To slash and slay the cowards did not spare,
When spoile was giuen, the souldiers paines to pay,
Who best deseru'd, did reape the barest share,
Thus vallor fought, and falshoode fleest the spoile,
The coward thriu'de, who least of all did toile.
To slash and slay the cowards did not spare,
When spoile was giuen, the souldiers paines to pay,
Who best deseru'd, did reape the barest share,
Thus vallor fought, and falshoode fleest the spoile,
The coward thriu'de, who least of all did toile.
These bloudie broiles mee thought, wee then forsooke,
And soone wee slipt into a stately hall,
Now well apayde about the same I looke,
For glad I was, I scapt the souldiers thrall,
And proudly then, I throngd amid the preace,
For that their weedes bewrayde, the men of peace.
And soone wee slipt into a stately hall,
Now well apayde about the same I looke,
For glad I was, I scapt the souldiers thrall,
And proudly then, I throngd amid the preace,
For that their weedes bewrayde, the men of peace.
Within this hall, were kept the Princes courtes,
Where Lawyers sate, as Iudges in the same,
To shew their griefes, more hast then needes resortes,
Both hie and lowe, the riche and poore of name,
Pro et contra, for pence at euery barre,
In right and wronge, the lawyers were at iarre.
Where Lawyers sate, as Iudges in the same,
To shew their griefes, more hast then needes resortes,
Both hie and lowe, the riche and poore of name,
Pro et contra, for pence at euery barre,
In right and wronge, the lawyers were at iarre.
In faith quoth I, these men deserueth praise,
For Iustice cause, which thus imployes their paine,
But I to hie a note, their names did raise,
In right or wrong, they still did gape for gaine,
And as I walkt, I saw one wrapt in woe,
Which much complainde, of matter de post facto.
For Iustice cause, which thus imployes their paine,
But I to hie a note, their names did raise,
In right or wrong, they still did gape for gaine,
And as I walkt, I saw one wrapt in woe,
Which much complainde, of matter de post facto.
Speake English man, what meanes these words (quoth I,)
Oh syr hee said, a quillet in the lawe
Alas it is, which makes mee howle and crie.
And looking backe another man I sawe,
Of whom I askt, why hee did looke so glum,
Hee plagued was, with plees of non est factum.
Oh syr hee said, a quillet in the lawe
Alas it is, which makes mee howle and crie.
And looking backe another man I sawe,
Of whom I askt, why hee did looke so glum,
Hee plagued was, with plees of non est factum.
I smyling then, to heare the clownish drone,
By neede inforst, to talke hee wist not what,
But as I learnd the cause of all his mone,
More pittie sure, a lawyers friend how that,
To pay him pence did enter into band,
The which hee seald, and liuered with his hand.
By neede inforst, to talke hee wist not what,
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More pittie sure, a lawyers friend how that,
To pay him pence did enter into band,
The which hee seald, and liuered with his hand.
But after catcht, by craft the selfe same bill,
The former seale, he falslie toke away,
Another seald, the same which he did spill,
And vnsuspect the bond there downe did lay,
Which forfet once, in law they fall at iarre,
The seale was off, was pleaded then in barre.
The former seale, he falslie toke away,
Another seald, the same which he did spill,
And vnsuspect the bond there downe did lay,
Which forfet once, in law they fall at iarre,
The seale was off, was pleaded then in barre.
There might I see releasses finely framde,
Prouided yet, that if such thinges were done,
Which latter wordes, by former force were lamde,
Who so releast, a faire thred then hee spunne,
With thousand toyes, which I do here omitt,
Did cousening Craft within his capcase knitt.
Prouided yet, that if such thinges were done,
Which latter wordes, by former force were lamde,
Who so releast, a faire thred then hee spunne,
With thousand toyes, which I do here omitt,
Did cousening Craft within his capcase knitt.
I lately feard, to see the fearelesse blowes,
The proud attempes, assayd by desperate men,
Here rouled bookes, my manhoode ouer throwes,
I durst not bide, the truncheon of a pen,
Yet well I markt, how mercie bared sway,
The conquerd wightes, were prisoners sent away.
The proud attempes, assayd by desperate men,
Here rouled bookes, my manhoode ouer throwes,
I durst not bide, the truncheon of a pen,
Yet well I markt, how mercie bared sway,
The conquerd wightes, were prisoners sent away.
But for this grace, their raunsome sure was great,
The gaylor fleest, the lawyer had a share,
If pence were spent, cold yrons made him sweate,
Hard beds well payde, poore cheere was costly fare,
Agreeued much, extortion bare such sway,
To patience, I, mee thought these words did say.
The gaylor fleest, the lawyer had a share,
If pence were spent, cold yrons made him sweate,
Hard beds well payde, poore cheere was costly fare,
Agreeued much, extortion bare such sway,
To patience, I, mee thought these words did say.
Can cousening shiftes, thus conscience foyle in sight?
Where is no right, may hellhoundes thus extort?
Shall periurie condemne the guiltlesse wight?
And may it bee, suborning, should support?
The lewde in lies, when grace is not their stay?
Can Iustice rule, a right, with parciall sway?
Where is no right, may hellhoundes thus extort?
Shall periurie condemne the guiltlesse wight?
And may it bee, suborning, should support?
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Can Iustice rule, a right, with parciall sway?
Content thy selfe, quoth patience then to mee,
Good lawes are made, to punish their amisse,
But pence their wronge, doth couler oft wee see,
And want doth ware, the poore mans right I wisse,
And thus thou seest, presented to thy sight,
The prouerbe old, how might doth maister right.
Good lawes are made, to punish their amisse,
But pence their wronge, doth couler oft wee see,
And want doth ware, the poore mans right I wisse,
And thus thou seest, presented to thy sight,
The prouerbe old, how might doth maister right.
Then out wee goe, I glad to leaue this hell,
But soone wee shipt into as hard a vaine,
Where Usurie with bagges of gold did swell,
Who much complainde of penall statutes paine,
And ioynde with craft, the same for to preuent,
Now this, now that, the myser doth inuent.
But soone wee shipt into as hard a vaine,
Where Usurie with bagges of gold did swell,
Who much complainde of penall statutes paine,
And ioynde with craft, the same for to preuent,
Now this, now that, the myser doth inuent.
On casuall chaunce, I may my monie lend,
Yet hassard small, shall happen by my marte,
If I my wife, my seruaunt, child or friend,
Do goe to Powles, and home againe reuert,
Then twentie in the hundred you shall pay,
This gaine is small, forsooth doth Holdfast say.
Yet hassard small, shall happen by my marte,
If I my wife, my seruaunt, child or friend,
Do goe to Powles, and home againe reuert,
Then twentie in the hundred you shall pay,
This gaine is small, forsooth doth Holdfast say.
Collusion then, did catch him by the backe,
And feasde his pence, which songe loth to depart,
To leuey mends, the harmles went to wracke,
Thus salued was his sore by others smart,
Couetousnes, went myching vpp and downe,
His iacket pilde, and threadbare was his gowne.
And feasde his pence, which songe loth to depart,
To leuey mends, the harmles went to wracke,
Thus salued was his sore by others smart,
Couetousnes, went myching vpp and downe,
His iacket pilde, and threadbare was his gowne.
But banckrowte sure, did braue it with the best,
His cape of cloth, with veluet linde within,
His hoase of silke, with stitches straunglie drest,
More cost hee said, more worship did him win,
But well I markt, how soone this pride decayd,
His heeles he tooke, when debtes should be defrayd.
His cape of cloth, with veluet linde within,
His hoase of silke, with stitches straunglie drest,
More cost hee said, more worship did him win,
But well I markt, how soone this pride decayd,
His heeles he tooke, when debtes should be defrayd.
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Some kept their house, and durst not shewe their face,
Some were betrayde, and came in cutthrotes handes,
Then plees of neede, did purchase, litle grace,
Past starting now, they tyde in Darbyes bandes,
In prison vile, of force must lye and rott,
Till they haue paid, their debt and cost God wott,
Some were betrayde, and came in cutthrotes handes,
Then plees of neede, did purchase, litle grace,
Past starting now, they tyde in Darbyes bandes,
In prison vile, of force must lye and rott,
Till they haue paid, their debt and cost God wott,
Then forth wee goe, into a paltrie towne,
Where vnderprops, eche stagering house did stay,
I chaunste to meete, a sillie countrie clowne,
Of whom I askt, what wrought their townes decay,
Who aunswerd straight, your masships honour sees,
Yond goodly place, that pluckt vs on our knees.
Where vnderprops, eche stagering house did stay,
I chaunste to meete, a sillie countrie clowne,
Of whom I askt, what wrought their townes decay,
Who aunswerd straight, your masships honour sees,
Yond goodly place, that pluckt vs on our knees.
Yond stately walles, our chiefest stones did steale,
Which were the stay vnto our feeble farmes,
For want of strength, then did our houses reale,
And worse then that to worke our greater harmes,
Inclosures great, so in our commons creepe,
Where kine wee kept, wee scase can keepe a sheepe.
Which were the stay vnto our feeble farmes,
For want of strength, then did our houses reale,
And worse then that to worke our greater harmes,
Inclosures great, so in our commons creepe,
Where kine wee kept, wee scase can keepe a sheepe.
Yet racked rentes, increase our landlords gaine,
Wee moile, wee toile, wee worke, both morne and Euen,
Our landlords reape, reward for all our paine,
To pay our rentes, and make the world euen,
Doe what wee can, wee compasse very hard,
With farmers now, the wonted world is mard.
Wee moile, wee toile, wee worke, both morne and Euen,
Our landlords reape, reward for all our paine,
To pay our rentes, and make the world euen,
Doe what wee can, wee compasse very hard,
With farmers now, the wonted world is mard.
When hee did raise, besides his Landlords rent,
Old gold good store, to serue him at his neede,
The cribel loafe, about his bord then went,
Salt beefe, good souce, their hungrie mawes did feede,
A stand of ale, hee euer had in store,
Well come gossipe, a cruse of ale to the dore.
Old gold good store, to serue him at his neede,
The cribel loafe, about his bord then went,
Salt beefe, good souce, their hungrie mawes did feede,
A stand of ale, hee euer had in store,
Well come gossipe, a cruse of ale to the dore.
Then droyling Dicke, and toyling Tom did sturre,
To mucke his ground, to make a fatter croppe,
To serue his hogges, poore Madge his maide did spurre,
For winters cold, he hedge rowes large might loppe,
To ride abroade, he seeldome lackt a mare,
And in this sort the fermers life did ware.
To mucke his ground, to make a fatter croppe,
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For winters cold, he hedge rowes large might loppe,
To ride abroade, he seeldome lackt a mare,
And in this sort the fermers life did ware.
But now god wott, our rentes we hardly pay,
To barlie crustes is turnde our cribel bread,
Where beefe, brawne, souce, our hungers did allay,
On cruddes and cheese, wee hungerly do feede,
A pecke of malte, doth make him ale good store:
Wellcome gossip, no drinke now to the dore.
To barlie crustes is turnde our cribel bread,
Where beefe, brawne, souce, our hungers did allay,
On cruddes and cheese, wee hungerly do feede,
A pecke of malte, doth make him ale good store:
Wellcome gossip, no drinke now to the dore.
Where Hicke and Tom, his boyes about did moyle,
He delues, hee digges, he labours for his hire,
And Ioane his wife, perforce herselfe doth droyle,
In steede of woode, now pestrow makes good fire,
Where earst hee ridde abroade vppon his nagge,
For falling now, on tenne toes hee doth lagge.
He delues, hee digges, he labours for his hire,
And Ioane his wife, perforce herselfe doth droyle,
In steede of woode, now pestrow makes good fire,
Where earst hee ridde abroade vppon his nagge,
For falling now, on tenne toes hee doth lagge.
Thus Iohn Adroynes, did wray the farmers woe,
And I mee thought did pittie much their want,
Quoth patience then now time doth serue to showe,
The cause why care, thy heauie hart doth haunt,
Thou sayest thy want, is weade with others wealth,
Thy harmes are payste, with wrighes of others health.
And I mee thought did pittie much their want,
Quoth patience then now time doth serue to showe,
The cause why care, thy heauie hart doth haunt,
Thou sayest thy want, is weade with others wealth,
Thy harmes are payste, with wrighes of others health.
Good reason why, thou viewdst in courtiers trade,
Both good and bad, a like did gaine expecte,
A like, not so the good by vertuous ayde,
The bad did seeke by traynes of false suspect,
The best to throw, from grace despite to spell,
Whilst they by craft, did catch such crummes as fell.
Both good and bad, a like did gaine expecte,
A like, not so the good by vertuous ayde,
The bad did seeke by traynes of false suspect,
The best to throw, from grace despite to spell,
Whilst they by craft, did catch such crummes as fell.
How hypocrites with shew of honest life,
In fauour creepes, when goodmen be disdainde,
How souldiers winne the field with bloudy knife,
When cowards filch, which their aduenture gainde,
How cutthrotes thriue, where conscience beares no sway,
When simple men, with want are worne away.
In fauour creepes, when goodmen be disdainde,
How souldiers winne the field with bloudy knife,
When cowards filch, which their aduenture gainde,
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When simple men, with want are worne away.
Loe thus thou seest the toyle of good and badde,
Thy owne the choice, their want or wealth to shunne,
The good with care, when craft with cost is cladde,
Yet if thou meanst the good mans race to runne,
Of patience here receiue dame vertues sheeld,
Which to thy fame, a sure forte will yeeld,
Thy owne the choice, their want or wealth to shunne,
The good with care, when craft with cost is cladde,
Yet if thou meanst the good mans race to runne,
Of patience here receiue dame vertues sheeld,
Which to thy fame, a sure forte will yeeld,
Noe poore mans cry, the conscience large shal blame,
Ne common speach a cutthroate wil thee call,
Report of craft, then shall not wronge thy fame,
Ne men will say, thy pride will haue a fall,
This bene he cast, for mee to gnaw vpon,
And said Adieu, of force I must begon.
Ne common speach a cutthroate wil thee call,
Report of craft, then shall not wronge thy fame,
Ne men will say, thy pride will haue a fall,
This bene he cast, for mee to gnaw vpon,
And said Adieu, of force I must begon.
I waking then amased in my minde,
Through this my dreame, gan checke my busie braine.
But better wayde, some fruite therein I finde,
Which aunswers full, of this report the paine,
And craues a place, of dutie with the rest,
Prouided yet, the reader do not wrest,
Through this my dreame, gan checke my busie braine.
But better wayde, some fruite therein I finde,
Which aunswers full, of this report the paine,
And craues a place, of dutie with the rest,
Prouided yet, the reader do not wrest,
My wordes amisse, which doe no euill import,
To taunt the lewde, to praise the good a worke,
A fancie framde, to teach the simple sort,
What huge deceite, in honest shew doth lurke.
A toy to warne, the lewd by others shame,
To shunne such faultes, as breedeth filthie blame.
To taunt the lewde, to praise the good a worke,
A fancie framde, to teach the simple sort,
What huge deceite, in honest shew doth lurke.
A toy to warne, the lewd by others shame,
To shunne such faultes, as breedeth filthie blame.
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