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[The Castell of Courtesie.]

Reade but not deride,
Accuse not without cause:
Such hastie doome accordeth not
With reason, nor her Lawes.


TO THE WORSHIPFVL, his approoued good Master, and Friend, Master Henrie Reynolles, Esquire.

Verses on his name
That vvell deserues the same.

Hee merits praise, who vertuous life doth leade,
Experience shewes the bountie of his minde:
Neglecting not, if he may stand in steade,
Redelie prest his friendlie ayde to finde.
Yn time of neede he stayeth not his hande:
Regarding those which in distresse doe stande.
Excluding coynesse from his courteous brest,
Yf Fauour faile, in him it may be found:
Not skornefullie the simple to detest,
Or with disdaine his phrase of speech to sound:
With modestie he meekelie markes the ground,
Looking into true meaning of the hart:
Such as it is, he takes it in good part.
Iames Yates.
FINIS.

Iames Yates Seruingman, to the Courteous and Friendlie Reader.

If my request may stande in steade,
to craue this at thy hande:
Then let (I pray) with courtesie,
this simple worke be skande
My paine is for to pleasure thee,
ingratefull doe not seeme:
Least that thou doe discourage me,
if skoffingly thou deeme.
This skillesse worke which I commit
vnto the open view
of those, whose vpright meaning is
inclyned to be true:
I boldly venture to present
as one that hath good will.
To gratifie those that deserue,
though simple be my skill.
Presuming that all Zoilus sect,
are sunke, and vnder ground,
And that there are no Sicophantes,
(I hope) for to be founde:
But such as rather will amende,
fiue faultes ere they finde one.
O Lord it were a golden world,
if Sicophantes were gone.
I cannot couer nor conceale,
the fruites that I doe gaine:
But publikely must them display,
though they be base and plaine.
And as by tracte of time we see,
rare matters worke effecte:
So I in time may chance on choise,
some better to selecte.
In meane time my request is thus,
accept these as they be:
And you perchance ere it be long,
shall haue some more of me.
Which better shall content conceite,
receiue these as the first:
Good wordes (they say) as soone are sayde,
as are the vile and worst.
Farewell.

The Author to his Booke.

I stande in doubt that some dispitefull mate
Will closelie carpe, concealing no dispraise:
But in contempt of thee and of thy state,
Will goe about discredite for to raise,
To seeke and search by all the meanes they may:
Thy true intent to murther and to slay.
But see thou seeme obedient and milde,
Beake thou and bende, no hautinesse doe haunt:
Confesse the trueth, thy Author is a childe,
Who wanteth wit, and so thou maist them graunt.
Yet willingnes should be esteemed as well:
As those whose phrase doth seeme for to excell.
No, no, not so, therein you doe digresse,
The pregnant pate doth purchase all the praise,
Whose fluent vaine doth make the minde apresse,
By deepe delight alluering alwaies
Attentiue eares to listen and to barke
What such repeate (me thinkes) I see them marke.
Alas my booke, thou art not for their frame,
Thy skillesnesse must trouble no such place:
Be patient although thou suffer blame,
And be content though girded with disgrace,
I am disposed, to deeme of thee what dout
Thou shalt sustaine by this thy going out.
Yet when I had perfectionated thee,
And brought to passe that which was somes desire:
Sende it abroade, they straight waies saide to me,
My friend vnfained, of you wee doe require.
I readie was withouten stay or stint:
To giue them leaue thee for to put in print.
FINIS.

The Booke to the Author.

What doe you meane (I pray)
Such kinde of speech to say?
Doubtfully to display
What shall of me insue:
Theres none will goe about,
To mock or for to floute:
Except it be some loute,
Of trothe I tell you true.
And as for such as those,
The trueth for to disclose,
I cannot fayne ne glose,
I passe them not a pinne:
I am not in their dette,
Wherefore they cannot let,
That which I downe haue set,
Sith nought by them I win.
And though their cunning be
Superior ouer me,
Yet (Sir) for ought I see,
They faile though they be fine:
I would I had the skil
According to my will,
Their curious cup to fill,
I would my selfe incline.
To speake in your defence,
With you they may dispence,
Esteeming your pretence,
Is for to gratulate:
Those to whom you are bound,
For fauor you haue found,
Whose friendship to resound
Hath holpen your estate.
I loue not much to tell,
For why, it were not well
To seeme to chat or mell
Least that I purchase blame:
But I will beake and bende
And none I hope offende,
If iustly they intende,
Their sentence for to frame.
FINIS.
1

The Castell of Courtesie.

Anno. 1582.

As I alone abroade did walke,
bethinking how I might
Come nigh some place that worthie were
for me to view by sight:
I walked long with weary limmes,
my tyered steps did faint,
And Pilgrim wise I traced still,
not feeling of restraint.
I made no force, although I felt
a feeblenes of strength:
But hoped for to haue good hap,
to ease my minde at length.
So onward still I iorneyed,
through many a Forrest thick:
Through many a thornie prickie place,
and many a bushie Quick.
I marueyled much (good reason too)
that all the way I went,
I found no one to parle with,
or vtter my intent.
Thus damped all with dumpish doubtes
in Forrest I alone,
Began to sende out soaking sighes,
in token of my mone.
I saide, O cursed haplesse wight,
what haue I now intended?
This venture much disturbes my minde,
my senses be offended.
But since I haue so farre gone foorth,
I forward will goe still:
Sith only he hath set me on,
whose name is cal'd Goodwill.
[1]

For where good will familiar is,
there nothing seemeth hard:
No venture strange can once afflight,
or footing can be bard.
The earnest zeale of deepe Desire,
if it haue taken roote:
It is but vaine to let the Spring,
it were but litle boote.
Or who will say he'l force the Sun
to coole his parching beames?
I meane, who can perfourme the same
in any Christian Realmes?
The whireling windes by Æolus sent,
can any man allay?
Or Neptunes force in foaming flouds,
which doth stout ships decay?
No, no, as these thinges seeme but vaine,
for any worldly wightes:
So is it vaine to stop the minde,
in iorney that delightes.
I forwarde went, till at the length
I was so rounde beset
On euery side with pricking thornes,
I knew not out to get.
And then in agonie of minde
I shriked out so hie:
As that the Eccho did ascend
vnto the loftie skie.
And thus in all my deepe distresse,
as one whome fancie lost:
I laide me downe as desolate,
by frowarde Fortune toste.
The gushing teares came flowing out,
my eyes all dim were made:
And I alone in thraldome throwen,
did tarry in that glade.
2

For out I knew no way to get,
(of troth I tell you true:)
For euery side was closed vp,
as seemed to my view.
And as I howling lay alone,
(oh God vnto my griefe:)
I prayde, helpe me, a Pilgrime lost,
who craueth for reliefe.
The earnest prayers that I made,
with faithfull fixed hart:
Did giue me hope that Ioue would send
a remedie for my smart.
For in dispaire he onely is
the rocke, the ayde, and trust:
On whome eche creature doth repose,
as duetie willes, and must.
At length, by chance, I cast mine eye
full watchfully aside:
And by good hap (oh God be prais'd,
on sodaine I espide:
An aged man with griesled beard,
and countenance full milde:
Which when he came, his words were these:
how now, what newes my childe?
What mak'st thou in this wildernes,
how didst thou finde the way:
Or to what place wouldst thou haue gone,
what mean'st thou here to stay?
At these his wordes I rose vpright,
and did my duetie doe:
And craued for/his earnest stay,
as will did moue thereto.
My childe (quoth he) thou seem'st but young,
and much in minde I muse,
What mooued thee to range abroade,
in this thy kinde of vse.
[2]

Assure thy selfe what I can doe
in any thing, I will:
Because it seemes thou hast a minde,
to learne a farther skill.
With bended knee I gaue him thankes,
and did require his name:
Forthwith he tolde me presently
what was the very same.

Aide the conductor to Youth

My name (quoth he) is called Ayde,
a helper vnto those
That haue a willing minde to learne,
rare secretes I disclose.
My yeeres they carry credite true,
no man hath me disprooued:
Wherefore at large disclose thy minde,
if thou thereto be mooued.
Then I began for to relate
the depth of all my minde:
Wherefore I wandered so abroad,
and what I crau'd to finde.

Youth declareth the occation of his iorney.

Good Sir (quoth I) and Father eke,
because your yeeres are so:
I had desire to goe seeke
some noueltie to know.
Thus haue I wandred witlesly.
a iorney past my skill:
And who did sende me first abroade,
but one they call Good will.

Goodwill the procurer of his iorney.

And I woulde very fayne goe on,
to finde some worthie place
That might reuiue my wearie bones,
and yeelde my minde solace.
Why then (quoth Ayde) I shall thee bring
vnto a noble seate:
The place it selfe so gallant is,
as tongue cannot repeate.
3

And if thou wilt bestowe thy time,
a Castle Ile thee shew:
The which is called Courtesie,
and a courteous Knight doth owe.
I answere made with lowely minde,
I am content to goe
To any place, where as I may
a farther matter knowe.
For in your handes (O Father Ayde)

Youth committes him selfe wholy vnto Aide
I doe repose my state:
I hope you will conduct me safe,
from any force or hate.
Yes (trust me) that I shall (quoth he,)
and brought me to that place:
To viewe the Castle which to shew,
doth beare a gallante grace.
Upon the Castle gate was set
as we did enter in
This superscription graued in stone,
the which did thus begin.

The sentence ingrauen in Stone vpon the Castle Gate.

No hoggish hob, nor currish carle
may once presume so bolde
To enter here within this Gate,
this Castle to beholde.
For why, it serues for courteous wights,
they shall haue passage free:
To enter in, and to abide
if so their pleasure be.

The end of the sentence.
And so the sentence made an ende,
that was vpon the Gate:
And Ayde and I got leaue to goe,
[3]

and viewed in eche state.
But Lord to tell how gloriously
this Castle is addrest:
It would amase my wittes too much,
and craue a greater rest.
The Rooffe by Geometrie is hangde,
most brauely caru'd to see:
Wherein hath Arte as much declar'd,
as euer needes to be.
Most gallantly be painted eke,
with Painters cunning hande:
And gilded so, as like the Sunne
it shineth where you stande.
The Chambers large, and all the Roomes
are wonderfull to tell:
I promise you I neuer sawe
a thinge I lik'd so well.
Although my trauell it was great,
I holde it well bestowed:
Because by Ayde I had such helpe,
to haue this Castle shewed.
Alas, if I shoulde enterprise,
each thing to set to view:
I had neede to haue Homers head,
my witte for to renue.
O Courtesie beholde how Ioue
prouided hath a seate:
More glorious then thought can thinke,
or tongue can well repeate.
O Courtesie, thy Castle braue
is of so great a price:
As scornes Apelles paynted peece,
or Cesars rare deuise
O Courtesie thou geuest ayde,
to euery sillie Elfe:
That is of small abilitie,
4

for to maintaine him selfe.
Thou frownest not with furious face
nor look'st with churlish cheare:
But mildlie doest accorde to stande,
the simple sorte to heare.
Oh noble Castle, what good hap
had I to see thy ground:
O Father Ayde, I yealde more thankes,
then out my tongue can sounde.
If I had lurked in my den,
with laysie loytering lust:
I neuer had seene such a sight,
as chaunce hath now discust.
And yet to speake the veritie,
I roame not farre from home:
My yeeres be not expyred yet,
that bound me for a mome.
By stelth I did this iorney get,
by leaue I had no scope:
But hab or nab I prou'd to play,
and past my boundes did lope.
But whisht, no more of this fonde speech,
quoth Wisdome vnto mee:
Holde still thy tongue, and stay thy selfe
from such a kinde of glee.
Of tatling oft doth tumulte rise,
and therefore trust not much:
Tis harde to knowe a faithfull friend
of truth the world is such.
The place wherein the Castle standes,
None-such is calde they say:
And by my trothe it may well be,
I thinke ther's none so gay.
Not furious force of Cannons strength,
nor dente of pellets blowe:
Ne subtile sleight of Captaines head
[4]

this Castle can bring lowe.
Not twentie thousande Soldiers prest
in strength will ought preuaile:
This Castle once for to assault
or once it to assaile.

Clemēcy captaine of the Castell.

The Captaine which this Castle keepes
hath Clemencie to name:
His Soldiers they be pittifull,
no stranger thei'le defame.
It bootes as much for to assay
with force to winne this place:
As it doth boote, to stay the streames
that be of rageing race.
No, no, the Courteous ciuile wight
shall easilie enter in:
He needes not vse great force or might,
that not preuailes a pin.
And as for Grombould groyny groutes
and solemne sullen squires:
No strength, no force no courage stouts
ne yet their deepe desires,
Shall once haue entertainement here,
adue, goe pack you hence:
Your hoggish nature cannot serue
with mildenesse to dispence.
You not regarde the simple suite
of poore and needie soules:
Oh fie, beware, take heede of that:
for nothing it extoules
As you doe thinke, I'le say no more,
it is not to my matter:
Ne will I praise the vse of some
least they esteeme I flatter.

Prayse finally preuailes, except proofe be present.

The Orcharde that is finely deckt
with goodly trees to shew:
It were but vaine to prayse too far,
5

for who the best will know,
Let them goe taste and eate the fruite,
and then they shall perceaue:
That which is best, and which is worst,
and which to take and leaue.
For though vnto the view of eye,
a tree be streight and faire,
And growing in most gallant wise
full right vp to the aire:
Yet may the fruite be sowre as Crabbe
and bitter eke of taste:
Wherefore the fruite doth tell the trueth
how ere the tree be plac'd.
By outward gesture, harde it is
the inwarde thought to knowe:
For sundrie men haue sundry mindes,
and sundrie Natures growe.
But where as conuersation is,
there knowledge doth not want:
And presence ofte doth tell the trueth,
when Absence makes it skant.
Who is familiar with a wight,
may soone his nature finde:
And trustie trueth doth credite winne
of each well giuen minde.
The Courteous doe the Courteous loue,
good Reason so to be:
And I as glad as any one,
that happie hap to see.
For Courtesie and Crueltie
neuer agreement haue:
The one the other seemes to skorne
till both be layde in graue.
The Tyraunt doth not loue the kind,
the kind the Tyraunt hates:
Because they be not both of minde;
[5]

each one the other rates.
For looke where meekenesse is in place,
there crueltie doth quaile:
And scorneth much the others case,
because he will not raile.
In spitefull wise with crueltie prest
and venemous trickes to shew
To make Debate, and great vnrest,
such mallice there doth grow.
In furious wise, with frowarde fittes
and termes as harde as steele:
And many other priuate partes,
that simple soules doe feele.
Wherefore to Magistrates I speake,
and such as Rulers be:
Shew mercie now, respect the weake
that are in miserie.
Stretch out your helping handes with speede,
to succour needie soules:
If poore you ayde, God hath decreede,
you shall be in his roules.
For if you giue vnto the poore,
Christ saith you shall him please:
And he hath dayly helpe in store,
your doubtes for to appease.
The greatest praise to any wight
is meekenesse to imbrace:
For so he sittes voide of despight,
vnto his great solace.
For he that troubleth so his minde,
in Raging wise to grudge:
His neighbours count him mach vnkind,
and deemes him but a snudge.
Whose paunche is fraught, with puffed spite,
whose head doth foster newes:
Whose eares doe daylie still delite
6

to heare wordes of abuse.
Whose heart retaines the Enmitie
as Crueltie woulde haue:
Who doth reiect Sinceritie
that vices doth depraue.
What should I say, or more explaine,
to further mine intent:
How should I write, in prayse of those
that are to Mildnesse bent,
The flying Fame: with huffing winges
that is in euery coast:
Doth sound their praise sufficiently
among the best and most.
And I that haue by Aydes good helpe
attain'd to this rare show:
Could not in couert keepe the fame
from some that I doe know.
For why, I thinke it is a thinge
that worthie is to rest:
Within some place voide of Disdaine,
meete for a Curteous brest,
Which I will not (so long as life)
neglecte to decke with praise:
For Courtesie I euer lou'd,
and so haue done alwaies.
And will doe still, till Sisters three
my fatall dayes vnbinde:
And ridde me of this worldly yoake,
a quyet life to finde.
Though I at first, disquyet was

He was pincht with priuate pangues being desolate, vntill Vene sent Aide to assist him.
in minde, for being lost:
Yet see how Ioue did sende me Ayde,
which shewed me all the Coast.
As by the heau'ns vnfayn'd I sware
I would not for any thing:
But that I had this iorney tra'st,
[6]

this newes abacke to bring.

Youthes thāks vnto Ayde.

And vnto you (O father Ayde)
a thousand thankes I render,
I will your Beades man, euer rest,
alas my wealth is slender.
For to requite your trauaile great,
and paines that you haue taken:
Amid'st the wilde and sauage woods,
and trees that windes haue shaken.

Good will is to be wayed though welthe doth want.

But haue respect to my good will,
my heart is set on fire:
And for to make some recompence
I haue a great Desire.

Aydes replie vnto Youth.

My Youth (quoth Ayde) what do'st thou meane,
these wordes for to repeate:
I looke not for thy recompence,
my paines are not so great,
But that I can with willing minde,
bestow ten times as much.
But soft (quoth Ayde) I haue not done
my purpose nowe is such:
As that I will thee farther tract
vnto another place,
And shewe thee there a noble Houlde
which standes with goodly grace,
As I beleeue thou wilt be glad,
when as thou dost it view,
And thinke thy paines not to be much,
I knowe it now for true.
For I perceiue thou tak'st repasse,
my matters for to learne:
Wherefore by my intelligence,
thou better shalt discerne.
For that I am acquainted with
these partes in euery state:
And trauail'd haue these countries long,
7

from force of any hate.
Youth.
O father Aide, and shall I thus
much trouble you in deede:
In truth I am at your commaund
God send vs both good speede.
I will euen go, where so you please
a better loades man sure:
In all the world I could not haue
my purpose to procure.

Aide.
This place (quoth Aide) that I will shewe,
it is not very farre:
A helpe it is to Courtesie,
and saues it many a iarre.
It is the Hold, the which is cald,
Humilitie in deede:
Not distant far from castel here,
to helpe them at their neede.
For since thou arte to iorney bent,
I will the same now show:
And then thou maiest retire thee backe.
thy wonted place to knowe.

Ayde.
I am right glad it was my happe,
in wildernesse to finde
Out such a one, as for to see,
hath such a willing minde.

Youth.
And I (O father) am as glad,
oh gentle Aide and trust:
The Gods will giue thee recompence:
for thy deseites are iust.
Wherefore now let vs hast away,
this Hold for to discrye:
For euery hower twentie is,
vntill it feede my eye.
For I haue such an earnest zeale,
as sure I maruaile much:
Wherefore (O father let vs go,
[7]

for my request is such.
Come on my Childe let vs away,
O Castle now farewell:
Of all the sightes that euer I sawe,
thou surely doest excell.

FINIS.

The Authors Farewell, to the Castle of Courtesie:

1582.

If pregnant were my pate, to penne a glorious verse;
If Pallas would permitte me Ayde, in that I would reherse;
Jf Cicero were aliue; if Virgil mought be found,
J mean their personall presences (I:) which is cōsum'd in groūd:
Then would I sure repaire, vnto them for aduice,
And craue assistance, at their handes, to pen some thing of price.
But sithe they are consum'd, & brought whereto we must:
Therefore vnto my simple Muse, I do commit my trust.
Well though that they be gone, yet haue they lefte behinde
Their works, to their immortal praise, as fame hath thē assignd.
Yea that is true in deede, but to me that's no Ayde:
Because in Latin they are pende, the trueth for to be saide,
I not it vnderstande, wherefore my skille is lesse:
I wante vnto my willing minde in that I would expresse,
J cannot skale the Mount of pleasante Parnasse Hill:
Wherefore in bone-gree now accepte the meaning of my will.
A Farewell I should frame, or els I am diceaued
A Farewell now I will set downe, & so farewell, I leaue it.
Then thus I will begin, farewell thou place of price:
The onely Author and the cause, of this my small deuice.
8

Farewell thou Courteous seate, thou Castle of defence:
Farewell thou Friend, to those that want, esteeming the pretēce,
of simple poore plaine trueth, which meaneth no disdaine:
Nor hath not (Sir) the worldly wiles, to flatter, fliere, & faine.
Farewell a thousande times, and yet I doe protest
A simple Soldiar to remaine, redie at thy request.
Redie at thy request: nay redie is my intent,
At all times redie for to be at thy commandement.
Iames Yates,
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