University of Virginia Library

[THE Chariot of Chastitie.]

Verses on the name of Mistresse Elizabeth Reynovvls.

The Authours Verdict of his Booke.

Thou little Booke, that thus presumes
to raunge in open view:
Thou shalt but get to me dispraise,
and busie heads renew,
To set these wylie wits aworke
some foolish faultes to finde:
We see it is the worldly course,
some thereto giue their minde.
I might haue kept thee still at home,
but friendes did me require,
To giue thee leaue to go abroad,
I graunted their desire.
And what by that now shall I get,
a mocke of some I knowe:
It is the state of worldly wightes
their floutes for to bestowe.
And as the Merchants mart for Coyne:
So Momus mockes for spight,
Whose Iolting toyes would be disauld
of euerie honest wight.
Of trueth my Booke I do beleeue
thou shalt not so goe free,
But that there will some doubtfull speach
be spread abroade of thee.
God send thee lucke and me no ill,
and so adewe, farewell:
But I presume that vnto me
thou something hast to tell.

The Booke to the Authour.

What verdict doe you giue of me
what wordes be these you vse?
What follies fond doe foster forth
these ill compacted newes:
Why, stay your selfe for to surmise,
the worst of me I pray?
For none so ready faulte to finde,
as Bayard blind some say:
Whose faultes shall scanned be as thus
with wise men well I wot:
They will say, thou foole thou find'st a fault
yet seekes to amend it not.
But this I say in your behalfe:
your youth and simple skill,
Cannot accomplish that you would,
although you haue good will.
But truly (Authour) doe not thinke
that I shall get thee blame:
For in good sooth to tell my minde,
thou not deserust the same.
I knowe thy mind was bent to please
and none for to offend,
I knowe thou hadst a care to bring
me thus vnto an end.
I know thy friendes requsted thee
that I abroad might goe:
I know full well as true it is
that trueth is very so.
I knowe it is not Braueries bragge,
to boast or vaunt of praise:
Or Lucres craft, for profittes gaine,
that thus me first did rayse.
I knowe that he requested it,
who is thy very friend:
Which hath requited all this paines,
and will doe to the end.
Wherefore if worldlinges vainely iudge
as commonly they vse:
You must contented seeme to rest
sith so they will abuse.
And maruaile not if I be blamed,
when workes of greater skill,
Haue had such hatefull speaches giuen,
as trust me tis to ill.
But I shall so my selfe behaue,
and manner so my moode:
As none shall iudge amisse of me,
except be Robin Hood.
And if that none do iudge but he,
I doe not greatly care:
I shall him aunswere well enough
as time doth me prepare.
In meane Time humbly I end,
my selfe I doe commend,
Vnto all those that wish me well,
being loath them to offend.

The Chariot of Chastitie.

A Carefull Commendation thereof, vvritten at the request of a verie Friend.

Of all the happie giftes of God,
bestowed on mortall wightes,
Dame Chastnesse is a gift most rare,
wherein God most delightes.
For Chastitie doth purchase fame,
And heauenly place aboue:
Where Angels sing in ioyfull wise,
as scripture plains doth proue.
All such as to their mates be true,
with faithfull heart intire:
Haue place ordain'd in heauenly throne,
for to auoyde hell fire.
But if that truthlesse troth be tried,
vnseemely and vnmeete:
That is no Matrons life I trow,
ne wisdomes lore discreete.
Although blinde Cupid moue thy minde,
some peeuish partes to play:
Dame Chastnesse if she be at hand,
will streight such vse alay.
Though Beawtie hath indued thee,
if Chastnesse stand aside:
That is but Beawtie to the world,
Which can not long abide.
Yet Beawtie is a blazing baite,

Beawtie is brittle.

to please each Amorouse eye:
Whom Cupids knightes do oft frequent,
experience doth it try.
The which all Amored folke delights,
and causeth much debate,
And forceth furiouse fretting fumes,
and deepe disdainefull hate.
O God when some behold and see
the pleasures that abound,
In such fond toyes and culling trickes,
they say they are vnsound:
They are not for a Matrons moode,
Lucretia did not vse,
But firmly did her faith obserue,
till life did her refuse.

What will not deuelish Desire attempt.

What though that vile Tarquinius he,
by force did her assay:
She neuer ioyed afterward,
but sought her owne decay.
Quoth she, shall I remaine defiled,
vnto my loyall loue?
No sure, some way to end my dayes
I do intend to proue.
I feele such painfull passions,
which do bereaue my rest:
As with this blade now in my hand,
I meane to pearce my brest.
Wherefore this blade assuredly,
shall end my lothsome life:
So shall I then be free from feare,
and voyde of this my strife.
Lo thus the Matron slewe her selfe,
because she would not haue:
A body for her spouse vnchaste,
but brought it to the graue.
Oh Virgins let this be a glasse,
to shew you honest life:
Remember how that Chastitie,
did rest in her most rife.
It is the greatest praise (perdy,)
that any wight can get:
It adorneth sure your life so braue,
as pearle on you were set.
You shine in world like Christall cleare,
your praise is rife in minde:
You duly do deserue such faine,
as is for you assign'd.
You shew no wanton countenance,
you tattle not at large:
You hold no parte of Cupids farme:
you do deny his charge.
You leane to Chastnesse steadfastly,
as Rocke and bulwarke strong:
You spend the day in vertuouss vse,
as doth to her belong.
For idle sportes decline from praise
they hold no parte thereof:
But cogingly do spend the Time,
with many a girding scoffe.
And if they chaunce to catch one in,
who will come of in giftes:
They Care not so they may it haue,
though he be put to shiftes.
Their conscience is large (God knowes)
and handes are open still:
For to receaue, what giuen is,
such is their greedy will.
Yet for all that they may be Chast,
I do none here reproue:
He knoweth all their secret thoughtes,
that sittes in heauen aboue.
There is none can hide their guile from him,
hee knoweth all so well,
As sure it passeth me to thinke,
or eke my tongue to tell.
I know for true as scripture saith,
a chast and vertuous life,
Shall florish like the Oliue tree,
whose leaues are euer rife.
She shall accepted be of those,
that Treade her honest trace:
And not disdayned but much in price.
a certaine sure case.
But wanton wildnesse snuffes in nose,
to see her giuen so:
And often wisheth in her minde,
her steppes to ouerthrowe.
And Cupids knightes, do skorme this Dame,
because she not repaires,
Unto his Court, to be as one
of not sufficed heires.
And Venus frownes to see her so,
high minded to abarre:
And wisheth her to be vntrue,
that breach might make a iarre.
Such is the counsell of that court,
light wantonnesse of kinde,
Inducing her to loue one or two
that pleaseth most her minde.
Yea three or foure are not enowe,
for some whose minde doth raunge,
They haue no bloud within their Corps,
to make them blush for chaunge.
But constant Chastnesse simple standes,
and shrowdes her heade for shame:
She maruels much to see their mindes,
so fixed on that game.
Oh what a thing it is to thinke,
of twentie euilles prest:
That come of too much lauishnesse,
disturbance, and vnrest.
Pittie this case good Matrons graue,
lend Aide it to disnull:
Helpe, helpe, for trust me it is Time
such vices downe to pull.
And if you knowe within your Towne
one person of that set,
Dame Chastnesse saith you should not leaue
vntill you out her go.
Oh vertuous Dame how is thy mind,
giuen vp to Constancie:
Alas how should I pen thy praise,
I know not well perdie.
But sooth to say, the flying Fame,
that is as swifte as winde,
Hath bruted abroade sufficiently
of Chastnesse and her kinde.
One night Sir Morpheus did me leade,
and then vnto me shewed:
How Lucrese sate in heauen aboue
her seate was there bestowed.
And although she her life did end
in such a desperate wise:
Yet thou maist see she hath a roome,
aboue heere in the skies.
There saw I eke Zenobia
that Gratious Queene so Chaste:
Sitting aloft in heauenly Throne
which neuer aye shall waste.
And Etifriga sometime our Queene
in England heere did reigne,
I did behold her where she sate,
aske Morpheus if I feine.
A multitude of Matrons sure
was there as I did see:
Yet Morpheus tolde not me the names
but onely of these three.
For why (quoth he) I do not mind
to tell thee any more;
If thou canst learne their names thy selfe,
then keepe them for thy store:
And write of them as thou thinkst good,
(but what should neede so much)
So busily to take in hand,
It would but get thee gruch.
I answered him with words most milde,
and seemely countenance sure:
I thanke you that you would vouchsafe
these three to put in vre.
And when these wordes I spoken had,
sir Morpheus did depart,

Morpheus departeth

And I awaked from my sleepe,
and maruail'd in my heart,
What wight he was, and how I came
vnto those wyfull sightes,
To view the place and to behold
these glorious heauenly wights:
And now to tell the full thereof
that I in sleepe did see,
I will assay with simple skil
which {resteth} now in me.
My thought I was thether by him led,
since he is God of Dreames:
Conuayed by him as I thought
vnto the loftie heauens
Where I beheld most glorious Dames
which shined like the Sunne:
For by their Chaste and Vertuous life
that heauenly place they wunne.
There might I view the Angells face,
there might I heare such songes:
As did reioyce me very much,
as right thereto belonges.
There is no weeping any Time,
but only myrth and ioy:
Who would not then liue Chaste to gaine,
a place voyde of annoy.
They shall behold our glorious God
sitting in heauenly seat:
There shal be such ioyes as doe passe
my tongue for to repeate.
There shal they liue a life for Aye
which neuer shall surcease:
Alas we liue heere mortally,
our life doth soone decrease.
We neede not boast, we are like grasse
which withereth with the sunne:
Alas how tickle is our life,
how soone hath death it woone.
Our life is fraile, our dayes no stay,
for vs to leane vnto:
Incertaine is each thought we thinke,
or what weels can doe.
Well, if thou be esspoused once,
and linck'd with wedlockes chaine:
Conuert thou not to others vse,
least hatefull be thy gaine.
For looke what order then dost vse,
the same thou shalt imbrace:
When as thou comest before that Iudge,
that Iudgeth each mans case.
Beware no wantonnesse be seene,
O mayden some so pray:
Liue as thou wouldst intend to liue
in life for lasting aye.
Loue onely one in secret thought
as heart and onely deere:
So shall thy life be Chaste in deede,
this sentence is most cleere:
Yea cleere, most cleere, as cleere may be
which shineth like the sunne:
Bruted abroade by flying Fame
which neuer shall be done.
Beautie is but a blazing bayte,
in high respect of this:
Yet Beautie pleaseth mindes of men,
as certaine true it is.
Beautie is glorious in Attyre,
according to her hue,
Alluring the eyes of men
vpon her for to view.

Those which more account of beautie thē haue respect to Chastitie, are often rewarded contrary to their expectation.

Marke this I say you Cupids knights,
esteeming Beautie so,
That it may happen for to hit
to bring you vnto wo.
Was not strong Sampson (he) beguilde
when harlot clipt his hayre?
Was not the valiant Hercules
also ketched in snare?
Did not Poore Paris buy it deere
for Hellina so fine:
When all the Troyans felt the smart
as Terrour did assigne?
Did there not rise Achilles wrath
vpon him silly man,
Which did conclude, in blooddy broyle
a wofull cause to skan?
Did not the vitious Sodomites
and Gomorians feele the smarte:
Because they had not grace to turne,
and from sinne to conuert?
No preaching could them reforme
til fiery flames from hye:
Did downe descend, them to destroy,
O ruthfull miserye.
What was the cause? their fleshly liues,
their vile and vicious deedes:
They follow not Dame Chastnesse steppes,
whom Ryot onely feedes.
But if they had addicted beene
to chastnesse and good life,
They had not felt the furiouse force
of their deserued strife.
But they were giuen ryotously,
to pleasure and to pride:
It is impossible well to liue,
where grace doth want to guyde.
Oh Chastnesse thou the floure of grace,
the Impe of ioy so deere,
The Lanthorne light of life so pure,
which shines like Christall cleere.
The proppe, the piller, and the stay,
which holdes vp honest life:
The hope of heauen, the hap of ioy,
which euer shall be rife.
Oh God what Beneficialnesse,
by Chastnesse doth insue:
Much more then I with tongue can tell,
or pen can well renew.
Or if I had Dame Pallas Ayde,
or Poets learned stile:
Yet trust me true I were too weake,
her praise for to compile.
Wherefore of Poets thus I craue.
such pardon to attaine:
Since that but skillesnesse doth leade
in verse to shew my vaine.
For surely I not presume
in gloriouse title braue:
But from my heart deuoyde of guile,
pardon of them I craue.
For to proceede as simple witt,
shall lend me simple skill:
Where nothing wantes but learning she,
to aide my readie will.

A base comparison.

The horse although his force be small,
yet if he haue desire,
Is worthie simply of great praise,
though he ly in the myre.
Euen so I must confesse to you,
I haue an earnest will:
To praise this worthie gifte in deede
though simple be my skill,
Wishing I had beene learn'd in schoole,
among the learned sorte:
Then should I with lesse tediousnesse,
haue made this my reporte.
But truly I lament the losse,
of that I most desire,
Which to recouer by no meanes,
I can not well require.
But Lord it is a world to see,
how foolish fickle youth:
Accompts the schoole a purgatorie,
a place of paine and ruth.
And neuer are in quyet minde,
till absent thence they bee:
Youth onely mindeth playe and sporte,
apparantly we see.
But when that Time hath brought our yeares
and some experience gayned:
Then they lament the losse of Time,
which once they so disdayned.
A lamentation made to late,
is lothsome to inuest:
For to receaue the losse of Time,
is pensiue to the brest.
What meane I thus to spend my Time,
so fondly to recyte:
I see tis want of learned lore,
to guide me now aright.
Me thinkes I heare one say to me,

A supposition.

go too, go on, proceede:
Of former matter to intreate.
for this is more then neede.
Praise thou Dame Chastnesse, as thou shouldst,
Digresse not so aside:
And to thy matter directly go,
and in it do abide.
Wherewith I blusht and said againe,

Answere

oh Sir I pardon craue:
Accuse me not for slipping so,
my matter to depraue.
But giue me leaue to raunge a while,
by foolish fancie fraught:
So shall you pleasure me no small,
since that my wittes be naught.
But since I did digresse so much,
I ten times praise this Dame:
Whose Chastitie and vertuouse life,
deserues eternall Fame.
Her steppes are steady like the rocke,
her fortresse is so stronge:
As no assault of Cupids Crue,
shalt enter in by wrong.
And as the pleasant meades refresh,
the flying soules in aire:
So doth Dame Chastnesse comforte giue,
to those that might dispaire.
Which suffer many Derisious floutes and mokes,
of vilde and vicious kinde:
Yet sure the chaste and constant life,
all sorrowes do vnbinde.
A rich rewarde, by Due desert,
to see such calling mates:
Be tinged about the towne in Cart,
and pulled by the pates:
When Chastnesse resteth like a Queene,
In high Magnificence,
With reuerence done of honest sorte,
and scapeth such offence.
As maketh them oft times asham'd,
and shrinke their heades in hold:
And chaunge in colours blacke and blew,
as though they were acold:
But Truth to say, they are a colde,
in this chast honest lore:
They are more hote in Venus flames,
then honestie in store.
Reuoke, recant, relent with speede,
least Time do come to late,
I speake not to the honest Dames,
but to the viciouse mate.
For why, I neede no honest warne.
then should I be too bold:
And I were worthy to be blam'd,
so much for to vnfolde.
Oh worthie wightes you sporte your mindes,
with sadde and sober sightes:
Oh gloriouse Chastnesse how she shines,
oh blest and happie wightes.
O sacret Dame, by Ioue ordayn'd,
to be in heauenly place:
Where as no spot, of spotted life,
thy seate shall once deface,
But with a heauenly body thou,
shalt there remaine for Aye:
Where Angels sitte in seemely sight,
which neuer shall decay.
Why then who would not liue a life,
as Chast, as Chast might bee:
For they shall haue as promise is,
eternall blisse you see:
Where contrariwise we purchase death,
and flashing flames of fire:
In Plutoes pit to spend our Time
if grace we not require.
There shall we see the broyling brands,
and fendes of vgly hue:
There shall we heare lamenting cries,
with Torments that renewe.
Upon such mates, whom Carnall Lust
in life of fleshly will:
They had not grace for to repent
but did perseuer still.
To greate confusion of their soule
in euerlasting fire:
Wherefore God graunt we may be Chaste
for to avoyde his Ire,
And that we treade Dame Chastnesse steps,
and on her so repose:
As we in end may purchase heauen
when vitall life we lose.
And there to rest in heauenly blisse
and see our glorious God:
Which hath authoritie vs to scourge
for our offences od.
Who plagues ye Cupid knights with paine,
and Bacchus drunken mates:
And such as giue their minde to lust
in end with scourge he rates.
But Chastitie he doth alowe
as vertue excellent:
Who so doth frequent the same
shall neuer sure repent.
O Chastitie how is thy seat
ordained in heauenly throne,
Assigned there by mighty Ioue,
whereas there is no moane.
For as Sainte Matthew doth discusse,
a Chaste and honest mayde,
Shoulde be content to welcome death
and be no whit afraide.
For why, saith he tis glory greate,
to dye a virgin pure:
So shall they gaine a precious place
which euer shall indure.
Her name shall grauen be in gold,
or els in Marble stone:
Which shall be extant to the worlde
although that she be gone.
Behold you Dames whose chastitie
doth merrite well the same:
And trust me, by your due Deserte,
both winne you endlesse fame.
You get renowme immortall sure,
for Time withouten minde:
You doe as much as may be donne,
or in that way assign'd.
Wherfore keepe fast that key so rare
the which no Smith can make:
But onely he which on the crosse
did buy it for your sake.
Whose guiltlesse blood you know was shedde,
though he did not offend:
The cruell Iewes him to torment
their mallice did extend.
O onely sweete and Sauiour greate
of all the world so wide:
How didst thou suffer paine for vs,
with speare thrust in thy side.
And all was for our sinfull liues
the which we followe still:
But Lord graunt that we may conuert
and if it be thy will.
And with a true and faithfull heart
as Marie Magdalen she:
Did her repent of sinful life,
euen so Lord graunt may we:
And bring sweete oyntments to thy seate,
and looke thee in the face:
And hope to rest with thee in blisse
which neuer shall imbace,
But shall remaine time out of minde,
as trueth doth well relate:
In place where as is nought but ioy,
and at no time Debate.
What say you to this, Dames so chaste,
what say you to this newes?
Liue chaste, liue chaste, and then be sure,
you liue without abuse.
For chastnesse is much honoured
in euery place with Fame:
And Castnesse of each man hath praise
as worthie of the same.
But where as Beautie ryotously
with fleshly will indewed:
Doth not regard her chastitie,
marke then what is insued.
For Cupids knightes spying that vent,
doe thether streight repayre:
And thinke it is a match obtain'd
by foolish speaking faire.
And when that once they finde the haunte
with entertainement good:
Then stay they still to spend their Time,
in fleshly giddie mood.
And vse such prancks as please them best:
too much for shame to write,
Or more then wisdome would permit
should come vnto the light.
It were but vaine to meddle much
or glose in glorious sorte:
It were but vaine to praise and prate
or make a braue reporte.
It were but vaine to seeme to deale
in place of great vnrest:
It were but vaine to pinch the minde,
and busie much the brest.
It were but vaine to goe beyond
our owne knowledge and skill:
It were but vaine to meddle where
we shall but get vs ill.
Wherefore (my friend) sith I haue nowe
performed as you see:
That your request which long agoe
you did make vnto me,
In writing of Dame Chastitie
according as you will'd:
Accept of it in friendly wise,
your request is fulfill'd.
Desiring you of this deuice
to iudge with equall mind,
At all times for to pleasure you,
you ready me shall finde.
Although in deede I simple am
for to performe the same:
Yet willingnesse of my true hearte
shall cleere me from the blame.
That finding wittes deuising still
to moue debate and strife:
Ile say no more, but God amend
their lewd and wicked life.