A pleasant Discourse of Court and Wars with a replication to them both, and a commendation of all those that truly serue Prince and countrie. Written by Thomas Churchyard, and called his Cherrishing |
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A reply to the reasons rehersed. |
 | A pleasant Discourse of Court and Wars |  |
A reply to the reasons rehersed.
Welth, pomp and pride, with malice of the mind
Bred wars & broils, between two brethren furst,
The one feard God, the other most vnkind,
For his foule fact, in world was held accurst.
Though wars began, throw pride and great offence,
As rods are made, to scourge leud vicious life,
Yet fearfull wars, hath wrought great goodnes sence,
And planted peace, where was but blooddy strife:
Wars makes men looke, to soule and body too,
Which in no sort, proud peace can neuer doo.
Bred wars & broils, between two brethren furst,
The one feard God, the other most vnkind,
For his foule fact, in world was held accurst.
Though wars began, throw pride and great offence,
As rods are made, to scourge leud vicious life,
Yet fearfull wars, hath wrought great goodnes sence,
And planted peace, where was but blooddy strife:
Wars makes men looke, to soule and body too,
Which in no sort, proud peace can neuer doo.
Who sees but death, and danger feareth God,
A greater feare, no man aliue may haue,
As horse fears whip, and scholler fears the rod,
So sword is feard, that quickly brings a graue.
Wars makes men meeke, vertuous, valiant and wise,
Hardy and bold, forward, faithfull and true,
Goodnes imbrace, and villany despise,
Killeth old vice, and forms a man anue:
Quickneth the sprites, and kindleth courage still,
That else growes cold, weake, resty, dull and ill.
A greater feare, no man aliue may haue,
As horse fears whip, and scholler fears the rod,
So sword is feard, that quickly brings a graue.
Wars makes men meeke, vertuous, valiant and wise,
Hardy and bold, forward, faithfull and true,
Goodnes imbrace, and villany despise,
Killeth old vice, and forms a man anue:
Quickneth the sprites, and kindleth courage still,
That else growes cold, weake, resty, dull and ill.
Wars is no trade, for milksops, dawes and dolts,
Meacocks of kinde, and cowards from their birth,
A spur for old Iades, a snaffle for yoong colts,
For lusty lads, the greatest ioy on earth,
Breeds gallants vp, puts lions harts in men,
Breathes blood and life, into a trembling brest,
Makes hand draw sword, and fling away the pen,
Mount a great horse, and clap the launce in rest,
And woonders do, as Samson did in feeld,
Whose stoutnes made, the proud Philistines yeeld.
Meacocks of kinde, and cowards from their birth,
A spur for old Iades, a snaffle for yoong colts,
For lusty lads, the greatest ioy on earth,
Breeds gallants vp, puts lions harts in men,
Breathes blood and life, into a trembling brest,
Makes hand draw sword, and fling away the pen,
Mount a great horse, and clap the launce in rest,
And woonders do, as Samson did in feeld,
Whose stoutnes made, the proud Philistines yeeld.
Wars wisely made, Brings triumph to the towne,
Sends victors out, to fetch great wealth from far,
Keepes kings in seat, giues honor to the crowne,
And no great fame is found where is no war.
Set wars aside, bid men go spin and card,
Distaffs are fine, when launce is flung away,
Make no more knights, let cowards be prefard,
Set lowts aworke, bid soldiers then go play:
So pluck downe wars, and set vp Robin Whood,
Or Iohn a Stile, that near did countrey good.
Sends victors out, to fetch great wealth from far,
Keepes kings in seat, giues honor to the crowne,
And no great fame is found where is no war.
Set wars aside, bid men go spin and card,
Distaffs are fine, when launce is flung away,
Make no more knights, let cowards be prefard,
Set lowts aworke, bid soldiers then go play:
So pluck downe wars, and set vp Robin Whood,
Or Iohn a Stile, that near did countrey good.
Wars was a wand, for wantons that were wilde,
It made them tame, and greater maruels wrought,
But where you see, that wars are clean exilde,
Stout people faint, and kingdom coms to naught:
Venus and lust, are great togither still,
Right taketh wrong, and reason rules no whit,
Weake knees must bow, strong head will haue his wil,
And bayard blinde, in teeth doth take the bit:
Thus want of wars, confounds a woorthy state,
And breeds at home, both quarrels and debate.
It made them tame, and greater maruels wrought,
But where you see, that wars are clean exilde,
Stout people faint, and kingdom coms to naught:
Venus and lust, are great togither still,
Right taketh wrong, and reason rules no whit,
Weake knees must bow, strong head will haue his wil,
And bayard blinde, in teeth doth take the bit:
Thus want of wars, confounds a woorthy state,
And breeds at home, both quarrels and debate.
Wars was and is, and shall be till worlds end,
Till iudgement day, you shall haue little peace,
You say it is, a scourge that God doth send,
A common plague for sin that shall not seace,
Thinke so and make of wars your profit then,
For soule at least. thus wars ye ought to loue,
Bicause wars doth reforme the faults of men,
And by sharpe means, it doth his pashence proue:
If such effects, a blooddy wars brings foorth,
When wars doth com, do take it well in woorth.
Till iudgement day, you shall haue little peace,
You say it is, a scourge that God doth send,
A common plague for sin that shall not seace,
Thinke so and make of wars your profit then,
For soule at least. thus wars ye ought to loue,
Bicause wars doth reforme the faults of men,
And by sharpe means, it doth his pashence proue:
If such effects, a blooddy wars brings foorth,
When wars doth com, do take it well in woorth.
FINIS.
| A pleasant Discourse of Court and Wars | |