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Of Golds Kingdome, and This Vnhelping Age

Described in sundry Poems intermixedly placed after certaine other Poems of more speciall respect: And before the same is an Oration or speech intended to haue bene deliuered by the Author hereof unto the Kings Maiesty [by Edward Hake]
 
 
 

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Three things very grieuous to good mindes.
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 

Three things very grieuous to good mindes.

Three things there are that breed much griefe,
And discontent of mind:
The worlds mishaps, vntrust of friends,
The third, that Gold doth bind,

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Nay binde and loose, though not with all,
yet greatly with the most:
And for the first of these three things,
what man on earth can boast
That he hath past his dayes in peace,
not crost with worlds missehap?
Not one I thinke, though best men most
doe taste of sorrowes sap.
The King hath cares to crosse his ioyes,
home strises to crosse his peace,
And traytrous harts conspire his hurts,
while Subiects loues increase.
If pleasures for his health he take,
what interruptions are
Vnto his pleasures and disportes
by suites, that breede his care
In causes of his Subiects states,
perhaps their liues and lands:
The strong doth still oppresse the weake,
the help's in Princes hands.
Yea day by day occasions rise
of common wealthes redresse,
And day by day abuses grow,
which Princes should suppresse.
And yet if Princes should not haue
their pleasures and delight.

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Alas, alas, what were their case?
of all men worst in sight:
Onely the King that feareth God,
and seekes to spread his prayse
Shall haue his seat and State securde,
his soule shall see good daies.
Then if the King in this worlds course,
where all men him obay,
Findes worlds vnrest, of lower States
how firme can be the stay?
Next for the faith and trust of friends,
where is the friend whose faith
As well in hard as happy state
in friendship firmly stayth?
Swallowes men are, whose Sommers glee
retaines in friendships band,
And Winters woes driue cleane away:
So doth mens friendship stand.
Examples hereof infinite
the world doth dayly show,
And how mens loues are wrongly plac'd
and from wrong causes grow:
For were true vertue their loues cause,
then what could it remoue?
No, no, tis gaine, or vaine respect,
that most where causeth loue:

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The rich holds friendship with the rich,
the lecher with his like,
And pot-companions with their mates
great league of friendship strike.
Blind Zeale also to maintaine Sects,
and to impugne the truth,
Doth lincke it selfe in friendships bands:
but what thereof ensu'th?
Disturbance of the Churches peace,
contempt of King and law,
And all that with such friends is found,
is onely to withdrawe
From vniforme consent of faith,
and from true seruing God:
O, out, alas, what loue is this?
Such league from loue is od.
The third and last is sway of Gold,
which so still hinders all
That to the well deseruing man
should for his Guerdon fall,
As that no gifts of learning, nor
of skill which in him are,
Can do him good, because perhaps
his state is something bare.
Fayre speach and sugred words are rife,
but if thy state be poore,

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While others prease and come in place,
looke thou to stand at doore.
Ist office that thou seekest friend?
why offices are bought:
An Office is a Nemo scit,
and should it come for nought?
But be it small or great that thou
doest labour to obtaine:
Assure thy selfe that if there be
therein a sent of gaine,
Though nere so small, and yet perhaps
the matter full of toyle,
Vnlesse with gifts thou get thee friends,
be sure to catch the foyle:
For if thou stand vpon desert,
thou maist put vp thy pipes:
There is a fellow calde Giffe Gaffe,
that in such cases gripes.
And so we see that Gold and gifts
In suites must doe the deede,
And how that no man for desert
of anything can speede.
Audacious proud, and flattering mates
I graunt you may doe much;
And many things of good respect
are oft bestowd on such.

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Againe, we see that some there are,
who willingly are led
By men of slender gifts: And why?
because by them are fed
The humors whereunto they be
enclined, and most what
For that they please them with delights,
and seruile are to that.
And sooner will they giue to those,
Then vnto men of price.
If such one aske, he straight way speedes,
and hath it with a trice.
But if I should runne ouer all
that might be said in this,
How Gold hath Soueraigne power in sutes,
and chiefe effecter is
Of mens desires, and that desert
(as of it selfe) shall fayle,
I might imploy much speech therein,
And little should preuaile:
For howsoeuer men of place
and honour are enclinde
To further and promote a man
that is of honest mind,
Yet are the meanes so difficult
that must be made to such,

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And fauorites so many that
therein doth looke for much,
As that a man farre better were
to liue with bread and grew,
Then with a thrid-bare purse to seeke
or for preferment sew.
And so I end my dolefull song
of threefold griefe and paine,
As worlds vnrest, next, friends vntrust,
the third, that all's for gaine.